DTLB Holiday Shopping 2021 | Downtown Long Beach Alliance

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Shopping in Downtown Long Beach is like partaking of a gourmet buffet, varied in flavor and striking in originality. A full range of shopping options is on the Downtown menu, from big outlet stores to small businesses where unique gifts can be found for folks of all ages, interests, and tastes. With that in mind, we are proud to present 26 of the many independent Downtown shops where distinctive gifts are available right now — not waiting to be offloaded from a cargo ship. Downtown Long Beach is now serving, and you are invited. In addition to the local store ideas below, you can also download the separate DLBA Shop Small Holiday Shop and Dine Guide, which includes a chance to win $500 in gift cards redeemable at local DTLB businesses.

J GRAPHIX STUDIO
404 East Third Street
Monday – Friday, 10am to 5pm

This graphics and silk screen shop, which also features the “Long Beach Collection” clothing line, is owned and operated by John Ramirez, who has run the shop for six years after serving a lengthy apprenticeship in the apparel industry. He offers complete in-house design and screen printing services. “We focus on quality material and the best printing we can provide,” said Ramirez. His simple-but-evocative Long Beach Collection (LBC) logo is available on t-shirts, shorts, hoodies, caps, tote bags, and beanies, in a variety of styles for men, women, and children.

VIDA PLANT SHOP
748 Pine Avenue
Wednesday – Sunday, 11am to 5pm

There’s nothing quite like jungle-izing your living or work space — and Vida Plant Shop can provide you with the means to do it, whether it’s a gift for yourself or someone else. The small shop packs a remarkable assortment of houseplants onto its shelves; Crotons, Caladiums, Christmas Cactus, Monsteras, Snake Plants, Bromeliads, Ferns, and other beautiful plant varieties are waiting for you to take them home. The shop also carries handmade soil blends, spray misters, watering cans, pots, hand-rolled incense from Peru, sage sticks, macrame pot holders, greeting cards, handmade soaps, and more. Buy a plant and shop owner Sasha Pace will pot it for you free of charge. “I don’t think you can give a better gift,” said Pace. “A plant is a gift that brings life and joy into someone’s space.”

KENNEDY GRACE GALLERY
Online, with in-person viewing available by appointment

Gallerist Amy Stock specializes in providing work by local artists whose creations invoke calm and tranquility. Many of the paintings she offers are inspired by nature. Also available in her online catalog are Christmas ornaments, note cards, cashmere scarves, and other original creations. Stock provides updates about her in-person shopping events on Instagram, including the December edition of the Second Saturday Artwalk, where she’ll be displaying some of her wares outside of District Wine in the Lafayette Building, 144 Linden Avenue. Stock’s in-person gallery is located in the Lafayette as well; Contact her for an appointment.

RECORD BOX
930 Pacific Avenue
Monday and Tuesday, Thursday – Sunday, 11am to 5pm

If you love music — especially when it’s spinning on a turntable — then Record Box is a must. The shop is packed with collectible vinyl: Old-school jazz and hip-hop, electronica, and rare grooves from many other genres. “Digital music files are convenient, but people want something tangible, that they can hold in their hand,” said shop owner Jose Jurado, an audio engineer and entertainment industry veteran, who has created a hang-friendly space where audiophiles can relax on the sunny back patio or play a game of chess while listening to their favorite cuts. He even has a small drum kit and a bass guitar with amp set up and ready to go, in case someone feels the need to lay down a groove of their own. Guest DJs often make use of Jurado’s two turntables in his very engaging shop.

ANTONIO’S BARBER SUPPLY
742 Pine Avenue
Monday – Friday, 8:30am to 5pm, Saturdays by appointment or will-call only.

On Pine Avenue for over 70 years (it was formerly Arnold’s Barber Supply), this shop is a true throwback. Although it caters mainly to professional barbers, anyone can buy from its selection of old-school hair care products. Pompadour-wearing rockers can keep their ‘do together with various pomades and tonics, and guys who want a bracing aftershave that reminds them of their first haircut can find quite a variety of them here. One of the Long Beach area’s only barber supply shops, Antonio’s offers a full complement of haircutting gear: razors, smocks, towels, shaving cream brushes, etc. The shop also carries gift-y items such as backpacks, refrigerator magnets, and jewelry.

LONG BEACH VINTAGE ETC
737 Pine Avenue
Tuesday, Thursday – Saturday, 11am to 5pm, Sunday, noon to 5pm

Occupying two storefronts, this huge antique shop features collections by over 30 vendors, and has something for everyone. Gift hunters could spend all day roaming its aisles of antiques which span many styles and eras. From vintage Christmas ornaments to Brownie Cameras and Viewmasters, board games, kitchenware, vintage clothing, framed artwork, ’70s lunch pails and ’80s laser discs, Long Beach Vintage Etc. is the perfect place to score a unique and eclectic gift.

MABEL’S GOURMET PRALINES
625 Pine Avenue
Tuesday – Saturday, noon to 5pm

Mabel is the Mother of shop owner Saundra Christmas, who, for 15 years, has turned locals on to the divine desserts Mabel used to serve her in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Mabel’s Pralines, similar to peanut brittle, are made from pecans, butter, sugar, and vanilla, and are available in single bars and various bag sizes. Her Banana Puddin, a traditional Louisiana dessert Mabel used to make on Sundays, features fresh bananas and vanilla wafers. Saundra offers this exquisite dessert in sizes ranging from individual to party, which will feed 75 people. “I’d like to invite everyone who enjoys fine desserts to come to our place,” said Christmas.

