Vegan milkshakes. Customized roller skates. Weird Russian dolls. Where can one find all of these oddities in one place?
Retro Row spans from a small bike shop on Cherry Avenue to Portfolio Coffeehouse on Junipero Avenue, dedicating three blocks on Fourth Street to thrift stores and gluten-free goodness. Whether you’re looking for an interesting date spot or looking for a hideous orange sports jacket, Retro Row on Fourth Street is a must-see for any Cal State Long Beach student.
Here are a few standout spots on Fourth Street. Bonus points for whoever hits more than two spots in one day.
- The Art Theatre is a must-visit if you find yourself near Fourth Street. After opening in 1924 as a silent movie theatre, the Art Deco-esque venue houses 646 seats as well as a pipe organ and orchestra pit. In a 2016 poll, the Long Beach Art Theatre, showing numerous blockbuster hits (such as “The Revenant”) and independent films alike. If you want to take your significant other to “see a movie,” check out the events that this theatre hosts on a weekly basis.
2025 E Fourth St.
Hours: Monday-Friday 6:30 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays 8 a.m.-7 p.m..
- Songbird is kitsch and indisputably Long Beach. Housing trinkets and toys for all people, this boutique features local artists and has something for everyone. Personally, many of my friend’s gifts are bought from this shop—it’s adorable, fun and an incredible homage to 4th Street’s classic funkiness.
2240 E Fourth St.
Hours: Monday-Friday 12 p.m.- 7 p.m., Saturday 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday 10:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m..
- If you’ve always had an interest in roller skating (or just hanging around cute girls in roller skates), try out Moxi Roller Skate Shop. Not only can you find some starter skates to scoot around in, but Moxi’s sponsors the Beach Cities Roller Derby, which is a recreational and competitive coed league—in fact, most of the Moxi staff play roller derby, and are more than helpful for starting out.
2132 E. Fourth St.
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday Thursday 12 p.m.- 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday 12 p.m.-7 p.m., closed Monday.
- Before Retro Row become a hotspot for lovers of granola and bored college students, it was known for its thrifting. AIDS Assistance Thrift Store is a staple store on Retro Row. The store itself is a non-profit charity, extending aid to men, women and children living with HIV and AIDS in the Long Beach area. This store comes with a high recommendation. From dusty armoires to antique jewelry, AIDS Assistance has nearly everything you could want and probably don’t need.
2011 E. Fourth St.
Hours: Thursday-Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesday and Tuesday 11 a.m.-4 p.m., closed Monday.
- The Flea Espresso Bar sounds as cute as it actually is. With the random blasts of cold weather El Niño delivers, the Flea is the place to go if you’re planning on strolling up and down Retro Row. The hot drinks are delicious, the people are friendly—and this particular coffee house stays open past closing hours on select nights, so be sure to check the hours.
2023 E. Fourth St.
Wednesday and Thursday 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Friday 7 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday 7 a.m.-3 p.m., closed Tuesday.
- Meow, both a shop name and a cat sound, has a decidedly mod vibe about it. The store looks like you dug into Twiggy’s closet, if Twiggy had been really into polyester formal gloves and vintage fur coats. Though the shop is a little pricey, no feeling comes close to the excitement of rummaging through the packed racks of retro clothing and finding a hidden gem.
2210 E. Fourth St.
Hours: Monday-Thursday 12 p.m.-6:30 p.m., Friday 12 p.m.-8 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m.-6 p.m.