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Did Club Ripples learn nothing from the Ten Salon debacle? Nothing good comes of reality tv. I wish them luck.

Geez ... I wanna like this place again, but Ripples needs a new owner almost as much as the LA Dodgers!
As a good EX customer of this place, I can tell you it shouldn't take Tabatha too long to figure out that the owners have no sense of community and just see us as dollar signs.
I have been choosing to spend my gay dollars at places that appreciate their clients and even GIVE BACK to the community!

@ Steve0626: Gay dollars??? Must everything be politicized???? Get a life.

As a straight woman I have never been so unwelcome with straight friends at a club in the 90s as one of the many times we went to meet friends and dance at Ripples. We went to meet a friend (he's gay) there and we got there early and 2 friends were kissing yes, a guy and a girl and the owner came up and told us "do you know what kind of club this is?" and then said "take your business elsewhere". We have never been back and I have never since that day been treated so badly at any club EVER! Your loss of business is due to your own bad Karma!

No matter what makeover they do, this place will never be the same. The owners are rude and the staff is not easy on the eyes. They have the highest employee turnover, because of their bad management skills, employees have to chase the owner every other week to get their pay checks, and most of the time 8 out of 10 times the checks are no good.

Perhaps, their reputation is well deserved. Having employees work for them, not paying them, checks bouncing, having employees at times work 9hrs no lunch, no over time etc. Perhaps, for firing employees without cause simply because he felt like it. Or maybe because ome of the owners would be vacationing in Italy while employees weremt being paid. Sad....sad.....sad. They don't deserve the help.

"Ripples used to be the gay hot spot, but now it's empty seven nights a week and they blame the competition and their staff." NO the problem is the owners, bad customer service, cheap drinks and old/tired employees. This makeover was done a few months ago, and it still looks the same, still dead seven days a week. They need to tear that thing down and start from scratch, hiring good looking employees, better drinks and a new owner.

Have you never been given a second chance in life? Have you never been willing to allow someone or something to change? If you have been to Ripples over the last few months, then surely you have seen some change. If you haven't, then before you continue to bitch and assume what the place is like. Come down. Have the balls to see how enjoyable Ripples is and can be. Don't hide behind your computer screen and bash an establishment, where its employees take pride in where they work. Your concern of the employees not being paid. Thats their issue, not yours. There are bartenders and staff that have worked for Ripples for 1-6years. If they were so unhappy, the staff wouldn't still be there. I dare you to name a staff member that is not friendly or welcoming. And if you do, I am sure they no longer work at Ripples. The staff is helping keep John and Larry in check. There is no weekly cover, except for Bear Bar, Gay Pride and Unzipped. Where else do you go to see a Drag Show and not pay a cover? Where else can you go and not pay for parking? Ripples has some of the largest drinking glasses in the LBC. Where else can you go in LB, that is clean, offers a huge patio, continues to improve its decor, has great DJ's. Well????? If people were coming to Ripples to party, drink and have a good time. There would be no need for a cover. But Drag Queens, DJ's, Go-Go Dancers all cost money. Its annoying there are so many cowards out there that hide behind their computer and just talk shit. Man up, come to Ripples. Allow the staff the opportunity to show you a great time. John and Larry are in check these days. We will all make sure of that.

@I_Hate_H8ers "There is no weekly cover, except for Bear Bar, Gay Pride and Unzipped." BTW, I was there a few weeks on a Thursday for the Drag Show, and there was a $5 cover, you might want to get your facts straighten up Mr. I_Hate_H8ers

I really don't care if the tabatha take over show does the place good. The place has gone beyond the dumpsters. The bouncers don't add to the likeness of the club especially a guy named Manny who's totally rude and likes to pick fights. I do wish them luck!

Hey Haters...This is an online forum, so naturally people would be writing from behind their computer screens. That being said, I know many people who have no problem publicly stating that Ripples has become the worst gay bay in Long Beach. It has the highest cover (don't know how you claim there is no cover), and the small dixie cups the drinks are served in are absolutely not the biggest drinks in Long Beach. Obviously your comments are skewed because you either work there or are one of the owners. All I can say as a local is that I stopped going there when I'd leave with an empty wallet and no buzz. On the contrary, I can go to the Suites (which is packed with good looking patrons on Thursday and Friday nights), and for very little coin get a nice buzz going. The way you build your business (or destroy it as is the case with Ripples) is through reputation. The only thing that could save Ripples is new ownership/management. The sad thing is, there is no reason it shouldn't be the busiest bar in Long Beach. It's a great venue, layout, patio, location with ample free parking (something no other bar has). Too bad the negatives outshine the positives. Not hiding behind a computer screen here, feel free to contact me directly.
PHILIP.MANLY@yahoo.com

