From one beach to another, Sunrise Shack cafe is opened in Long Beach

A Hawaiian-based restaurant with a bright colored atmosphere, beachy aesthetic and a creative menu with health-conscious ingredients that is designed to keep its customers energized throughout the day, has recently opened a location near the LAC campus. 

With the chain being originally from Hawaii and having six restaurants there, this new location is its first in Long Beach. 

The brightly colored cafe known as Sunrise Shack that opened its first location in Long Beach on  Saturday, Feb. 14 and offers nutritious snacks and drinks with a mellow vibe all the way from Hawaii

For the Sunrise Shack’s soft opening, workers from other locations based in Hawaii came to Long Beach to help the newly opened storefront settle as it attracted thousands of Long Beach residents. 

^{A poster titled “Our Story” hangs on their bright yellow wall, which describes the founders and background of The Sunrise Shack. The Sunrise Shack cafe is a new cafe located by LAC. (Jayleen Vasquez)}

For some LBCC students, their days on campus are long and filled with studying, lectures, and completing assignments; finding that source of nutrition can be limited with the options students have on campus.

LBCC student Presscott Frost, a business administration major here at Long Beach City College, shared his days on campus, which start at 9 a.m. and last as far as 5 p.m.

“I had to look around to find a smoothie this morning, just to find something… It’s all like candy and junk, you know,” Prescott said.

Between classes, it can get hard to find a quick source of nutrition and snacks with the nutritional values students need for their day, quick sugary snacks and coffees can often diminish a student’s energy rather than better it, something Sunrise Shack is able to provide. 

Hope Bennett, a Sunrise Shack employee and shift lead, noted some of their health-focused foods offer more than just their nutritional value.

“We’ve got our bullet coffee… I feel like it’s kind of a super food smoothie place,” said Bennett.

With ingredients that work to energize their customers, students can find enhanced snacks and drinks down the street from campus at Sunrise Shack.

^{A sidewalk sign advertising menu items like smoothies and specialty toasts stands outside The Sunrise Shack, along with a seating area, on March 5. The Sunrise Shack is a new healthy cafe located down the street from LAC. (Jayleen Vasquez)}

However, concerns regarding the affordability seem to be on a lot of students’ minds, with Sunrise Shack being on the pricier side. 

Presscott noted LBCC’s affordability would be more accessible than going to Sunrise Shack.

“I do come here, and it’s convenient, also the prices aren’t bad here, and the nutritional value, I’d say it’s like a 7/10, it’s not too hard to find something fairly healthy here,” said Prescott.

Their menu prices range from a $10 smoothie to $16 sandwiches, which at first glance might make a student hesitant, but after looking into its nutritional benefits, some might consider it worth the price.

“It is a little pricey like as a student, I can see how it definitely is a little pricey, but like it’s a better bang for your buck, you’re paying good money, and you’re getting great food,” said Bennett. 

With Sunrise Shack doors being opened, Long Beach residents and LBCC students are welcomed with access to healthy and beneficial alternatives.

^{Branded merchandise, including hoodies and t-shirts, was on display inside The Sunrise Shack in Long Beach on March 5. The Sunrise Shack is a new cafe that originally started in Hawaii and has opened a new location down the street from LAC. (Jayleen Vasquez)}