Gladstones Malibu
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA landmark Southern California seafood restaurant known for its beachfront location on Pacific Coast Highway and its long association with Malibu-area dining.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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History
Gladstones traces its origins to 1972, when Robert J. Morris opened a seafood restaurant at the former Ted's Grill site in Santa Monica Canyon. The original establishment was called Gladstone's 4 Fish. Morris later moved the business to 17300 Pacific Coast Highway in 1981, establishing the beachfront location with which the brand became most closely identified. The restaurant was frequently referred to as Gladstone's or Gladstones, in addition to Gladstones Malibu. Morris sold the restaurant to W. R. Grace & Co. in 1984 but repurchased it in 1990. Richard Riordan, a former mayor of Los Angeles, became the restaurant's owner from the mid-1990s and maintained a long-running concessionaire relationship with the coastal property. Under this ownership, Gladstones developed into a large-volume seafood operation serving visitors attracted by its Pacific Ocean setting and recognizable menu of crab, lobster, clam chowder, and related seafood dishes. The restaurant reached notable commercial scale. In 2002, reported annual consumption included 35 tons of crab, 65,000 lobsters, and 19 gallons of clam chowder. In 2008, Gladstones was described as the 37th highest-grossing independent restaurant in the United States. It continued to rank among the 100 highest-grossing American eateries through 2017. These rankings helped distinguish Gladstones from a small local seafood restaurant and reflected its role as a major destination business within the Los Angeles restaurant market. In 2009, SBE assumed daily operational management through a contract with Riordan. That agreement ended in 2014, after which Gladstones resumed direct day-to-day management. At the same time, the physical condition and long-term future of the restaurant became increasingly controversial. Los Angeles County officials argued that the existing facility was outdated and seriously deteriorated and sought a new long-term lease structure that could support a replacement business. In 2018, Los Angeles County awarded a 40-year lease to PCH Beach Associates LLC. The proposed redevelopment called for demolition of the existing restaurant and construction of a new venue designed by Frank Gehry and operated by Wolfgang Puck. Riordan remained involved as concessionaire operator while the redevelopment process continued. The proposal was delayed by permitting and other administrative issues, and the COVID-19 pandemic added further disruption. Gladstones closed from March through June 2020 during restrictions on in-person dining. The County also approved a rent-relief measure because restaurants were prevented from operating at full capacity. Riordan died in April 2023 at age 92. His family's concession lease subsequently expired, and the family did not pursue renewal. Although Gladstones was expected to close in October, County officials determined that the redevelopment permits were not yet in place and that the site could otherwise remain vacant for an extended period. A group of employees therefore formed the Gladstones Legacy Group, an employee-owned concessionaire that assumed operations in October 2023. The temporary operating authority was scheduled to end on September 15, 2025, when the redevelopment was expected to proceed. During the 2025 Palisades Fire, the restaurant's parking lot was used as a media staging area. Initial reports suggested that the structure might have been destroyed, but the restaurant survived, with damage reportedly confined to an outside storage area. Morris, the founder, died at his home in April 2025 at age 81. In October 2025, the California Coastal Commission reportedly voted unanimously to permit demolition of Gladstones and development of a replacement restaurant connected to Wolfgang Puck and designed by Frank Gehry. The supplied references do not confirm whether demolition, construction, or a final successor opening had occurred, so the brand's ultimate post-2025 status remains unresolved.
- 2025
Restaurant survives the Palisades Fire
[1]The property survives the nearby wildfire, with reported damage limited to an outside storage area.
- 2025
Coastal Commission approves proposed demolition
[1]The California Coastal Commission reportedly approves demolition and a replacement restaurant project over community objections.
- 2023
Employee-owned group takes over operations
[1]Gladstones Legacy Group assumes temporary concessionaire operations after the Riordan family's lease expires.
- 2020
COVID-19 closure and rent relief
[1]The restaurant closes from March through June during pandemic restrictions, while Los Angeles County provides rent relief.