I have been living in Belmont Shore for the last 12 years and used to go every weekend,one time my boyfriend and I stopped by after the beach and had 3 drinks each,we run into some friends and forgot to get the credit card,we went back to pick up the card and they told us we didn't have to sign anything. A month later we got the statement and they charge 300.00 dls to our c/c but since we knew John Garcia from being regular customers we talked to him and he told us there was nothing he could do about it. That was 6 years ago and we haven't and won't be there anytime soon. That is just wrong that he didn't even try to take care of that. Oh well his loss

Ripples had it'd day, a long long time ago in a land far far away, I'm talking the 90's when Long Beach was fun and not Police State, Larry Herbert and John Garcia created something wonderful, for it's time, but like all good things it must come to an end. I think it's time Larry and John just sell the club and retire, they're both pushing a hundred and their senility is getting in the way of them making good business decisions, actually I am honestly surprised the City of Long Beach hasn't tried some inane tactic to try and shut Club Ripples down. Anyhow, I'm sure the club isn't long for this world anyhow, after Tabatha gets her dragon claws on anything the business dies shortly there after

I rarely reply to individual people, but I have to say to I Hate H8ers that your attitude is part of the problem. You think you are defending the owners, but it comes across as an attack on anyone who disagrees with you. In other words, rather than the customer (or potential customer) is right, it's that the customer must be wrong. I think Ripples has survived so long because it truly is a great location, but that has got almost nothing to do with what is going on inside the bar. Better to go to a friendly dive, than an unfriendly one.

I am very disturbed after reading ALL of these comments. Ripples was the first GAY bar that I went to when I was trying to figure out exactly who I was..back in 1987. I remember getting off of work from The Belmont Athletic Club and driving down to Ocean Blvd (the longest drive of my life), getting out of my car, and walking into the club...I was so scared and full of so many conflicting emotions. I had one drink and left...feeling a little more confident in the person that I thought I might be. Through the years, Ripples played an important role in my identity as a gay man. I had the chance to play on a Volleyball team--Ripples was our Corporate sponsor. We were young guys, going to school, without a lot of money. John and Larry paid for our uniforms, flights to other states, and other expenses that we could not afford. At one point, our team won the National Title. We represented Ripples in Gay Pride parades and were proud to have them as our sponsor.
The recent economy has been challenging for most people. As times change, so does the expectations of the community. It would be a challenge for anyone in the situation that the owners of this club have found themselves. It is a trying time for most people. The disrespectful comments that I have read here are offensive. I never worked for the Club so I am not aware of their payroll situation. But, as a longtime friend to Ripples, I am grateful to you for being there for me in my early 20's. You have played a significant role in my life. I hope that as an establishment, you are able to figure out the next stage in your being and make it work!! Reinvent yourself like Madonna! You can do it! I will be there to celebrate with you as you reach your goals! Andy

To everyone that has commented on here, kudos to you for being brave to speak your mind. But for a moment I want everyone to think about something, John & Larry's issues with payroll, the poor attitude toward "the change of cliental," the plastic dixie cups, etc. These things are merely social change, and NO we can't change the past but we can choose to shape the future. Now as a current employee of the bar yes I could talk about the good and the bad but I won't. What I will tell you is that if you don't want to support John and Larry, don't, you don't have to like them. But I do ask that you come in give US the employees the chance to show you that WE HAVE taken over the bar. We want nothing more then to give each person a great time and to have everyone bring their friends and hang out with us. Ripples was THEE club to go to for the very simple reason, you guys (the guests) were there. You are the ones that make this place, and I can say I love being given the opportunity to give every guest a great place to have fun. So I ask you again give US the Ripples crew the chance, help us so we can continue to give back to the community. We want to hear from you our patrons, and I will even personally "not hide behind the computer" and would love to hear the feed back from you guys about what YOU want to have, hear, see, and enjoy at your Club Ripples. Help us give you the experience you want, thats why were are here. Lets make this a great place again, because its OUR bar, OUR community, and OUR turn to stand up and have a voice and actually play a part in shaping OUR city.

