Local Business Highlight: Moonbridge Doughnuts

Introducing Moonbridge Doughnut Studio, a delightful new addition to Long Beach's culinary scene where indulgence meets healing. Named after the reflection a bridge casts on the water during a moonlit night, Moonbridge visually becomes a full circle. Not only does this take on the playful shape of a doughnut, but for co-owners Anabelle Brown and Kim Gros, the moonbridge symbolizes closure and new beginnings. After experiencing heartbreaking loss in both of their families, this venture represents a journey from grief to hope, making every doughnut baked and served a symbol of remembrance and renewal. Stepping into Moonbridge Doughnut Studio is like entering a whimsical dreamland where every detail is carefully crafted to bring out joy and wonder. With Anabele's artistic vision and the expertise of Clay Co, the interior design blends sophistication with playfulness, reminiscent of a scene from a Wes Anderson film. It's a space where customers can escape the mundane and embrace the preciousness of life, surrounded by vibrant colors and delightful treats. But Moonbridge Doughnut Studio isn't just about satisfying your sweet tooth in a warmhearted environment; it's also a space where innovation thrives. The coffee program, steered by Steven Ramon, offers elevated beverages made with craft coffee sourced from Stereoscope. Each sip tells a story of creative playfulness, from certain flavor combinations to thoughtful garnishes. And with menu items like the Campfire Pancake Doughnut, the team pushes the boundaries of a traditional doughnut, inviting customers to embark on a journey where every bite is a delightful surprise. Moonbridge Doughnut Studio doesn't simply churn out pastries; it shines as a light of hope, creativity, and community spirit in Long Beach.
Local Business Highlight: Twelves

