Surprise encounters often bring the most delightful experiences, and finding great food where you least expect it is a special kind of joy. Imagine discovering a hidden culinary gem not in a bustling food district, but attached to a shoe outlet. This is precisely the unexpected charm of Skechers Food Spot, a unique outdoor eatery located at the Skechers shoe outlet in Gardena, California. This isn’t your typical shoe shopping experience; it’s a venture into surprisingly tasty territory.
The concept is inherently intriguing: a restaurant at a shoe store. This novel idea creates a cognitive dissonance that piques curiosity. Skechers Food Spot opened its doors in May and has since become a local talking point, drawing attention and visitors alike. Even those who might not have given Skechers a second thought are now finding themselves drawn to the location, not just for shoes, but for the food. It’s a testament to ingenious marketing and the universal appeal of good food in unexpected places.
Alt text: Skechers Food Spot menu highlights including Nashville spiced crispy sandwich, churros, citrus chile roast chicken sandwich, Spot double cheeseburger, and Manhattan Beach Cobb salad.
The Skechers Food Spot Experience: More Than Just a Pit Stop
Located conveniently close to the 405 Freeway in Gardena, Skechers Food Spot is an outdoor food court adjacent to the Skechers store. The setup is simple and efficient: order at one window and pick up your food at another. As you wait, you’re greeted by advertisements featuring celebrities like Martha Stewart and baseball pitcher Clayton Kershaw, adding a touch of star power to the casual setting. The atmosphere is lively, with an eclectic playlist adding to the fun, casual vibe. Picnic tables with umbrellas and a long red counter provide ample seating, and a condiment station is readily available for customizing your meal. It’s a well-thought-out space designed for a relaxed and enjoyable dining experience.
Skechers Food Spot Menu: A Deep Dive into the Dishes
Skechers, the footwear giant based in Manhattan Beach, might seem like an unlikely player in the food industry. However, Skechers Food Spot draws some interesting comparisons, particularly to the food courts found at Costco. While the menu presentation style initially echoed Costco’s – with oversized, red-bordered posters – Skechers has since refined it. The menu features familiar comfort food items, inviting comparisons in terms of quality and value.
Alt text: Costco food court hot dog combo meal, a reference point for comparing Skechers Food Spot’s value.
Costco Comparisons: Where Skechers Food Spot Needs to Catch Up
For items that overlap with Costco’s menu, such as hot dogs, pizza, soft serve, and churros, the comparison tends to favor Costco. While Skechers Food Spot’s Nathan’s Famous all-beef hot dog is satisfying and comes with the welcome addition of raw onions, its $2.50 price point can’t quite compete with Costco’s legendary $1.50 hot dog combo.
The soft serve, particularly the vanilla, is described as less creamy and somewhat icy, falling short of expectations for a $4 sundae. The chocolate soft serve fares better with a richer flavor. Pizza slices, available in pepperoni and cheese, are deemed more reminiscent of school cafeteria fare than authentic pizzeria quality, priced at $3 and $2.50 respectively.
Alt text: Diners enjoying pizza at Skechers Food Spot, highlighting the casual dining atmosphere.
Alt text: Close-up of Skechers Food Spot churros, a menu item also found at Costco food courts.
Standout Dishes: Skechers Food Spot’s Unique Strengths
However, Skechers Food Spot truly shines with items that deviate from the Costco comparison. The double cheeseburger is a definite highlight, featuring patties with beautifully browned edges indicative of the Maillard reaction, topped with pickles, diced grilled onions, and melted American cheese. At just $5, it’s a strong contender against popular smashburgers.
Alt text: Skechers Food Spot’s Spot double cheeseburger and garlic Parmesan fries, recommended menu items.
Among the chicken sandwiches, the citrus chile roast chicken sandwich stands out for its well-seasoned chicken, cheddar cheese, tomato, lettuce, and ranch dressing. While the fried chicken sandwiches, including the Nashville spiced version, are flavorful, there’s room for improvement in the coating, which was noted to detach from the chicken. This is a minor issue that could easily be rectified to elevate these sandwiches.
Alt text: The Nashville spiced crispy chicken sandwich from Skechers Food Spot.
Alt text: Manhattan Beach Cobb salad at Skechers Food Spot, featuring corn and black olives, notably without hard-boiled egg.
For salad options, the Manhattan Beach Cobb is a more compelling choice than the Caesar salad. It includes bacon, chicken, and cheese, but with the addition of corn and black olives, offering a unique twist on the classic Cobb, and pleasingly omits hard-boiled egg.
The Vision Behind Skechers Food Spot
Michael Greenberg, President and co-founder of Skechers, with prior experience in the restaurant industry, conceived Skechers Food Spot over two years ago. His rationale is simple: why not? Given the high traffic at the Gardena store, he saw an opportunity to enhance the customer experience, similar to retailers like Ikea and Bass Pro Shops that offer dining options. “Shopping and food certainly go hand in hand,” Greenberg stated, emphasizing the synergy between retail and refreshment.
Skechers collaborated with Sysco to curate the Food Spot menu, experimenting with various French fry cuts and considering other menu items like Philly cheesesteaks and chicken pies. Greenberg emphasizes that Food Spot was not a rushed project but a carefully considered endeavor to do things “right.”
Alt text: Customers reviewing the menu at the outdoor ordering window of Skechers Food Spot.
Alt text: A close-up of the flavorful Citrus chile roast chicken sandwich from Skechers Food Spot.
Regarding menu adjustments and comparisons to Costco, Greenberg notes their continuous improvement approach and positions Food Spot as serving a different need. “If you’re at Skechers, we’re not pulling from anybody else,” he explains, suggesting it’s an added convenience for Skechers customers rather than direct competition. The popularity of Skechers Food Spot is undeniable, with over 2,500 orders in a single day, prompting considerations for future expansion beyond Gardena.
Is Skechers Food Spot Worth a Visit?
Skechers Food Spot is undeniably busy, especially during lunch hours, so be prepared for potential wait times. During one visit, the wait was approximately 10 minutes in line and another 20 minutes for the food. The staff are noted to be friendly and helpful, all sporting Skechers shoes, contributing to the brand integration.
The real triumph of Skechers Food Spot seems to be its ability to draw in new customers to the retail store. For those who might have preconceived notions about Skechers, the Food Spot offers a surprising and enjoyable reason to visit the location and perhaps even consider purchasing a pair of shoes. The comfortable footwear might just be the perfect complement to a satisfying meal.
Skechers Food Spot
19000 S. Vermont Ave., Gardena, (424) 271-2361, local.skechers.com/ca/gardena/1381/
Prices: $2.50-$7
Details: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday
Recommended dishes: Spot double cheeseburger, citrus chile roast chicken sandwich, Manhattan Beach Cobb salad, garlic Parmesan fries
