Join the Club
A white 1963 Jeep Willy Wagon is the mascot of sorts of the White Caps Beach Club. Naturally, it’s topped off with a Dewey Weber longboard.
Written by Caitlin White
Photographs by Gray Malin
Michael Haber, owner of WHITE CAPS BEACH CLUB, describes his new venture as a place to eat, play, and stay, where “everyone’s a member.” A native New Yorker who was destined to be a West Coast transplant, Haber made a name for himself as a photographer before getting into the hospitality game by investing in properties in and around Summerland and Carpinteria. The latest is his just-opened beach club, which is located on a half acre next to the Nugget on Lillie Avenue in Summerland.
Anchored by a vintage-trailer-turned-restaurant serving lobster rolls (with fresh seafood from Maine) and other fare, the place has plenty of room for guests to spread out, enjoy a glass of wine or two, play some backgammon, and listen to live music. The terraced hillside hints at opportunities for future amenities like a stage, a movie screen, and a private banquet space. “I wanted to create the same energy I grew up with,” Haber says. “People don’t have to buy a lot; they can just enjoy and hang out, play backgammon, and listen to some Frank Sinatra.”
Legendary surfer and board shaper Renny Yater in the 1960s
The club officially opened in late May, and Haber plans to begin a local membership system with perks like an automatic discount on purchases and monthly special wine tastings.
At the top of the hill, three short-term rentals—named Sail, Surf, and Sand, all of which have ocean views—cap off the project. Each suite has a separate bedroom, living room, and kitchen areas for guests. The middle unit, Surf, includes two queen beds, while Sand’s railroad-style layout accommodates a kitchen, a tiny office, a king bed, an outdoor deck with two seating areas, and an adjoining fire pit. But underneath it all, an East Coast influence is still evident.
“I was one of the first people to shoot and stay at the Surf Lodge in Montauk,” Haber says. “I always said, ‘One day I’d love to emulate that on the West Coast.’ And now I am.” @whitecapsbeachclub