- 2018
County awards redevelopment lease
[1]PCH Beach Associates LLC receives a 40-year lease tied to a proposed Gehry-designed, Wolfgang Puck-operated replacement restaurant.
- 2014
SBE management contract ends
[1]Gladstones resumes direct day-to-day management after the SBE contract expires.
- 2009
SBE begins operational management
[1]SBE assumes day-to-day management under a contract with Richard Riordan.
- 2008
Ranks among leading independent restaurants
[1]Gladstones is reported as the 37th highest-grossing independent restaurant in the United States.
- 2002
Reported high seafood volume
[1]Reported annual volume included 35 tons of crab, 65,000 lobsters, and 19 gallons of clam chowder.
- 1990
Morris repurchases Gladstones
[1]Robert J. Morris buys the restaurant back from W. R. Grace & Co.
Products and positioning
A high-volume, casual-to-upscale coastal seafood restaurant built around Southern California beach dining, recognizable seafood staples, and a landmark oceanfront setting.
Seafood entrees
Crab dishes
Crab was one of Gladstones' signature high-volume seafood offerings and a central part of its identity as a destination seafood restaurant. Contemporary references report that the restaurant handled approximately 35 tons of crab annually in 2002, indicating the scale of demand for this menu category.
Seafood entrees
Lobster dishes
Lobster was another major menu category associated with the restaurant. Reported 2002 operating figures cited approximately 65,000 lobsters served annually, reflecting Gladstones' position as a large, accessible seafood venue rather than a small specialist restaurant.
Soup
Clam chowder
Clam chowder formed part of Gladstones' recognizable coastal seafood offering. The restaurant's reported 2002 volume included 19 gallons of clam chowder per year, although the available reference does not specify the precise recipe, serving format, or whether the item remained on the menu in later periods.
Restaurant service · 1981
Oceanfront seafood dining
The brand's principal offering was the combination of full-service seafood dining and a Pacific Coast Highway beachfront setting. The location, casual atmosphere, and broad seafood menu made the restaurant a destination for local customers, visitors, families, and tourists seeking a recognizable Southern California coastal experience.
Brand decisions
2025
Approval of proposed demolition and replacementStrategyBackground
The proposed redevelopment remained subject to coastal and community review after years of delay.
Action taken
The California Coastal Commission reportedly voted unanimously to permit demolition of Gladstones and development of a replacement restaurant associated with Wolfgang Puck and designed by Frank Gehry.
Aftermath
Community objections remained, and the supplied sources do not establish whether demolition or construction had been completed after the approval.
2023
Temporary employee-led operating structureStrategyBackground
Richard Riordan's family concession expired after his death, and the family did not seek renewal. County officials also determined that the replacement project's permits were not yet in place.
Action taken
Gladstones employees formed the Gladstones Legacy Group, an employee-owned operating concessionaire, and took over the restaurant in October 2023.
Aftermath
The group was authorized to operate temporarily, reportedly through September 15, 2025, while the redevelopment proceeded through its remaining approvals.
2020
Pandemic closure and rent-relief arrangementOtherBackground
Public-health restrictions sharply limited in-person restaurant operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Action taken
Gladstones closed from March through June 2020. Los Angeles County sponsored a rent-relief motion reducing the venue's rent while restaurants were prevented from operating at full capacity.
Aftermath
The measure provided temporary operating relief, while the planned Gehry and Puck redevelopment remained delayed.
2018
Redevelopment lease and proposed replacement restaurantStrategyBackground
Los Angeles County officials sought a new long-term use for the coastal site and criticized the existing restaurant as outdated and seriously deteriorated. The County awarded a 40-year lease to PCH Beach Associates LLC.
Action taken
The new leaseholders announced plans to demolish Gladstones and replace it with a restaurant designed by Frank Gehry and operated by Wolfgang Puck, while the existing concession arrangement continued during the transition.
Aftermath
Permitting and administrative issues delayed the project, and the redevelopment was later placed on hold during and after the COVID-19 period.
Sources3 sources
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