Break the Chain

Locally owned shops that are individual in both their character and their existence line many of Long Beach's streets. It is no surprise that many of these mom-and-pop businesses have lasted over 20 years and continue to thrive in a city that cherishes and celebrates the unique. Here are four of our favorites. All were closed at press time due to stay-at-home orders but continued to maintain online stores.

STORY & PHOTOS BY DELANEY TRAN

420 E. Fourth St., Long Beach fingerprintsmusic.com

It was July 1992. Long Beach dweller Rand Foster felt the city lacked record stores, so he decided to open one himself. Belmont Shore thrived with local businesses, and there, Fingerprints Music was born.

The name was derived from the concept of fingerprints: a little residue that doesn’t damage a product, yet also signifies a previously touched item. A friend of Foster's who dabbled in graphic design came up with the name and created the store's logo.

After 18 years, Belmont Shore was transforming into a strip of chain stores, and the rising rent was taking out local-based businesses. Foster decided to move locations, to Fourth Street.

Throughout its years, Fingerprints has offered more than just music; it also sells DVDs, books, art and apparel. The shop has also hosted well-known artists such as Cage the Elephant and Foo Fighters, indie bands like Prophets of Rage, art shows, book readings and movie nights.

“[Fingerprints] is kind of a hub that is more than a CD shop,” Foster says, “and it is the heart of what is reflected in the city.”

3440 E. Broadway, Long Beach iguanaimports.com Any customer who walks into Iguana Import Gallery will marvel at the eclectic collection of products. Ranging from furniture to apparel to candles and gift items, the shop imports products from local artists all around the globe, including South America, Africa and Europe.

Established in 1993, the shop came from partners in life and business Jorge Valdez and Tom Reed’s passion and love of diversity. It is why the shop fits in Long Beach—the city is as multicultural as what is reflected within Iguana’s walls.

“It’s celebrating world culture

and creating a curiosity of the world,” says David Rhoden, the candlemaker at Iguana. “The idea of the store was to create a curiosity and promote learning about different cultures.”

The name Iguana ties into the theme, as well. Iguanas symbolize wisdom and understanding of civilizations, societies and art, which is why customers are urged to ask questions about the products.

The items are beautiful to look at, but also have different cultures and histories behind them. It’s what gives the store its distinct personality, from the hanging Moroccan lamps to the incense scent that will follow customers even after they leave.

It was a "side hustle" that became something she thought would never happen.

DeadRockers is an homage to rock, rockabilly and punk in niche shop form. The skull signage on the storefront is just a peek into the realm of black, leather and metal inside. Vinyls, patches, housewares, bags, clothing, art and so much more are packed within the store.

In short, it is owner Lindsay Shaver’s heart, soul and passion. It was a “side hustle” that became something she thought would never happen.

Since a young age, she had always been into music and punk, but there weren’t that many places for her to buy merchandise.

“Online ordering wasn’t fully a thing yet, so once I turned 18, I

1023 E. Fourth St., Long Beach deadrockers.net

started seeking out brands and record labels and started selling,” Shaver recounts about the start of her virtual shop in 2005. “I actually started selling on MySpace—that was my first channel. Then I would do pop-ups at roller derby bouts and punk shows and car shows and anywhere with subculture involved that would let me.”

In 2012, an opportunity came up to start a physical store. For about four years, she shared the space with Top Sekoms, a local skate shop, but the owners eventually went on independently. Shaver took over the space, renovated it, and has fostered its growth ever since.

2148 E. Fourth St., Long Beach planetrollerskate.shop

Formerly known as Moxi Roller Skate Shop, Planet Roller Skate Shop is all love, all skates, for all. Though they recently moved a few doors down from the original shop, they still maintain the name Moxi Roller Skate Shop on the storefront as an homage to their identity and history.

The shop was originally owned by Michelle “Estro Jen” Steilen as an extension of her Moxi brand. After no longer wanting a storefront, Steilen sold it to Shayna “Pigeon” Meikle, who renamed it Planet Roller Skate Shop. The store is no longer selling just the Moxi brand, but instead several brands of roller skates.

Employee Olivia Crosby says that after Meikle took over, the store became “nondenominational: derby, dance, street skate, man, woman, straight, queer, this was something for you—a product that represented you.”

“I have been here for 10 years, and this has become my family and my life,” Crosby says. “The only thing you have to do to be a skater is to skate. And that’s the way it should stay.”

She states that every employee is a passionate skater and works at the shop because their “heart’s in it,” always happy to share their knowledge and experience with a customer.

Every summer, they provide free lessons at Bixby Park, but they welcome anyone into the roller skating community anytime.

"I have been here for 10 years and this has become my family and my life. "