The Beach Flea Market has quickly become the community’s newest hot spot for finding timeless leather goods, handmade jewelry and vintage gems.
Their biweekly events at Long Beach City College’s Pacific Coast Campus have drawn in over 300 vendors, with themes like Sonny Angel and Hello Kitty and Friends.
Scavenger hunts, giveaways and contests encourage attendees to shop small and interact with sellers at different booths.
With so much variety, Long Beach State students have voted the market as the “Best Place to Pop Up” in the Student Choice Awards.
Shanna Lyons and Lizzy Willig launched their business to share their love of fashion with the community. The centerpiece of their booth is a United States flag with Harry Styles in the center, which draws customers into their stylish selection of secondhand clothing, shoes and accessories.
Although many of their items lean into the Y2K and grunge styles, the duo doesn’t curate with a single aesthetic in mind.
“There’s pieces that we think are super cute, but we personally wouldn’t wear them,” Lyons said. “We know that someone else would love them, so those are fun to snatch up.”
They have enjoyed being regular vendors at The Beach Flea Market because of its positive environment and community support. Willig said that in the future, they hope to build their inventory and push their marketing efforts.
Desiree Gonzalez has also felt encouraged by customers and fellow vendors at the market. The 28-year-old mom began selling customized cups and mugs after she was laid off during the 2020 pandemic. The designs from her brand, Customized by Desi, include characters from The Powerpuff Girls, Disney and Sanrio.
Gonzalez now runs the business full-time while pursuing a psychology degree. Even when she has trouble managing the booth and juggling her other responsibilities, she said that vendors have stepped in to help.
“Some environments are not the best compared to others, but this one is like a family and I love it so much,” Gonzalez said.
Sixteen-year-old Emily Huerta launched her business Luna Crystals last year and has sold at The Beach Flea Market since their grand opening earlier this year.
Her booth includes colorful arrays of beaded bracelets, crochet plushies, crystal pendants and feathery dreamcatchers. Tote bags with Sanrio characters Kuromi and Cinnamoroll lined the outside of her booth.
“I wanted a metaphysical shop that was accessible because healing should always be affordable,” Huerta said.
Once she graduates high school, Huerta hopes to continue selling her products at a store in Long Beach or San Diego.
In addition to the various booths at the market, a live DJ plays a collection of throwback songs for attendees to shop to. Many also line up for the several food trucks and drinks stands, including specialty coffee shop The Caffeinated Cart and pupusa shop Miche Fresca King.
The Beach Flea Market will continue to host biweekly events for the rest of the year, with their next pop-up on Nov. 19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. being Mickey and Friends themed. All ages are allowed and free parking is provided.
