"Phil and Lauren decided to take the plunge. “I told Lauren, I’m serious now. We need to do a business plan.” They scouted locations, but it was a spot six doors away from Phil’s home in Long Beach that drew him in. Opening in Long Beach was non-negotiable. “It had to be here,” says Phil. Lauren agreed on the location but was less enthusiastic about the building. “I said, absolutely not!” she jokes. “Half of it was a nail salon, and the other half was a taco shop, and there were weeds growing everywhere.” It needed some serious TLC, but they took it in stride with plans to renovate and open a fine dining restaurant. Then Covid hit. They pivoted from indoor fine dining to opening Heritage Sandwich Shop with exclusively outdoor dining. Covid also inspired them to start a farm. “It’s one mile away in a warehouse district, but you have no idea you’re in the city when you’re there.”Their perseverance paid off, as the siblings were awarded One MICHELIN Star and a Green Star in August 2023." - Nancy DePalma
