It is no small feat for an independent bookstore to stay in business during the times when even giant chains have caved in. It is a downright marvel when a brand-new bookstore emerges and proceeds to forge upstream against the general trend of brick-and-mortar decline. One such miracle occurred in the midst of the Downtown Arts District in 2011 when The Last Bookstore opened its doors, dazzling eager bibliophiles and inquisitive passers-by with its spacious, beautifully laid-out interior packed full of new and used editions of every genre. With its affordable prices, friendly staff and a massive, continuously changing collection, the bookstore quickly claimed for itself a permanent place among the most popular destination of Downtown LA.
This vintage shop is run out of a private backyard, and is open by appointment seven days a week. It’s a very well-organized operation, and visitors have the option of shopping by collection and era, from the “pre-1920s” to the “1970s and beyond” and everything in between. Browse through a colorful collection of home decor, linens, vintage books, and clothing. Toadstool’s sister shop, The Ghost Farm, specializes in vintage books and linen. Every few months the farm sets up a Vintage Tea Party on its lawn, and serves visitors food while they browse the beautifully curated items.
Zamba is youthful store with a lot of trendy women's clothing and accessories. The outfits are often brightly colored with brands from around the world, ensuring a unique and fashion-forward style. Their jewelry has a unique look you often can't find in department stores and their other accessories, from shoes to purses, have a quirky yet chic style. The prices can be fairly steep, but you can find a great deal if you look long enough.
Blast From The Past is the place to go to find to look through their comic book selection and find that rare action figure or movie memorabilia. The store has more than 5,000 action figures and 2,000 movie posters. The staff is very helpful, knowledgeable and you can debate the merits of a comic book for an entire day. If you love TV, movies, and comic books then this store can't be missed!
This homespun antique and vintage clothing shop is a hidden gem, a perfect place to hunt for second-hand treasures. It’s a shop full of character housed in a corner building that looks a little like an old California Victorian. Jewelry, antique furniture, typewriters, tea cups, linens, memorabilia, Persian rugs and other items line the walls. Visitors will find the store larger than it looks from the outside, and will no doubt come away with something worthwhile. Legend has it a black Labrador roams the halls.
Located just a few miles from the Warner Brothers Studio and Disney Studios, this unique store offers clothing which was once worn in film and television—at deeply discounted prices! Take a look at the price tag to see what show featured the piece and browse through the selection of clothing from blockbuster movies, popular dramas, and beloved sitcoms. Most of the clothing was worn by extras, but once in awhile you'll discover something worn by a star. It's A Wrap sells shoes, dresses, shirts, pants, lingerie and other accessories. After you buy your outfit make sure to watch the movie or TV show to see if you can spot your new style on the screen!
Timothy Jay Inc sells aromatic candles to liven up your home and your life. Timothy Sullivan and Jay Castellano began making candles in Tim's kitchen in 1996, and after much success selling their creations to Los Angeles stores, they opened their own shop. They specialize in creating candles filled with lots of rich perfume oil in scents of pine, orange, lilac, gardenia, roses and more. Many scents are fused together to create original scents that are unlike any other scented candles in the world.
This fine shop specializes in both traditional and modern invitations that will impress your invitees with their elegance and understated simplicity. Most of the invitations are created on handmade paper. Brenda Himmel Stationery store also carries stationery from names like William Arthur and Crane for business and personal purposes, picture frames, photo albums and a small selection of books.
A popular chain of boutiques from Down Under, this branch in West Hollywood is famous for creating some unique fashion masterpieces as well. This place aims to mix contemporary urban style with girly glamor. It also offers the latest in beach wear; bold designs created by fashion gurus, such as Zimmerman, Leona Edmiston and Sunjoo Moon are available too. The clientèle includes the fashion divas of Hollywood, such as Tori Spelling, Nicky Hilton, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Marley Shelton. Just walk in and walk out with something unique that will not only make heads turn but make you feel like a million bucks.
Located on a busy intersection in Venice, the Lone Wolfs Objets d’Surf is a quaint, little surf shop with not only surfboards on offer, but also fins, wetsuits and other surfing gear including Octopus Traction Pads and Octopus Comp Leash. The laid-back owners, the customer -friendly return policies and the modestly-priced items take away the need to look any further than Lone Wolfs if you want to buy a surfboard or other accoutrements. They also have a collection of books, postcards, clothes, hats and bags along with a recording studio in the back of the store.
Hunt for a pin-up outfit or a perfect retro purse at this colorful boutique vintage shop in the heart of Magnolia Park. The veritable owner Audrey K is schooled in the Las Vegas modeling world of yesteryear, and it shows. There is a clutter-free collection of vintage clothing, hand-sewn garments, accessories, jewelry, and new items. It’s a great place to find an American-made dress of quality fabric, a rare reproduction of a vintage clock, or a unique gift or accessory.
A few minutes south of downtown Los Angeles stands this small and unique bookstore. The stock features all Spanish language books with a religious focus. In addition to the many hardcovers and paperbacks, the store also offers a wide variety of articles, pamphlets and even some old manuscripts. Although prices vary, the bulk of the selection easily fits into any budget. Call for open hours.