COAST RIVER BUSINESS JOURNAL
BUSINESS NEWS
AUgUST 2022 • 15
Fun Beach Fun Center: New owner takes the wheel
By LUKE WHITTAKER
Coast River Business Journal
LONG BEACH — James Stewart always
wanted to live by the beach, so when the oppor-
tunity to own a popular Long Beach attraction
arose, he sprang.
In May, a “semiretired” Stewart, 59, moved
from Camas to Long Beach to become the new
owner of Fun Beach Center, which operates a
go-kart track, mini golf course and snack bar.
‘Always wanted to
live by the beach‘
Originally from San Jose, California, Stewart
moved to the Long Beach Peninsula from Camas
to operate the business roughly six months ago.
“I always wanted to live by the beach, but
when you’re young there’s no jobs. I was kind
of semiretired and decided to move over here,”
he said.
Stewart became aware the business was for
sale after perusing potential real estate properties
and became the official owner in May. Roughly
three months into the experience, Stewart said
things are going well.
“It’s going good. It’s a lot different from the
businesses I had before — I never had young kids
working,” he said.
Among the impressive young staff is Marcus
Miller, 16, who works in the bike rental depart-
ment and regularly makes bike repairs. In addi-
tion to rentals, the business also sells electric Rad
Power Bikes, made in Seattle.
The business underwent an extensive renova-
tion in 2018 under the ownership of Glenn and
Hillary Trusty, who sought to rehabilitate the
landmark after a drug raid on the former owner
left the future of the business in limbo. The ambi-
tious remodel involved the go-kart track, 18-hole
mini golf course, snack bar and corner market.
LUKE WHITTAKER
The Fun Beach Fun Center includes a go-kart track, mini golf course and snack bar.
Fun Beach Fun Center
915 Pacific Ave. South, Long Beach
James Stewart, owner
360-777-3684
Fuel prices impact operating costs
The price of the go-karts was raised from $10
to $12 for single rider due to the increasing cost
of fuel, but Stewart isn’t anticipating any imme-
diate or major changes, just some “tweaks” in the
offseason. The prices include: go-karts ($12 for
single, $17 for double), mini golf ($10, free for
kids under age 5) and bike rentals ($25 per hour
for e-bikes, $40 for traditional bikes for full day).
The business, which has approximately 15
employees, relies on four primary sources of
income — the go-karts, mini golf course, bike
rentals and snack bar. The go-karts, mini golf and
bike rentals have been steady, Stewart said, how-
ever the snack sales, particularly the ice cream,
has been “frustrating.”
“It seems like more people come to use our
latrines than buy ice cream,” Stewart said.
“But overall it’s going smoothly.”
Open at 10 a.m. daily
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Residential • Commercial
LUKE WHITTAKER
Fun Beach Fun Center owner James Stewart, left, talks to employee Marcus Miller while he makes a re-
pair on an e-bike. Stewart took over ownership of the popular Long Beach attraction in May.
(503)717-0555
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