Long Beach Stationery Shops
There’s a certain thrill that comes with receiving a letter. A letter not only expresses a level of affection for and intimacy with its reader, but honors the commitment of the person who took the time and creative energy to write it. Long Beach has many places to help with that process, shops that offer all forms of writing supplies: from beautiful stationary, to pens and pencils, as well as many letter-adjacent items like journals, notecards and greeting cards. Taking the time to write – whether letters or journal entries – speaks of a certain, intentional approach to life and these shops have all you need to live it.
MADE BY MILLWORKS
The amazing Made by Millworks (50 E. Fourth St.) packs a lot in its space. Part boutique, part gift shop and art gallery, it is a treasured landing spot for local artisans to display their wares. Among the handmade soaps, clothes and jewelry, you’ll also find fine paper goods, along with unique greeting cards as well as equally cool and distinctive pens and pencils to use with them.
BABCOCK & COOKE
This beloved little shop has been around about 30 years. Though it has occupied different spots near the intersection at Broadway and Redondo Avenue in Belmont Heights, one thing that has remained consistent at Babcock & Cooke (3405 E. Broadway) is the intimate, warm feeling once inside. They have a great selection of stationery paper and journals, and are somewhat renowned for a selection of greeting cards that are creatively, humorously unique, while still reasonably priced.
ROMANCE ETC.
The fun of walking into this shop, a full-service florist, is you can never be exactly sure what you’ll find. And indeed that also goes for writing supplies. Romance Etc (5407 E. Village Rd.), which has been around for more than 40 years, has cards and stationary and, because it’s a flower shop, also some rather lovely things you can send along with your letter including, yes, flowers.
PAPER SOURCE
Located in the 2nd & PCH (6400 E. Pacific Coast Hwy.) retail center, Paper Source offers distinctive–personalized, if desired–stationery that celebrates the art of letter writing. From blank cards to designer paper, classic to contemporary to playful, in all sizes, styles and artisanal materials, it also has all manner of invitations, greeting cards and writing implements. Its “Paper Bar” allows you to customize everything from the color of your paper to its shape–hearts and butterflies are very popular.
BLUE WINDOWS
This popular Belmont Shore destination has a loyal clientele drawn by its curated selection of gifts for occasions from bridal showers to teacher appreciation. Blue Windows (5276 E. Second St.) also has a wide selection of writing supplies, from note cards to greeting cards to a large selection of journals ranging from suede to floral. It not also has fashionable pen and pencil sets, as well as scented candles to help move them along beautifully.