Every 4th Friday of every month, Long Beach’s Retro Row (Fourth Street) opens shop to celebrate our diverse community – welcoming in families, shoppers, and city visitors alike.
Fourth Fridays give community members an opportunity to eat, drink, shop, and hang out at some of the best small businesses in town.
From quality pizza and wine to a home-cooked restaurant with one-of-a-kind recipes, this article shares 5 unique small businesses that you can explore on the next 4th Friday on Fourth Street. Take a peek.
QUALITY PIZZA THAT WON’T BREAK THE BANK
Little Coyote located on 2118 E 4th Street serves pizza and wine.
Inspired by old-school NYC-style pizzerias, two founders Jonathan Strader and Jack Leahy took root in the Long Beach community to bring forth quality pizza with fresh ingredients and wine without breaking your bank. Prices range at $12 – $21 between their 16’’ Whole Pizza ‘Pies’, salads, and sub sandwiches. Pizzas like the ‘Papa Joe’ pizza pie (inspired by Leahy’s father, by the way) are made with no fuss, thin crust, hand-stretched, and foldable. Here, expect to eat “pizza that doesn’t suck, made the old-school way.” Original Little Coyote merchandise and gifts are a plus if you’re looking to gift Italian food lovers.
EVERYTHING’S BETTER HOME COOKED
Honduras Kitchen based in Long Beach (1909 E. 4th St.) and Huntington Beach is the brilliant culinary work of the Larios’ Family, extending its Honduras flavors from their original restaurant that opened in 1991 titled El Dorados’ Kitchen.
Also known as La Casa de la Sopa de Caracol, this restaurant offers its original recipes passed down from generations and onto your plate. Favorites include the Baleada, fresh handmade tortilla with refried beans, and Pescado Frito, a whole tilapia fish, fried to a light and crispy crust served with rice, chimol, plantain and salad. The LA Times writes, “Honduras Kitchen is something of a shrine to the mighty Caribbean mollusk caracol.” With its colorful menu that is both intricately detailed and irresistable, it’ll leave you wondering why you haven’t stopped by before.
WINE ART: A TASTE OF PARIS
Do you ever dream about enjoying a glass at one of those cute street cafes or bars in Paris? Well, Art Du Vin Wine Bar located on 2027 E 4th St is your local best bet to experience a little taste of Paris.
This (cute) and cozy hole-in-the-wall is situated next door to Long Beach’s Art Theater and offers select quality organic wines with glasses beginning at $14. Their patio has just extended and is pet-friendly. Even better, the customer service at Art Du Vin is top-notch! They decide for you when you’re indecisive. They allow you to walk with your wine into the Art Theater (offering a 10% discount on all shows there). They even offer you blankets on chilly nights! Wins. If you prefer to sit at home to enjoy, ordering online and pick-up is also available with no hassle.
CHEERS TO YOUR HEALTH
These days, it’s important to keep your health in check. Salud Juice Bar does the trick. Located on 1944 E. 4th St, and offers USDA organic, cold-pressed, and raw juices.
It’s perfect if you’re feeling for a boost in your health or light bites and snacks. Immunity shots and to-go sandwiches compliment select juices like the Eastern Sunset – a dose of carrot, apple, ginger, and lemon to get you the healthy go-and-glow you need. Juice Cleanses are pre-packed and planned for you, ranging from 1-3 days, depending on what you need.
Salud is also environmentally friendly and works sustainability into their products daily, with reusable glass bottles to eliminate unnecessary waste and 100% compostable or recycled to-go products as well as sending their compost to organic farms.
DISCOVER LOST TREASURES
If you’re a vintage buff and one to be found perusing your local thrift stores, Park’s Antiques located on 2136 E 4th St just might be your next stop.
The cozy shop is owned by Sonya and has been around for years. Prices range between $2 to $20,000 depending on what lost treasures you find. Upon entering, you are welcomed with antiques of all kinds including amethyst crystals, vintage bags, rose-colored lamps and hats. The shop is best known for their collection of old film cameras and gear and past artwork. The front of the store is laid out with more boxes of things to sift through catching the eyes of passersby.
Long Beach is best known for its spirit of community and that includes the small business owners that are working day in and day out to make sure our community is thriving. Long Beach’s Fourth Street would not exist without both its small businesses and its community members that make it all possible. Follow Fourth Street Long Beach to stay updated on local shops, food & drink, and entertainment.
