Sandpiper can’t foot rent

BALBOA ISLAND — When Gail Hammerschmidt bought the Sandpiper variety store five years ago, she knew the business was rife with history. Neighbors on the island gifted her with black-and-white photos of the shop going back to the 1930s, and the new owner proudly displayed them on the walls inside.

That history, though, may come to an end soon. The Sandpiper’s new landlord, according to Hammerschmidt, has boosted her rent substantially, and the business plans to move when its lease expires in September.

“It’s still a small-town little community, so we’re telling people,” she said. “I’d rather they hear it from me than hear it from a rumor.”

The Sandpiper, built in 1938, is one of the oldest landmarks in a part of town that prides itself on maintaining the past. The shop at 213 Marine Ave. offers cards, ribbons, toys, books and just about anything else that can fit inside its narrow walls. Nearby residents refer to it as a classic “five-and-dime” store of the type that dominated small towns before malls took over.

In April, the Sandpiper plans to celebrate its 70th birthday with a month of festivities, including cake, raffles and a book for customers to record their memories. Whether that will be the last chapter remains to be seen. Hammerschmidt hopes to reopen her business elsewhere, and she’s even seeking a nearby place on the island to keep the Sandpiper alive.

“I don’t want her to leave, and neither does anyone else on the island,” said Summer Bailey, who runs a home-based business in theneighborhood. “It’s such a landmark for Marine Avenue.”

The Sandpiper, which has gone through several owners and name changes over the years, resides on Balboa Island’s main promenade amid a series of tiny shops packed together. A few businesses in the neighborhood are recognizable chain outlets, but most are one-of-a-kind enterprises run and frequented by locals.

Two years ago, the Sandpiper was featured in a picture book titled “Treasures of Southern California,” an honor that Hammerschmidt said resulted from neighbors putting in a good word with the publisher.

Ann Maxwell, a Balboa Island resident since 1954, said shops like the Sandpiper helped to make the neighborhood unique; but with Wal-Mart and other retail chains dominating the market, she wasn’t surprised that smaller businesses were struggling.

“I don’t suppose everyone goes to the local markets anymore, which is a shame,” she said. “You lose the character of the island when the local shops go.”

MICHAEL MILLER may be reached at (714) 966-4617 or at [email protected].