long beach antique market: get your retro on

Just when I thought things couldn't get any better after my discovery of the Rose Bowl Flea Market a few weeks ago, I stumbled upon the Long Beach Antique Market.

Would you like a bison horn with your knitting needles and vintage chartreuse vase? I know. Who wouldn't?

My visit to the Rose Bowl Flea Market elicited a few comments about the Long Beach Antique Market (thank you Brooke). WHAT??? Have I been hiding under a rock and, how am I so lucky? Two fantastic outdoor markets 30 miles apart!

Cool statues. I love the mermaid. She was priced at a hundred and change. And seemed pretty old. I kind of wanted her for the yard. I restrained myself.

After cruising up and down the aisles of the Long Beach Antique Market, it is absolutely, positively confirmed. I have been paying way too much for vintage stuff on eBay and the like. 

Pretty Polish vases. 

The variety of merchandise blows me away. Both flea markets (Pasadena and Long Beach) have anything you could possibly want in the retro and vintage category. For sure.

Here are the crazy Dooney and Bourke purses again. Why oh why are girls buying these? Honestly I wouldn't be caught dead.

I saw many of the same vendors at Long Beach that I had seen in Pasadena one week before. And Long Beach has a focus on antiques, so you don't wander into a random t-shirt vendor, for example.

I may have to go out and buy some sign letters before they are all gone. I think it is kind of cool that scrappy flea market vendors spot trends quickly and get what is hot right into the hands of the hipsters. 

As far as collectible pottery and glass, I kind of got the impression Long Beach was the better show. BUT truth be told I only stayed 2 or 3 hours at both shows, and did not cover 100% of either. So who knows.

One vendor against the back fence (she says she is always there), stunned me with her taste level in mid-century modern pottery and glass. Yum-o. Very high end with fair prices. She wasn't giving it away but she didn't need to. Her opening bid on the glass bowl below was $80. She would have gone lower if pressed. This grey aqua beauty is substantial and very Holmesgaard-like. Tempting.

And. Bauer for days. I have kind of a thing or Bauer. New or old.

Some Bauer caught my eye in one space. However, I became really intrigued with the metal stands underneath the Bauer.

Wire stands hold plates or plants.

Magazines.

Records.

The vendor, Marty Hamrock, told me that he and some family members are experimenting with fabricating these wire products from vintage and retro designs and powder coating them in vintage colors. I like! They aren't online yet but will get there. For now you can find them in space #J033. Or email me. I'll hook you up.

Plenty of vintage lighting.

I think these are hospital operating room lights... Industrial yet a little creepy?

Great furniture pieces again, at reasonable prices. This Plexiglas end table caught my eye.

This vinyl and teak chair has beautiful lines. $250 for set of 4. Holy cow!

Cute little student's desk. Check out the sexy legs!

And much more of the industrial-looking stuff that is oh-so popular now.

Another key learning is that these vendors are traveling from show to show and lugging stuff around. What doesn't sell after a few shows, gets deep discounted. I lucked into something which I will show in another post. (What a tease?)

All kinds of random collections can be supplemented at flea markets.

Disney (or clocks) ...

Books ...

Marbles (in case you have lost yours) ...

Vintage cameras ...

And, Halloween decorations. Are you catching what this is?

Life-size guillotine in your front yard? Anyone?

Overall, the Long Beach Antique Market is a great venue for vintage and retro. Long Beach had much of the same item's as Pasadena's Flea Market, but slightly more compact (less acreage). Which can be a good thing for the oldsters (like me). I would say the furniture may be a little better at Pasadena, just because there are more vendors. However, the smalls are really good at Long Beach. I may stick with Long Beach because for me, the drive was substantially reduced. Both are EXCELLENT!

And lesson learned. Pricing at both markets was the lowest I have seen in my travels.

Long Beach Antique Market near Veteran's Memorial Stadium
4901 E Conant Street
Long Beach, CA 90808

You may also enjoy

• Pasadena Rose Bowl Flea Market
• Blenko, I Think So
• Vintage Shop Labor Day Glass Treasure