Feel free to email any suggestions and comments or just come in and talk with us :)

Whallenbeck@yahoo.com

If Tabatha had just done her homework, she would have found that the Public Records (12 Granada) indicate the property is in Pre-Forclousere and moved on to a place that might have a better chance at making it. The parking at this bar is great but need we forget how many people have been beat up in that lot. Now let's move on to the bars GREAT location overlooking the ocean, but when you get inside, it's just like any other old bar in Long Beach that needs a severe remodel. I have worked with John and Larry in the past, so sad to say, most of the negative comments do hold merit. I have yet to meet an ex-employee that has anything good to say after they have left, especially those who have had to take them to the labor board to get paid. A business is built on the owner's commitment to the employees and customers, to be fair and thats where Club Ripples fell apart. I can only hope that the existing employees are now being treated with dignity and respect. Since the owners proclaim they have done so much for charity, maybe they should post the checks that have been issued to charitable foundations. Oh, and by the way, it takes 14 years for your plastic cups to decompose! Truly, you are not thinking about our planet!!

I started going to Ripples when I was 21, that was 35 years ago. The bar has the best location & parking in town. I have never had a watered down drink & always had great service. John & Larry are an asset to the community & are like family to those like me who know them well. The bar has gone thru so many changes & the addition of the widows to bring the light & ocean breeze in on those warm spring & summer days was one of the best things that happened. The plastic cups are gone, replaced with glass again, the walls have a fresh coat of paint & the patio is the best in Long Beach.I have seen both employees & customers come & go, many do return. To own a bar for 40 years says a lot & if business is down, the economy is a good place to start. I have been to other bars in town & the business is just as slow.
To the person who made the comment about the bus running up Broadway to steal customers, you need to do your home work. The entire purpose of the bus was to provide a free ride to & from the PRIDE Festival. Anyone that rode the bus could make their own choice as to where they would go along the route. I commend John & Larry for providing the service to allow people to park in one place & not have to drive after drinking a lot.
Times are changing & there are probably more improvements yet to come for Ripples. I look forward to them. If I have any negative things to say about Ripples or John & Larry, I won't hide behind a computer but will say it in person...

I think what this whole thing boils down to is a common respect for each other and it seems like over the years at Ripples , the owners do not really appreciate, respect, or value their employees or customers. Its business 101 ! Keep your employees happy , and they will want to do the best job they can for you. Keep your customers happy, and they will keep on coming back. The place is dead for a reason people. When employees are not getting paid on time, and have to chase John down week after week, while he avoids them at times, that is going to make for an upset staff. I knew an employee whose bank refused to take the checks anymore because they were no good on so many occasions. How embarrassing! This is why the turnover rate is ridiculous. New employees get hired on and then are not on payroll for weeks and weeks. They get sick of the stories and the constant run around and leave, which is totally understandable. I'm sure its super frustrating to know that one of the owners may be on vacation and is absent and may not realize the extent of what's going on .It seems like Larry is never there, and doesn't really handle the money side of any of it. Yet he has the money to go on trips etc, while his employees are chasing paychecks down that are always weeks behind. As owners, that should be the first thing they are making sure is happening, paying people the money they are owed! If you cant afford to pay people, maybe you should considering selling your business to someone who can run it more efficiently or hire someone to help you figuring out where all of your money is going. I'm so surprised that John has not been taken to court on more occasions , being that there are so many labor rules being broken there.
Also, blaming your staff for the bar being dead, is obviously not the answer. As a long time patron of a long time employee ,I support Ripples. Otherwise, I really would not have another reason to do so. They need to wake up and realize their staff is the reason people show up. To blame someone else for your own business failing is just ridiculous. Its not their fault that bridges have been burnt over the years within the community . I mean just read the comments above, its totally obvious.(not all but more than a few) If it wasn't for the staff I wouldn't be there at all. l. I have to say that it's really disheartening to hear the types of practices that go on there. Yes, sure, nobody has to stay there, but in economic times like these its definitely hard to find work and lets be honest bartending is not a bad gig, if any of you have ever done it before. So I can see why some put up with the nonsense. I think they sort of have a "take the good with the bad " type attitude.
Listen, I'm not saying that the owners at Ripples are bad people or that they didn't have a very successful business at Ripples in the 70's-90's,or that they never gave to the community or helped people in need . However, maybe its time to sell, or put in the hands of someone young who can really turn it around. In my opinion that's the only way. Ive been there since the recent takeover and I can say that some of the things you are all complaining about have changed. So if that's all you were griping about maybe you should give it a chance and see what the staff is trying to bring back to ripples. I know they are using glasses and they've dropped cover on most Saturdays.Im not sure how the airing of this will help but at any rate I think the staff definitely deserves your support and a chance. As far as John and Larry, I wish them the best of luck. I hope that this makes things better for Ripples and not worse.

