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Community Corner

Paninis and Bikinis Expanding into Vacancies

The West End eatery in the process of taking over neighboring space.

Paninis and Bikinis has become a West End staple, and with its ever-growing popularity, owner Jason Schatzberg has an expansion in the works.

“The community is really, really excited,” said Schatzberg of the upcoming construction.

The deli and coffee shop opened six years ago, at the corner of West Beech Street and Wyoming Avenue, and Schatzberg said he it has grown from day one. Now that a vacancies next door are available, he’s taking the initial steps in his plan to create a restaurant area. With the larger space will come about twenty additional employees, and Schatzberg plans to share some of the additional income he expects to generate with the community.

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“I don’t care what I make,” Schatzberg said. “It’s what you give back to the community that counts.”

One of his main goals with Paninis and Bikinis has always been to keep the shop aesthetically pleasing. When Schatzberg and Stacy Adler, his business partner then, opened the shop with a renovated storefront, Schatzberg said he noticed that this inspired neighboring establishments. New stores started to flourish and older ones began to remodel.

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Through Paninis and Bikinis, Schatzberg hopes to bring positive attention and developments to the West End, which is home to some of the “country’s most beautiful beaches,” he said. He believes a well-kept and friendly store like his generates pride in the community and its businesses.

“Hopefully the city sees how I keep [Paninis and Bikinis] and it raises awareness about the remodeling that is needed on the West End,” Schatzberg noted.

With a background in the food industry, Schatzberg knows what will generate business and keep customers coming back for more. A Staten Island native, Schtazberg worked in casual dining for most of his life and decided to move to Long Beach to open what was once Long Beach Coffee & Tea. When he opened his shop, paninis were a restaurant trend, but he made sure to make sandwiches, too.

How did the eatery get its name? The idea felt pretty natural to Schatzberg.

“You’re on the beach, in a bikini … and you’re eating a panini,” Schatzberg explained.. “My nieces and nephews remembered the name and kept saying it, so I knew it would stick.”

It helps that loyal patrons come into Paninis and Bikinis all year long, not just during beach season. Schatzbeg knows many of his customers by name and gives them warm, personal greetings when they come in. Fifteen fresh soups are served daily throughout the colder months, along with affordable dinner specials that can serve a family of four.

“Our menu has been the same since day one,” Schatzberg said. “[Paninis and Bikinis] has been a stepping stone in the West End.”

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