Food Center Receives License

The Torrance Licensing Review Board granted a free business license to His House Food and Clothing Center Monday despite a petition from neighboring merchants who fear the center will hurt business.

The petition, which was signed by 18 merchants, said the poor and homeless served by the center might frighten customers away from nearby businesses and might increase the crime rate in the area.

During the review session, however, only one merchant and a nearby resident spoke against the center. They asked that the city make sure the center abides by all regulations regarding trash enclosures and loitering.

Geraldene York, who previously operated the center at the Foursquare Church in Torrance for three years, said she was happy that the board sided with her.

“It’s very encouraging. We’re going to try to do our best,” she said. “But we are also tired from the struggle.”

The new center, 1103 Sartori Ave., in old downtown Torrance, served 46 people on its opening day Tuesday.

“It was more than I expected,” York said. “But everything ran smoothly as far as I could tell.”

The center, run by volunteers from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, is expected to assist about 200 families a week. The center will provide only packaged food, most of which has been donated by the Long Beach Food Bank.

York said she expects to serve families and single people, about half of whom are homeless.