Hark back to a time when shopping on a street was a friendly, inviting experience when you visit 4th Street in Long Beach. This is a section of the city that stretches between Cherry and Junipero streets and is referred to as Retro Row. There are over 40 independent merchants who specialize in the unexpected. Among these cool and kitschy shops you will find vintage and contemporary clothing, furniture and accessories, art, antiques and collectibles, books and lots more. There are also several locally-owned restaurants, coffee shops and wine bars that add to the charm of this very unique part of Long Beach.
There are some things you never outgrow. If one of your links to your childhood is a favorite superhero, comic book series or television show, you need to pay a visit to Long Beach's Amazing Comics. This is a veritable gold mine of memories. In addition to vintage items, collectibles and comic books, Amazing Comics more than lives up to its name by offering a deep stock of new items like apparel, action figures, toys, videos, DVDs, sports cards, dolls, hardcover books and so much more.
Get your groove back in a big way when you stop into Fingerprints, Long Beach's favorite record store. This unique establishment masterfully combines the vintage appeal of vinyl record albums, posters and even CDs and infuses them with thoroughly modern attitude. You can tell that the employees have an obvious passion for music in general and, more specifically, this highly appealing establishment. In addition to offering a deep inventory of hard-to-find titles, there are frequent in-store musical performances, so make sure to check their website and sign up for their newsletter to get the latest details on who's playing next at Fingerprints.
There is a keen sense of adventure that you will feel the minute you step into the Long Beach Antique Mall. This is an impressive group of merchants and vendors who specialize in all things vintage. The selection of furniture, jewelry, clothing and accessories, glassware, pottery and other types of art is truly staggering. There's something to appeal to every interest, including books, magazines, juke boxes, vintage audio equipment, and every type of collectable you can think of!
When you read a story again, you pick up things you may have missed the first time. That feeling of revisiting great stories and literature is what makes Long Beach's Once Read Books an awesome and exceptional place. It really doesn't matter that someone already read the pre-owned book or vintage magazine you found here. What does matter is the fact that you can relive your favorites, both old and new, in this one-of-a-kind used book store. If you don't find exactly what you're after, the friendly and knowledgeable staff will be able to help you find what you're looking for.
When you need a pick-me-up, recharge in a unique way by grabbing a cup of coffee at Long Beach's Royal Cup Cafe. This shop specializes in gourmet coffee and tea as well as delicious panini sandwiches, sweet smoothies and much more. While stopping in and getting your caffeine fix on the go, you may want to make time to sit at one of the many tables and enjoy the artistically eclectic environment. Open for breakfast, lunch or a late night cup of tea, this quaint cafe gives you the chance to revitalize and recharge in a really royal way.