I have been a part of the Long Beach "gay" scene since the early 80's and I can tell you...Ripples did indeed have it's "day" when everyone went there on Sunday's, packed dance floor great outside patio bar and food! etc. but for all the pleading for second chance's all I can say is THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL SECOND CHANCES!!! but with the bad "blood" that they've created and the theft during fundraising events (money and food drives), stealing from charitable causes the lousy drinks (I was there the night the ABC and police walked in and took all the bottles behind both bars, when they fired the bartender for not stopping them) bad, nasty owners. Oh! and just FYI Long Beach's "gay" scene owes it's existence to people like Jimmy Casto, Patty & Genny (Details) & AJ Smith (Man's Country)...NOT John Garcia and certainly not Larry...Ripples has gotten EXACTLY what it deserves and no reality show is going to change that...

As an ex employee and someone who turned their liquor store around from 0, Larry is a loud mouth b**** and John is his grunt. If they didn't treat their employees like crap and BLAME everything on them, if they PAID their employees when it's due, if they... Enough with the IF They's, their in pre-foreclosure, public record. Back taxes, lack of business or community sense. Tabitha could only help them, if she bought the place, for $1.

Really...small pastic cups? We all know the customer is getting ripped off and the price that goes with that 4oz drink? (ice takes up the rest) I believe the only reason they called her is for the new make-over! I truly hope this wake up call get's John and Larry to find a REAL MANAGER and they stay home. But again....time will tell!

So this is where everyone gathers around on the beach and toasts to ripples going down in flames because of its terrible owners

hurray! or so i hope

Its just a building with a name. It needs a new name and new owners. And yes it should remain gay. These 2 hoodlums need to go as the community will never forgive their evil deeds over the years. Problem is, they cannot sell because a new owner would have to get permission from the neighbors to reopen. The neighborhood wants this closed. And the coastal commission limits building to 3 story. A condo builder would never get his money back on such a small lot. Karma reigns supreme and these two will rot away in the sludge they produced.

Enough is Enough! I am current employee of Ripples and have been employed by Ripples for 11 years (as a bartender, promoter, manager, graphic artist etc.). I also have been a customer of Ripples since 1990 when I turned 21. No Alcohol is ever watered down nor has the ABC come in and taken bottles of alcohol. Larry does not go into other clubs and take pictures of anything. That is ridiculous. I have worked many fundraising events that have raised funds for many organizations as well as food drives for churches and hospices, toy drives for children, feeding the homeless downtown and bringing them fresh food and clothes with the entire staff. We also participated in beach clean-ups across the street. I have watched John Garcia give $20 Bills to homeless people on the street (over 100 times) I have been treated with respect and have always been paid. I live a great life and am happy to be a part of Ripples. I also worked at The Paradise many years ago and enjoy hanging out there on a weekly basis. I will not hide behind a fake name and falsely accuse anyone of anything.

My name is William Cuccio

The community doesn't hide behind a computer falsely accusing anyone of anything, its pure facts, you can see by the attendance at the club that everything above is nothing but the truth.

@Randy, the "makeover/upgrade" has already been done, it was recorded last year around October, so pretty much the "makeover/upgrade" has already been done. Interesting it still looks crappy, same trolls working and same a** hole owners, one would think she would have gotten rid of the owners, hire hot new employees and tear that dumb down and build it back up.

Sad when employees and the phoney baloney manager have to kiss 'A' big time. Those crooks need to go and a whole new remodel, new owners and new staff need to come in. No guarantee but maybe, just maybe the joint will still be in biz by pride in May.

Look up evil Queen in the dictionary and Larry Heberts picture will come up look up criminal and John Garcias will come up. I guess putting yourself on national TV was not such a good idea when the truth comes out in all the online forums.

Trolls? really? Im pretty sure almost near all of us are great looking so maybe you should come see what your talking about before you say things like that.

I feel so bad for the owners & current employees, BUT everything said above 100% accurate.

Comments here are overwhelmingly negative, which tells me the real problem lies with the OWNERS. They can have their trolls come in here and try to defend their business, but reality is that when your bar is EMPTY most of the time, you have a problem.

I lived in LB in the early 90s and I remember their bar always having very little people on saturdays. That's why I would go to West Hollywood instead. On Sunday's they would have a BBQ beer bust, but the owners never made people feel comfortable or appreciated, especially John's fat sister. It does not surprise me that they have lost a lot of their clientele.

