Around 1903, a pair of selvedge denim jeans only cost 79 cents in the U.S. At that point, the Wright Brothers had just flown for the first time at Kitty Hawk; overalls were the big look, as Levi’s wouldn’t invent belt loops until the ‘20s; and Stronghold, an L.A.-based brand introduced in 1895, was the most popular blue jean maker around.

A hundred years later, two old friends and avid denim collectors decided it was time for Stronghold’s return. Michael Cassel, a veteran of Von Dutch, and Michael Paradise, the former design director of North Beach Leather, bought the brand rights, researched it like madmen, and reintroduced it last fall.

Come the end of June, Stronghold will open its first shop in an 80-year-old former boxing gym (favored by Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard) on Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice Beach. “This street’s got a big heritage,” explains Paradise of the draw. “There’s a rich art, music and surf scene. Also, Abbot Kinney is a seven-block strip that you can actually walk, which is rare in L.A.” 

Here, Paradise offers up his favorite spots on the strip. In his own words: 

Equator Books
Anyone who likes printed matter will love this place. It’s fantastic. They have an amazing collection of vintage and out-of-print books, eclectic art books, first editions – all really well-edited. I just got an old edition there of “Inter Ice Age 4” by Kobo Abe, published in 1970. 

Surfing Cowboys
They have vintage furniture and knick-knacks, all surfing and Western themed. Antique surfboards, kitsch-y furniture from the ‘30s and ‘40s that people had at their beach houses back then. The store’s been there a long time. The guy who opened it was a pioneer.

Pamela Barish
If I’m with a woman, I always take her here.

The Other Room
A New Yorker opened this bar last year. It’s pretty slamming – great crowd.

Hal’s
It’s the oldest place on the street. All the old-school artists hung out there. When there was nothing there, there was this upscale bar/grill, and it’s still the hippest place around.

Axe
It’s pretty tasty. Stark, Zen. The food is really fresh, and they have a great back garden.

Wabi Sabi
I go there a lot, and it’s always packed. 24/7. Good sushi, and a good scene.

Go There:

Stronghold opens the end of June at 1625 Abbot Kinney Blvd

Equator Books, 1103 Abbot Kinney Blvd; (310) 399-5544; equatorbooks.com

Surfing Cowboys, 1624 Abbot Kinney, (310) 450-4891; surfingcowboys.com

Pamela Barish, 1327 1/2 Abbot Kinney Blvd; (310) 314-4490

The Other Room, 1201 Abbott Kinney; (310) 396-6230

Hal’s Bar and Grill, 1349 Abbot Kinney Blvd; (310) 396-3105

Axe, 1009 Abbot Kinney Blvd; (310) 664-9787

Wabi Sabi, 1635 Abbot Kinney Blvd; (310) 314-2229