January 31, 2012 – On January 20, Long Beach city officials, business owners and residents gathered to celebrate the grand opening of Southern California’s first parklet at Lola’s Mexican Cuisine, located on Retro Row at 2030 E. 4th St. Based on the concept of San Francisco’s “Pavement to Parks” program, the parklet, pictured, utilizes two curbside parking spaces in front of the restaurant to create an outdoor patio that not only generates additional seating, but also adds to the aesthetic elements of the streetscape. Number Nine, a Vietnamese eatery also located on Retro Row, and Berlin, a coffeehouse and bistro in the East Village Arts District, are also scheduled to take part in the parklet pilot program. If the program is successful, the city hopes to promote the development of parklets throughout other Long Beach business corridors. (Photograph by the Business Journal’s Thomas McConville)