Anniversary milestones are stacking up across Downtown Long Beach this summer. From businesses celebrating their first year to longtime neighborhood fixtures marking a decade or more, there’s plenty happening in the months ahead. Long Beach Vintage Etc. is even adding a birthday celebration for its longtime shop cat to the lineup. Here’s a look at the businesses marking these milestones across Downtown.
LONG BEACH VINTAGE ETC. / 737 PINE AVE.
It’s been quite a journey for this vintage collective, which officially opened its doors on Feb. 14, 2014. Originally a 2,000 square-foot space with just 15 vintage vendors, it has expanded to 7,000 square feet and has over 45 vendors selling antique furniture, kitchenware, funky vintage clothing, jewelry, vinyl records, and much more.
“We’re so incredibly proud that we’ve not just survived but truly grown,” said owner Elizabeth Kobliha. “I feel very lucky to run this strong, growing business. It’s my labor of love.”
Kobliha mentioned the history behind Pine Avenue as one of her favorite parts of owning a Downtown shop: “Our building was built in 1922. We are so fortunate to work in this beautiful, historic place. And, I absolutely love our resident ghosts! They’re still ‘working’ the floor. They make daily visits to keep things interesting.”
She went on to encourage Pine Avenue shoppers to stop in for an eclectic, curated treasure hunt. “No two booths are the same,” she explained. “It’s the perfect place to find something you never knew you needed. Of course, no visit is complete without a greeting from our official shop supervisor and the heart of the store, Likho the Cat! He’s celebrating his 15th birthday this month. He’ll be here waiting to say hello to everyone.”
5TH AVENUE BAGELRY / 247 PINE AVE.
This breakfast and lunch stop has been thriving for 10 years in the heart of Downtown, catering to locals, visitors, and commuters who love its wonderful assortment of fresh bagels.
“I took over this shop five years ago,” said owner Andy Lov. “People love the Vietnamese coffee, which is one of our specialties. We get lots of customers who fuel up on coffee, our sandwiches which feature Boar’s Head meats and, of course, our bagels.”
Ah yes – those bagels. Over 20 varieties, from basic onion or poppy seed to spinach parmesan, strawberry banana, and jalapeno cheese. They’re kettle-baked and fresh daily. There are eight varieties of cream cheese available, from plain to vegetable and honey walnut raisin, which you can have slathered on your bagel or take home in an 8 oz. container. 5th Avenue: First class!
LAURIE’S PIE BAR / 450 PINE AVE.
Owner Laurie Gray was already facing a list of challenges before she opened her shop on June 3, 2016. “Startup businesses, especially restaurants, face many challenges, including managing food costs, staffing, and lack of capital,” she explained. “Also, I had no restaurant experience. What I did have was three decades of business operations, finance and marketing experience, a lot of determination, and a Long Beach community that loves to support small businesses. We were embraced from the very beginning.
“I knew I didn’t want to run a full-service bakery,” Gray continued. “There were already plenty of bakeries, but none were dedicated purely to pie. My vision was to bring back the lost art of scratch-made pie baking. Pie is the ultimate comfort dessert, woven into so many family memories.”
She built a menu around the classics – Key Lime, Banana Cream, Dutch Apple, Mississippi Mudd – and over the years added new flavors like Crème Brûlée, Ube, Lemon Lavender, and Mexican Chocolate. Eventually she added gluten-free and vegan options, and Pet Pies for dogs!
Gray loves seeing her regulars, and also out-of-town visitors coming into DTLB for conventions or vacations. “We’ve had guests visit us from Florida, Texas, Alaska, South Carolina, Australia, England, and France, to name just a few. Pie makes people happy, and that makes me happy too,” she said.
WILDFLOWER BEAUTY & BROWS / 429 E 1ST ST.
Owner Rachelle Llanes has been proudly serving clients in Downtown Long Beach since March 2018. She started at Phenix Salon Suites and, after growing her business in that shop, moved into her own brick-and-mortar studio in the East Village Arts District in November 2020. Her shop specializes in custom brows, lashes, and permanent makeup services designed to enhance one’s natural features.
“As a Long Beach resident who’s lived in different parts of California and New York, I’ve found Long Beach, especially the East Village, to be one of the most community-driven places I’ve ever experienced. It’s one of the reasons I’m so proud to have my business here. I love our historic buildings, the architecture, and how quaint the neighborhood is,” she said.
Llanes persevered through the COVID years and is pleased to see the continued revitalization of Downtown. “Being a part of the East Village Arts District has given me such a strong sense of community with fellow business owners and our neighbors. We truly believe in creating a space where our community can connect, celebrate, and support one another.”
1897LB / 438 E 1ST ST.
Visitors to this East Village clothing shop can expect original designs on apparel created by a homegrown Long Beach artist. “We make great clothes that will make you feel proud of representing our city. We carry t-shirts, hoodies, headwear, and accessories,” said owner Jose Mercado, affectionately known as “Dire.”
The shop hasn’t gone without challenges since it opened on April 1, 2013. “The biggest one was Covid – we couldn’t open,” Mercado recalled. “We also had to board up our shop a few times due to protests.”
Mercado owns the kind of shop that’s perfect for out-of-town East Village visitors such as the ones who will be here for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. “I love the vibe and feel of this neighborhood,” he said. “It’s great to be so close to the water and have other cool businesses around. The East Village has a little bit of everything.”
Check out more Downtown businesses celebrating anniversary milestones:
J GRAPHIX STUDIO / 404 E 3RD ST.
This East Village shop, which celebrated its 11th anniversary in June, specializes in custom Graphics, screenprinting, embroidery, and engraving.
WAX N’ BLUSH / 435 E 1ST ST.
Your East Village spot for facials, eyelash tints, a variety of waxing services and much more just celebrated eight years at this location in June.
CULTURE SHROOMS / 408 E 1ST ST. #102
Downtown’s hub for everything mushroom is celebrating its fifth anniversary this summer!
ETHIKLI SUSTAINABLE MARKET / 352 E 4TH ST.
From low-waste products to cruelty-free ingredients, this shop does the research so you don’t have to! It will turn five in September.
HELLBENT SILVERSMITH / 433 E 1ST ST.
This shop is well known for its handcrafted jewelry that’s perfect for anniversaries. The East Village silversmithery celebrated its third birthday last spring.
SAFFRON MEDITERRANEAN GRILL / 245 PINE AVE.
Saffron has now been serving its amazing kebab platters, falafel, shawarma plates, hummus, mango smoothies and more Mediterranean delights in its dining room, at private events, and for online customers since January 2025.
STEADFAST CAFE / 510 E BROADWAY
A family owned shop that fuels people up with locally roasted coffees, Steadfast will be celebrating its first anniversary later this month.