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diversions
Fourth Street
reveals its secrets
By Alisha Gomez
On-line Forty-Niner
Among the bustling
streets of Long Beach lies a hidden spot.
Here on Fourth Street, locals know all about the vintage and
alternative shops, Portfolio Coffee and the Art Theater where
you can catch independent movies. Being hailed as a "mini-Melrose"
without the craziness of Los Angeles, Fourth Street continues
to make its mark on the city.
Before it became known for its anti-mall alternative and vintage
theme, Fourth Street hailed antique shoppers from all over
the world to shop the block between Junipero Avenue and Cherry
Avenue. With the changing economy, many of the antique shop
owners had moved away from the street in search of better
places for their businesses.
For Kathleen Schwartz, owner of Meow, the store that most
Fourth Street business owners refer to as the first to have
made its mark as vintage and alternative, Fourth Street was
a place she was very familiar with.
"It's like everybody's little secret," Schwartz
says. "We don't get shopped out like stores in L.A. would."
Schwartz has encouraged people to come to Fourth Street to
open businesses and hopes that the theme of vintage, antique
and alternative will remain.
With so much going on, including bi-monthly art openings,
it is easy to see why new business owners are again trying
to make their stand.
On the west end of the strip, Portfolio Coffee Shop owner
Kerstin Kansteiner says that with the exception of Meow, Fourth
Street was once a little underdeveloped neighborhood
but had a great community . Still, she says business has been
strong, which is easy to see with the café's casual
setting of antique furniture and gallery paintings.
Kansteiner is also president of the Fourth Street Business
Association, which aims to raise awareness of Fourth
Street's existence.
"It seems like a lot of people know that we're here,
but still, there are so many people who have never been to
Fourth Street," Kansteiner says.
Kansteiner says she is hopeful with the plans to extend Fourth
Street to the 710 freeway. The street is currently not a through
street.
"We're thinking that (extension) will make positive changes
for us," she says. "We want people to discover the
shops that are inexpensive, fun and eclectic."
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Photos
by Christine Shin
The sun
sets in the twilight backdrop as cars zoom past the twinkling
strip. Locals are hoping Fourth Street's extension to the
710 freeway will attract tourists.
A mannequin
stares off into space as her world changes.
Neon
lights glow inside Meow, Fourth Street's first vintage store.
The Art
Theater of Long Beach lights up its marquee.
The Incredible
Hulk rests with his roommates in Siren's display window.
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