1897LB
438 East First Street
Monday – Saturday, 11am to 6pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm

“I design product that is meant to help you represent and promote Long Beach,” said shop owner Jose Mercado, an artist by trade who designs everything in his store. His Long Beach-themed logos and graphics are available on t-shirts for men, women, and children. He also carries stickers, facemasks, keychains, socks, duffel bags — even custom Long Beach red solo cups, when it’s time to rock the party Long Beach style. Stop in and pick up something that will identify you as a proud member of the Long Beach community.

BURKE MERCANTILE
435 East First Street
Thursday – Saturday, noon to 5pm, open by appointment on Tuesday and Wednesday

This classy boutique focuses on conscious fashion and contemporary design curated by owner Maggie Stolle. She works with small independent brands and makers from all over the world, filling her shop with their sustainable and ethically-produced wares. In addition to clothing, Burke Mercantile offers a great variety of gift items, including coffee cups, candles, throw pillows, greeting cards, wall art, ceramics, shoes and boots, jewelry, wallets, sunglasses, and vases.

ASH BAY SOAP CO.
433 East Broadway
Tuesday – Sunday, 10am to 6pm

The symphony of smells that hits you when you enter this shop is reason enough to realize that in-person shopping is the real thing. Owner Cathleen Cleveland has stocked her shop with a comprehensive collection of healthy soaps, available in vegan, natural, and organic varieties, along with goat’s milk soap, which is great for those with sensitive skin. Cleveland also sells candles, massage oil, moisturizers, bath balms, and other personal care items. Check out some of these soap “flavors”: Vanilla Clove, Grapefruit Margarita, Honey Almond, Pine Tar, Meadow Breeze, Mango Melon, Gardenia, Cotton, Blossom, Peach Orchard. Those are just a few. Stop in and let your olfactory senses be your guide.

VILLAGE TREASURES
247 East Broadway
Tuesday – Saturday, 11am to 7pm

An East Village mainstay for over 20 years, Village Treasures feels like a museum — but its collection of world imports, with an emphasis on African arts and crafts, is all for sale. The shop is packed with tribal and contemporary artifacts from India, Indonesia, Thailand, and the many regions of the vast continent of Africa. Owner Max Viltz also offers clothing, jewelry, books, essential oils, masks, furniture pieces, baskets, pillows, and personal care products. For a world traveler — or someone who just wants to travel in their imagination — Village Treasures is magical.

SEAMS BOUTIQUE
427 East First Street
Wednesday – Friday, noon to 5:30pm, Saturday, 12:30 to 6pm, Sunday, noon to 5pm

This shop is a hip blend of surf and skateboard culture mixed with eclectic Americana. Long and short surfboards are on sale, as are some punk-y, rock and roll-y skateboards. These are complemented by mainly Made In USA clothing, shoes, boots, backpacks, and totes. Seams also stocks surfboard fins, wax, and leashes. You’ll be a big hit after you pick up a longboard, deck yourself out in a Pendleton-style shirt, and go cruising down Pacific Coast Highway, vintage surf music blaring from your car radio.

HELLADA GALLERY
117 Linden Avenue
Monday – Friday, 2pm to 7pm, Saturday, 2pm to 8pm, Sunday, 2pm to 5pm

Get yourself into the East Village groove with a visit to the Hellada Gallery. Long Beach artists who work in a variety of styles and mediums are on exhibit regularly. Within the gallery is a side room featuring gemstone jewelry with designs inspired by nature and created by mostly local artists. Handmade fairies, dragonflies, scarves, hand-carved wooden boxes and other items are available for gifting that nature lover you know. Linger outside and soak up the East Village vibe before continuing on your Downtown holiday shopping voyage.

MADE by Millworks
Online and Pop-Up Only at 242 Pine Ave

Customers can sip and shop with MADE and Elinor this holiday season at their pop-up location – see times below. In one space, patrons can shop gifts from over 100 local makers and artists while they enjoy beers, wines, and ciders that are made locally and/or made by women. All ages are welcome, but because they are licensed as a bar, vaccination status verification is required to come inside. However, anyone can still shop online and enjoy free local delivery!

Pop-Up Hours: December 3-19
Fridays | 4pm-12am
Saturdays | 10am – 12am
Sundays | 10am-8pm
December 20-23 10am-8pm
December 24 10am-3pm

PEDAL MOVEMENT
223 E 1st St, 9am-5pm

Ever wondered what that big, blue structure is on 1st and Promenade? That piece of “art-chitecture” is the home of a full-service bicycle retail store, Pedal Movement. Aaron Rickel, Marketing Manager, said, “We couldn’t be more grateful for our Long Beach community, and are thrilled that we get to help connect people with bikes all year round. Shopping locally not only lets us all here at Pedal Movement do what we love every day, but it also helps deepen our relationships with our neighbors and affords us the great joy of watching bicycles and active transportation enrich our city around us.”

THE DARK ART EMPORIUM
121 W 4th St, 12pm-7pm

You may be familiar with the “apocalyptic pizza” at The 4th Horseman, a horror-themed pizza parlor, but in the backroom of this pizza shop is a gallery of macabre art and oddities, perfect for the ultimate horror fan on your gift list. The Dark Art Emporium is an eclectic and ever-evolving mix of Fine Art and Oddities. From Dark Surrealism to New Contemporary Art, Human Skulls to Taxidermy, their elaborate rooms are filled with pieces that aren’t often found in most galleries, and never presented together.