PV NATIVE
MICHAEL ZISLIS
RETURNS TO HIS PV ROOTS
Written by Kristin Borden
Photographed by Erik Jay
"I was 13 years old when I got my first job and it was at the General Store sweeping the parking lot. When I was in high school I was slinging sandwiches at Kelly's Korner. The Peninsula is in my DNA."
HOME GROWN AND HOME BREWS
In order to understand the dynamics behind Michael Zislis, it is important to know about his Palos Verdes childhood and how it set the stage for his innovative entrepreneurial spirit that led him to where he is today. He boasts a huge portfolio packed with a variety of restaurants, luxury hotel concepts and a philanthropic community spirit that commands the respect of the entire South Bay.
His connection to the Palos Verdes community is one that he gratefully acknowledges. His father, George, was a cardiologist and his mother, Rose, stayed home to take care of Michael and his eight brothers and sisters. Four of the eight kids were adopted, including Michael. He was born in Compton and became part of the Zislis family at seven days old. He attended Dapplegray, Rancho Vista and Rolling Hills High School.
The Zislis family home was located behind the General Store in Rolling Hills Estates. At 13-years-old, he got a job there sweeping the parking lot on the weekends. He learned how to brew beer that same year. Before cell phones and the internet, there was Popular Science Magazine, where he got the idea to order his first home brewing kit. The Post Office next to the General Store is where he bought and mailed the money order for his first kit. “It was $16.95 plus postage and six weeks later, the kit was delivered” said Zislis. “I was experimenting and aging beer in one of the refrigerators in our garage because with nine kids, you need multiple refrigerators.” He laughed and went on to tell us that his parents thought it was part of “an experiment for a science project and at age 13, I think more than anything, I just wanted to be able to make my own alcohol to drink because I thought it was cool.”
He went to USC, was majoring in economics and was simultaneously becoming a master brewer. He realized that school wasn’t for him and dropped out to follow his passion, brewing beer. The story switches back to PV as he credits a Palos Verdes family, the Johnsons, as “giving him his first big break” by letting him lease their building in Hermosa Beach, which he says, “was the perfect location for a brewery.” This first brewery in Hermosa was funded by investors and began his epic 30-year journey of building breweries, restaurants and a nationally recognized luxury-hotel brand, Shade Hotel.
Michael’s innovative entrepreneurial spirit is the reason for his 30-year tenure. He once again rose to the occasion during the pandemic by lobbying for more outdoor seating solutions for local restaurants in the South Bay. He came up with creative ideas for matching gift cards to support his employees and while other restaurants were closing, he bought a new building for a restaurant to launch his latest and greatest, The Brews Hall in Hermosa Beach.
Coming full circle and returning to where it started continues to be a theme in this story. Twenty five years ago, he owned and opened his first brewery, Brewski’s which was at the exact same location where The Brews Hall is today. He sold Brewski’s to a business partner back then who turned it into a Mediterranean restaurant. He laughed and said, “I couldn’t even drive through Hermosa Beach for five years because I was so mad, but now I’m back!”
"Success means nothing if it is not shared with others who are less fortunate. I am grateful that my successes have afforded me the opportunity to do so."
FAMILY AND PHILANTHROPY
It is hard to tell if it was his upbringing or simply part of his makeup but once you talk to him, one thing’s for sure: he works hard and cares very deeply about his family and community. I immediately got the sense from talking to him that he loves people and that’s at the core of everything he does for his family, community and employees.
Michael lives in Manhattan Beach with his six children and they range in age from 29 to 10-year-old twins. His wife, Andrea, helped him raise the two older children from a previous relationship. Two of his children go to school in Palos Verdes. He tells us “It almost seems natural to me to have a bunch of kids since I came from a family with nine.”
We met up with him a few times this month and the more people we talked to about this story, the more kudos he got for not just his business savvy but also for his philanthropic spirit. The first time we ran into him was at Walk with Sally’s summer fundraising event, White Light White Night. As we started our walk around the food area, we noticed that most of the restaurants represented were owned by Zislis and two of our favorite samplings were from his places. Wrapping up our interview, we asked Michael to tell us one of the things of which he is most proud. “My wife knows... one of the things I am very passionate about is being asked to join the Board of Directors at Torrance Memorial Hospital.” Judith Gassner, Senior Development/Principal Gifts at Torrance Memorial, told us, “Michael has always had a passion for Torrance Memorial. Growing up with eight siblings, Torrance Memorial was the family hospital and his children were born here. Michael’s generosity knows no bounds and his entrepreneurial DNA shines in the boardroom. Gifted with unfailing good will, we are grateful for his never-ending support.”
From philanthropy to his own business ventures, Michael’s passion and love for the Peninsula and entire South Bay, shines through all that he does.
THE
BREWS
HALL
"It's a compilation of my thirty years in the restaurant and brewery business. I've got my best recipes for beers and my most popular dishes all kind of rolled into one concept."
The Brews Hall in Hermosa Beach opened this past summer and is the latest restaurant to be added to his family of restaurants. The Brews Hall is located on the Hermosa Beach pier and consists of four unique food partnerships under one roof with samplings from George Lopez’s, Chingon Kitchen, Colin Cowherd’s, The Herd, Chicken T.W.I.L.I. and Zislis’s own, Rock’N Fish. The partnership with George Lopez and Colin Cowherd has a sister location in Torrance that freshly brews the award-winning beers and seltzers that are served at The Brews Hall.
Once again, Michael Zislis’s vision to create the perfect “community hub” with great drinks and awesome food has been met with The Brews Hall.
