The Membership
Become a Verified South Bay Local.
One card that gets you real discounts at local restaurants and shops, into members-only events, and behind the scenes of the place you love. The civic reporting stays free — your membership is what keeps it that way.
$400+
in local perks / year
12+
members-only events
100%
of coverage stays free
Choose your membership
Eat out twice a month in the South Bay and the card more than pays for itself.
Verified Local
about $8/month
The card-carrying South Bay local starter kit.
- Verified Local status — digital card, plus a real one mailed to you
- The Local Perks book — standing member discounts at partnered South Bay restaurants, shops, coffee, fitness & services
- Members-only events — monthly socials, beach cleanups, happy hours
- Early access and member pricing on ticketed events
- The Insider briefing — members-only newsletter and deeper local coverage beyond the free dispatch
- Ad-free, tracking-free — and you help keep the civic reporting free for everyone
Founding Local
about $17/month
For the ones who are all-in on the South Bay.
- Everything in Verified Local, plus:
- Founding Local status — a limited first-1,000 badge and your name on the Founders wall
- Founding rate locked for life — your price never goes up
- VIP perks — the deepest partner discounts and members-only exclusive offers
- Bring a guest — a +1 to every members-only event
- Premium experiences — quarterly member dinners and behind-the-scenes tours (the pier, City Hall, local kitchens)
- The annual Local Box — limited-run goods from South Bay makers
- Full Insider archive + local concierge — your personal “ask a local”
- 2× the impact — help sponsor a specific reporting beat
Memberships aren't live yet — join the list and we'll notify you at launch.
How it works
01 · Join
Pick your tier and become a Verified South Bay Local. Takes about a minute.
02 · Get your card
Your digital card lands instantly; the real one arrives in the mail.
03 · Save & show up
Flash your card for member discounts and RSVP to members-only events.
Where your money goes
Perks & community
Your membership funds the events, the partnerships, and the card program that connect locals to the best of the South Bay — and put real money back in your pocket at local businesses.
Independent local reporting
The rest keeps TheSouthBay.com's civic coverage free and independent — no ads, no sponsors, no paywall on the reporting that helps residents follow City Hall.
Questions
Isn't TheSouthBay.com supposed to be free?
The civic reporting stays free — no ads, no tracking, no paywall on the coverage that matters. Membership is a separate thing: local perks, events, and an insider content layer for people who want more. And it's what keeps the free stuff free.
Where do I actually get discounts?
At partnered South Bay businesses across Redondo and the beach cities — restaurants, coffee shops, retail, fitness, and services. The partner list lives in the members' Local Perks book and grows every month.
Do I have to live in Redondo Beach?
Nope. Verified Local is for anyone who loves the South Bay — residents, regulars, and transplants alike.
What does “founding rate locked for life” mean?
Founding Locals lock in today's price for as long as they stay a member. When membership pricing goes up later, yours won't.
Can I cancel?
Anytime. Membership is annual, and you can choose not to renew — no hoops.
The South Bay is better when locals show up for it — and for each other. Verified Local is how you make it official.
— TheSouthBay.com