Old Things, New Finds At These Local Resale And Vintage Shops

By Gina Valencia

Photos by Izzy Juarez

In need of a special gift for your Valentine? Ready to spruce up your living area with something unique? Resale and vintage shops remain an overlooked option for gifts and home decor. Crowded malls drain energy and money. Online shopping saves time but lacks the thrill of discovery. 

For shoppers who want meaning, surprise, and personality in their finds, second hand stores offer a better path. Long Beach, with its layered past and creative culture, supports a secondhand scene as distinctive as the city itself.

Clark & Atherton Mercantile 

1772 Clark Ave, 90815

Website: mercantilelongbeach.com | Instagram: @clarkathertonmercantile

This small thrift boutique, owned and operated by Christian Outreach in Action (COA Long Beach, a non-profit organization) and completely run by volunteers, blends style with service. Its mission extends beyond retail. Proceeds support Long Beach residents facing homelessness or financial hardship with food and clothing. The shop carries carefully selected items including jewelry, clothing, housewares, and vintage furniture. Everything feels intentional and well cared for.

Shopping at Clark and Atherton Mercantile carries a sense of shared benefit. Finding a gift also supports neighbors in need. The shop proves that resale does not mean compromise; it means participation in a cycle of care.

Long Beach Antique Mall II

1851 Freeman Ave, Signal Hill, 90755

Website: longbeachantiquemall.com | Instagram: @lbantiquemall2

Decades in the same neighborhood, Long Beach Antique Mall II occupies a massive warehouse packed wall to wall with inventory. Walking inside feels immersive. Every aisle reveals something unexpected. Visitors might spot Julia Child cookbooks, vintage jewelry, Corona typewriters, Coca-Cola soda refrigerators, a 1980 SR500 Yamaha motorcycle, and clothing from another era. One striking piece is an antique black cape trimmed with monkey fur, a reminder that each item once belonged to someone with a story. The Antique Mall

functions like a hands-on museum where browsing becomes an experience. A future move is planned for 2026 to 3588 Palo Verde Ave (formerly Joann Fabric and Crafts), which adds urgency to visiting its current home.

Goods on Orange

3414 Orange Ave, 90807

Website: goodsonorange.com | Instagram: @GoodsOnOrange

Like stepping into an episode of That 70’s Show, Goods on Orange is a groovy, retro-hip vintage store in the trendy California Heights neighborhood. The shop focuses on style from the 1960s through the early 2000s

and blends retail with community gathering. Goods on Orange recently marked five years at its current location, and the store has grown into a local hub. About 30 vendors curate their own sections, offering vinyl records, beautiful turquoise jewelry, cool leather fringe vests, plants, and decor.

What sets the shop apart is the atmosphere. Co-owner Elena Buenrostro wanted shopping to feel welcoming and relaxed. A living room sits in the middle of the store with plush recliners and a boxy television playing VHS tapes; it’s like hanging out in grandma’s living room. It invites shoppers to slow down and stay awhile. The store also hosts pop-up events with local businesses, from tamale vendors to coffee shops to hairstylists providing bang trims. At other times, the backyard transforms into a space for yoga or sound bath gatherings. Goods on Orange feels personal and lived-in, more like visiting a familiar home than running errands.