Shop Small Saturday in Long Beach
Small Business Saturday is an annual holiday event that aims to strengthen neighborhood business communities. Snuggled nicely between the Big Brand-laden Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday encourages people to check out local shops and the locals who own them. Long Beach has many popular, distinct shopping districts flavored heavily with local and unique retail businesses, many of which will be offering specials on Saturday. Check them out and find out what’s the big deal about shopping small.
Belmont Shore
Arguably Long Beach’s best known shopping and dining district, the majority of businesses are located on Second Street, with fashionable shops extending into Naples. Extremely strollable, Belmont Shore offers lots of options,with shops offering everything from jewelry to hardware to clothing to home decor to shoes to one-of-a-kind Christmas ornaments and a lot more. Part of that includes an array of dining options ranging from coffee houses to pubs, sandwich shops to pizzerias to sweets. This seaside area is bordered on its eastern border by Alamitos Bay and Bayshore Beach. You can also enjoy eating al fresco at one of the many sidewalk adjacent patios available on virtually every block. For a directory of shops and special offers, click here.
RETRO ROW
As its name suggests, Retro Row has a definite vibe. This fun and funky stretch of Fourth Street–between Temple and Walnut avenues–is home to a collection of uber-cool, vintage-inspired specialty shops and boutiques. The great majority are smaller shops with a curated inventory that would be hard to find anywhere else–vintage clothes, mid-century modern furnishings, vinyl records–let alone all on the same street. Most shops are owned by locals who have watched Retro Row grow in popularity and in physical size, as shoppers now stroll beyond the official borders to further cool clothing shops as well as independent book stores and vegan ice cream shops. For a directory of local shops, click here.
BIXBY KNOLLS
Known to be an exceptionally tight, family-friendly and welcoming neighborhood, Bixby Knolls shopping district–much of it centered on Atlantic Avenue–reflects this, as it has lots of locally owned shops and boutiques selling everything from home furnishings to toys, some of it with a decidedly nostalgic feel. The Shop Small event fits well with Bixby Knolls’ full calendar of events such as First Fridays where shops stay open late, many times bringing inventory out to the sidewalk, offering various specials. So, yeah, they’re used to this. It also has plenty of places to eat or get something sweet, not to mention have a craft beer. For participating shops and special offers, click here.
DOWNTOWN
The East Village Arts District is an eclectic district featuring unique boutiques and shops, not to mention galleries and art museums, located in some of the most historic and eye-catching architecture in the city. Here, you’ll find the latest fashion along with vintage items, there’s home decor, lifestyle goods, beauty and wellness products as well as, of course, lots of great local art. For more information about participating shops and specials, click here.
A few blocks to the west is historic Pine Avenue, featuring terrific architecture of its own, along with a lively nightlife scene. There’s plenty of places here to get unique food items as well as skateboards, vintage shops and lots of clothing options.
SHORELINE VILLAGE/THE PIKE OUTLETS
Located across the street from each other, Shoreline Village and The Pike Outlets offer very distinctive shopping experiences. Located directly on the waterfront, Shoreline Village gives you stunning views of the Queen Mary, Lions Lighthouse for Sight and Rainbow Harbor. It also is home to a collection of some of the most unique, charming shops offering everything from socks to souvenirs. For a list of shops, click here.
The Pike Outlets aren’t technically local shops, it actually features lots of national brands offering great values, but it actually seems to fit the spirit of the day as most of the shops are relatively small and offer significant savings. For a directory of shops, click here.