Long Beach-based Rosebud Publishing, headed by Dennis and Sharon McDougal has purchased Local Concierge magazine in Costa Mesa for an undisclosed price estimated to be in the low six figures.
Raven Publications Inc. in Costa Mesa founded Local Concierge, a free glossy quarterly magazine featuring OC tourist destinations, nearly two years ago. Former owners Joe and Christy Nowak invested $200,000 to launch the magazine in March 1999. The magazine is distributed in the rooms of 115 OC and Los Angeles hotels, with a monthly circulation of 25,000. The magazine has shrunk by half since its debut from 120 pages to 64 pages for the most recent summer issue.
The Nowaks said they decided to sell the magazine to spend more time with their family.
Sharon McDougal is a regional vice president of California Federal Bank and oversees 24 branches from Long Beach to Corona del Mar. Dennis McDougal is a former entertainment writer for the Los Angeles Times who has authored six books.
The McDougals have moved the magazine’s headquarters to Long Beach and plan to debut it on newsstands in the fall with a $3 cover price. The magazine operates with a staff of seven, including editor Barbara DeMarco Barrett and advertising director Steve Fry, and also contracts with freelancers.
