Onslaught of chains pushes out stores in Belmont Shore. (Spotlight on Long Beach).

WHEN Hof's Hut opened a half century ago, it had just one counter, 15 seats and was the only late-night restaurant on 2nd Street in Belmont Shore.

These days, it's the most vibrant commercial street in Long Beach, with its eclectic collection in Long Beach, with its eclectic collection of clothing stores, candy shops, casual restaurants, neighborhood bars, eateries and beauty salons. It's a place, in other words, where there's no trouble getting an after-hours meal.

But change comes at a price. After years of mostly independently run mom 'n pop stores, the old buildings are being torn down and replaced with chains. Rents are reaching $4 a square foot, compared with the $2.50-$3 range in other areas of Long Beach.

"The street has changed dramatically," said Pepper Sparks, who cuts hair at the 70-year-old Belmont Barber Shop, where former California Gov. George Deukmejian, who lives nearby, still patronizes. "It's gone from the little mom and pops to the corporate level."

Gone is Howie's Market, a grocery store replaced by a Chipotle Mexican Grill fast-food restaurant that's owned by McDonald's Corp.

"It is definitely changing," admitted Jennifer Davis, executive director of the Belmont Shore Business Association, which organizes the street's annual Christmas Parade and Santa's Village.

Mike Sheldrake, who owns Polly's Gourmet Coffee, an independent business on the street for 26 years, remembers when Banana Republic and The Gap were among the first chains to come in a decade ago. "The general consensus of all the independents and merchants was, 'Oh, boy. We've been discovered by the big boys,'" Sheldrake said. "Now the general consensus is that they are ruining the flavor of the shore."

Big competition

Craig Hofman, president of the Hof's Hut chain founded by his parents in 1951, has closed the original restaurant on 2nd Street and replaced it with Lucille's Smokehouse BBQ, a new concept in the 12-unit company. There are three Lucille's in Brea, Torrance and north Long Beach.

"We have seen a decline in sales over the last several years, especially the breakfast business," said Hofman, born the same year his parents opened up the original Hof's Hut.

The restaurant is being converted from a pantry style venue, with turquoise and white awnings outside and murals of 2nd Street on the inside, to a Southern-themed eatery. There are bright colors, hardwood floors and African-American folk art on the walls.

Another venerable restaurant going by the wayside is the North Woods Inn, part of a small chain of log chalet restaurants with a thick layer of faux snow on the roof. When the owner died a few years ago and estate taxes needed to be paid, the building was sold in 2001 to Kurt Schneiter, head of Maverick Investments.

"The North Woods Inn didn't fit into the motif of 2nd Street," said Schneiter, who bought the place when he said he heard the location was going to be occupied by a Sav-On. "I took over the project to bring something more tasteful to the shore," he said.

Bone's eatery

In surveying 1,500 residents and businesses to see what was wanted in that location, Schneiter found the response to be an upscale restaurant and some good stores.

Schneiter has torn down all but a few walls of the inn and is building an art deco structure that will house three restaurants and two stores. One of the locations will be a restaurant owned by Christy Bono, eldest daughter of the late entertainer Sonny Bono.

Bono, who has another higher-end Long Beach restaurant called Christy's, wants to open her high-end eatery, called Bono's, early next year. Hanabi Sky, a sushi place, and Vie de France, a chain bakery and cafe, will fill the other two locations.

While chain stores continue to make inroads on the street, some independent owners believe there is room for everyone.

"Many of us feel the shore hasn't reached its potential," Schneiter said. "I could have filled my buildings three times over with the amount of demand out there.

One thing that has been hanging over Belmont Shore is something no retailer can control -- a rapist has been terrorizing the area Last week Long Beach police arrested a suspect in the case.

"There has been a significant amount of awareness, although I think we found that a lot of people felt getting out to sidewalks that were crowded at night turns out to be a secondary tier of defense," said Councilman Frank Colonna, whose district encompasses 2nd Street.