Long Beach Antique & Flea Market

We finally made it to the Long Beach Antique & Flea Market on Sunday. I have been wanting to attend this show for months, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint.

This show is held once a month in Veterans Stadium, right near the airport in Long Beach. I would like to tell you how many vendors were there, but I lost count. Probably close to 200. More than my feet would carry me. We’re experiencing one of those typical mid-winter heatwaves and I am embarrassed to say that I only saw two thirds of the show before I started thinking that sitting in my air-conditioned car was funner than shopping. I know, total pussy.

The show had everything you can imagine. Furniture, accessories, fabric, ephemera, books, hardware, and all of it either antique or vintage with just a few reproductions sprinkled in. No brand new crap or knock offs.

This was one of my dream vendors….antique hardware. I picked up a few choice pieces for a project I’m working on.

This vendor specializes in making furniture from wood palettes and salvaged lumber. Fantastic stuff.

Some vendors really style their spaces, but there are more vendors just plopping their stuff on tables and blankets. I’m sure the vendors that spend time on their displays sell more.

This guy makes mirrors from old tin ceilings. It’s hard to tell from this picture, but the ones in the back are about 8 feet tall. Really beautiful pieces.

The lighting vendors were so fun to look at. I’d never seen so many different types of lighting in one place. Tons of chandeliers, all sizes.

If you’re in to mixed media collage, this vendor would have had your head spinning. So much paper ephemera and all in really good shape.

If you decide to go here’s a few tips:

1. Bring cash, a lot of the vendors don’t take credit cards. There is an ATM at the entrance if you run out.
2. Be patient, the place is packed and 30 percent of the people are dragging carts with them.
3. Don’t plan on eating healthy unless you bring your own food. They serve stadium food, and just the basics.
4. Remember this is retail, the pricing is a little less than an antique shop, but more than an estate sale. The vendors will bargain with you a little, but not to bottom dollar prices.
5. Bring a truck, they do have a loading zone for people who are buying big items, but they don’t deliver.
6. Leave the kids and dogs at home, mostly because it just pisses me off that people bring children, strollers and dogs that are getting their little feet stepped on all day.

It was a great show and I came home with a few really unique treasures. We decided we’ll have to go again some time when it’s a little cloudy to see if we can make it all the way through. Let me know if you want to carpool.