CUSTOMER SERVICE .... if you don't have it from owner down to employees, then people will not patronize your business.

Apparently these morons didn't learn anything from Tabatha, still serving in PLASTIC CUPS and have a cover EVERY Thursday, Friday & some Saturdays, claiming its a "SPECIAL EVENT" Special Event my A$$.

You can see for yourself in ALL the pictures they post themselves on FB that they serve their drinks using plastic cups and you can also see their Cover posted on their flyers. They even have a cover on Thursday for their Drag Show with C talent Drag Queens, LAME, LAME, LAME

I was there one time many years ago. Wasn't impressed and never went back. After watching this show I can't believe that anyone would actually patronize this place. High cover charge and bad drinks? It's obvious the owners are only out to rip off anyone they can.

Watched the show last night.
In order to save the establishment
The owners should consider selling

I watched the show last night and I thought that the owners came off better than they probably usually do. They were on their best behavior I'm sure. BUT, I really, really think they just need to sell the place and get whatever they can out of it to settle their debts and retire. The bar needs a makeover for sure, but the main problem is all the years of bad blood between the establishment and the community. Even though the bar itself is out of the way for a lot of people, it IS the only gay beach bar between, where, Mexico and Canada? So sell, and enjoy your time off.

I saw this place on bravo and felt bad. The two lesbian bartenders, Nicole and Adrienne, are super hot and I wish they worked in a gay bar in FL, where I live.

At the beginning of the makeover show Tabatha called into Ripples and told Larry and John to come out front. That's because she did not want to pay the cover charge to get in.

@- Adrienne I really, really want to like Ripple's again. It would be really, really great if it were the premiere Long Beach gay bar. It DOES have so much going for it.

Unfortunately, after seeing the mentality of the owners, who obviously regarded their clients as less than second class citizens, and whose business acumen is nonexistent (clearly they have squandered the legacy of Ripple's to be in the shape they are in) it is extremely difficult to consider parting with my hard earned dollars to pad their pockets. I mean really, how could I possibly want to make someone rich that at one time thought it appropriate to charge for tap water?

And yes, $10 for a martini is a bit much. Honestly, nobody needs a drink with that much alcohol. How do you expect people to pace themselves? Try a lighter signature drink for less money if you want.

As for drag queens? Really? Still? That's all Ripple's could come up with? I'm sure some gays enjoy the camp but really, an indie or alternative music night would probably be a bigger draw. Or at least attract a more diverse, perhaps hipper crowd from all over the LA area. And we all know that "Bear" night is just another name for "mirth and girth." Bottom line--these "nights" are nothing new, and each is one dimensional, at best.

If you really want to see Ripple's succeed, I would suggest urging the owners to cut their losses and re-group by selling the bar to someone who can save it before they totally run it into the ground.

I have owned my own club for 5 yrs and it's not easy. I have learned to serve my community, give excellent customer service, listen to my customers and value my # 1 asset who are my 30 employees. It has taken me a few years to figure this out and I have made many mistakes along the way.
John and Larry find the passion and keep this Long Beach institution alive. Listen to your customers now!

here are some facts about John Garcia that you all should know before you defend him or even feel sorry for him. He has spent the past 10 years of his miserable life trying to get people to come back to ripples by unsuccessfully ruining the businesses of the competing clubs and bars. His antics include calling the police (and having his friends call too) claiming that illegal activity was going on inside the competing clubs likes sex and drugs. He's called the fire marshal several times on several other competitors claiming that they were filled over capacity. He's also gone as low as calling ABC so that the competing businesses could be falsely investigated. As a bartender who works in long beach myself I have been directly affected by his low class antics and I think it's really pathetic of him to resort to such bs. He goes around whining about how the other clubs have taken his bartenders, but he fails to realize they leave because he doesn't pay them on time and most of the time, his paychecks bounce! So of course they are going to go work somewhere else! I watched the take over and I felt so sorry for those poor bartenders who have to suffer because of John Garcia's horrible reputation. One night years ago I watched John Garcia grab some guy and throw him out of ripples just because he was friends with the owner of a competing bar. That night he permanently lost about 5 customers, including myself. I also know for a fact that a few of the other club and bar owners have approached Garcia to make peace but of course his reaction was very unwelcoming and he refused to accept any compromise. Last but not least - he's a greedy thief who has taken money from the community (including fundraisers) to try and save his sinking ship . It's absolutely no wonder why he has so many enemies in the community. So let's be realistic here- The only way ripples is going to survive is if the two owners hand it over to someone else. sorry but that's the ultimate fact!