Twelves Never Stop Spinning Written by Lindsey Goodrow The twelve-inch vinyl, which can hold 20 minutes of sound on either side, was first introduced to the world in 1948. Prior to this, artists were only able to release a few songs at a time on the less advanced 78-RPM records. The 12-inch LP (long-play) records, or twelves, became the industry standard and revolutionized the music industry forever. Vinyl (named after its material compound, polyvinyl carbonate) reigned supreme from the 50’s up until the late 80’s and early 90’s, when cassettes and CDs were introduced. But CDs came and went when streaming became popularized. While streaming remains popular, what it will always lack is collectibility and tangibility. It is a unique experience to browse and sift through a record store—to delicately hold a record in your hand without marking it with your fingertips. The death of vinyl had been presumed and predicted—but ultimately the experts had it wrong. Vinyl lives! Long Beach carries on the legacy of vinyl at Twelves, an intimate record shop located on 7th Street in downtown. Named as one of the 5 Best Independent Record Stores in Los Angeles by LA Magazine, this shop does not disappoint. Whipple Group got the chance to talk to Twelves owner, Hector Waluyo, about the lasting legacy of vinyl records and what makes people love them (and his shop!) so much. Read below for the special interview: We apologize if this is cheesy, but would you mind starting us off by listing your top 5 favorite albums of all time? Not cheesy at all, but life is too short for a top 5! Part of buying records is constantly being exposed to unfamiliar music all the time, so it's hard to narrow it down to 5 as my taste changes every year or two. Currently, 5 albums that i can listen to on repeat are: 1) Steve Kuhn - Live In New York2) Electric Prunes - Release Of An Oath3) A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders4) Bobby Pauneto - El Sonido Moderno5) Mike James Kirkland - Hang On In There How did you fall into this industry? What is your history with music prior to opening up Twelves? I started casually collecting around the time when I was 17 but it wasn't until I started djing at 21 that I got pretty obsessed with it. I had a day job and I'd go thrifting, hitting flea markets and estate sales for fun, and ended up with multiple copies of certain records and I'd sell them on the side for extra cash. Eventually I'd be making more money on the side and I left my day job 10 years ago. I djed and sold records for a good 6 years until I decided to open up a storefront now known as Twelves. Why do people still love vinyl? CDs and Cassettes have become obsolete but it’s like vinyl has some sort of superpower.Why is that? Everyone is entitled to their own reasons as to why they love vinyl and even though I can only speak for mine, I'm sure a lot of people reading this can relate. I love the process of getting that one record in your hands after a long search. The "hunt", if you will, is something so satisfying that just doesn't happen with digital media and our current age where instant satisfaction rules above all. Nowadays we're used to shuffling through long playlists and skipping through songs, but records force you to sit down and listen to the whole album front to back. Records are like books; they've got a story to tell and they're meant to be digested fully. Getting exposed to unfamiliar albums, their respective cover art in a full 12" by 12" format as you browse through a stack of records and just letting your instincts pick up an album and giving it a chance; I can't tell you how many times I've discovered some amazing music by doing this throughout the years. I want to add that people do collect tapes and CDs, too! How did the community respond to the opening of a record store? Do you feel supported in Long Beach?Music has always been a huge factor in the Long Beach community, and I felt completely supported from the start. The record store scene couldn't be any stronger right now; there's about 7 record stores within a 5 mile radius from Twelves and every shop supports each other, as every shop offers something different. What was the process of conception to completion like in opening Twelves?More or less difficult than you imagined? What surprised you most? There's an expression I read a while back when I was in the middle of getting the shop open and I related so much to it that it stuck with me throughout the years; we were building a plane while flying it. I hope people reading this can take note of what not to do, because I had no plan of action. I was living off 8th and Olive and would walk down the street to the liquor store when I ran into this vacant retail spot where the shop now resides. I called the spot, got the keys within a month of it and we were off to the races.I was still in school and remember I was taking some business marketing classes. My midterm project was based on my record shop that was opening in real life that semester, and I remember talking with my professor about it and he seemed so disappointed on how unprepared I was. To keep it short, it was difficult and more expensive than I ever thought it would be. We opened on October 26th of 2019, 4 months before covid hit us all. What sets Twelves apart from other record stores? From a customer's point of view, our used selection is well beyond being curated in a "quality over quantity" type of way; if you're looking for Rock records, Jazz records, soul 45s, you're going to find something good everywhere you look. There's not a single week that the shop goes without at least 100 new titles that I go out sourcing around through estate sales, flea markets, personal collections , etc. The staff that works here is just as important; you can have the best record store but if you're giving a subpar experience to your customers then it doesn't matter. Since day one, I knew I wanted to get Dennis Owens in the shop and he's been working every week since we've opened. He's the founder of the Good Foot, a soul club that just turned 25 years old and I wouldn't be into the music I am into if it wasn't for that club. He's beyond knowledgeable and well versed in every genre you'd want to get yourself into and is always down to share it with anyone at the shop. Twelves is also minority owned, and naturally, we have the largest selection of Latin music in Long Beach due to the fact that I listen to it and am constantly digging up records that other shops might pass on. On top of that, being brown-owned gives people like me visiting the shop a level of comfort just by the simple act of being able to speak Spanish and relating with the owner. There aren't a lot of Brown-owned record shops, but I have seen more opening and we got to support them as much as we can. We hear Twelves is coming up on a big anniversary!How many years will it be since the doors opened? What have you learned since then? We will be turning 4 on October 26th, and it has been a wild ride to say the least. We were so unprepared off the get-go and just when it felt like we had found our groove, we had to close our doors in March of 2019. Between 2019 and 2022, we just rode the wave, adapted to the constant changes in the retail world and made it happen while becoming that place where people could get themselves submerged in music and just talk to someone. I learned that record shops held a very special place for people in these strange times in more ways that I can explain. In retrospect, 2023 has been amazing but it has had its own challenges, too. Even though we've found our groove, everything is somewhat back to normal and that's something I've had to adapt to as well. Customers that used to visit us regularly have occupied themselves with other hobbies and ways to entertain themselves since everything has opened back up. It almost feels as if this is our first real year of retail and somehow, I have to find the energy to be creative and compete with the real world for once. With that said, I'm still driven to keep pushing to give Long Beach the best record shop experience I can by doing what I've been doing these past 10 years. How is the shop celebrating its anniversary? And can we come?! We're going to be having one of the best drops we've had this year; I got to go to Detroit, Philadelphia and New York to buy some records and have been holding some of my best finds for the day. On top of that, we'll be having our first ever in-store at the shop and we will be hooking it up all day long. Everyone is invited! To catch the latest record drop, follow Twelves or stop by the shop during business hours, located at 746 E 7th St, Long Beach.
Local Business Highlight: Wax n' Blush

Wax N’ Blush In The Business of Revolutionary Self-Care Wax N’ Blush is a vegan waxing and cosmetics business owned and operated by Larissa Plascencia-Olea. Her studio is nestled in the hip downtown area of Long Beach on 322 Elm Avenue, right around the corner from the legendary Fingerprints record store. This beauty and wellness sanctuary is in the business of revolutionary self-care, boasting organic, vegan, and cruelty-free products and services. For ethically-minded beauty, wellness, facials and brows, be a part of the revolution and book your appointment today! Beyond the fact that Wax N’ Blush was awarded Best Brows in Long Beach, Whipple Group knew there was more excitement to uncover about this local wellness boutique, and we couldn’t wait to get the scoop! Larissa Plascencia-Olea kindly found time between caring for her clients to chat with us about the revolutionary waves her business is making. Products and Services Offered Since 2018, Larissa has been offering vegan waxing, organic facials, and makeup services to her steady amassing of clients. The business has recently and joyfully expanded, now bringing the community a wide variety of clean non-toxic skincare, makeup, and wellness products! When we asked Wax N’ Blush how their services differ from other businesses in the industry, Plascencia-Olea said, “We take Self-care seriously and truly believe that the quality of products being used on the skin are just as important as the service being provided. We use vegan waxes that are gentler on the skin, as well organic products for all of our facials. This combination prevents stripping the skin, giving our clients long-lasting and GLOWING results.” For an idea of a service you might expect when you first walk into Wax N’ Blush, take for example the Eyebrow Makeover. This service is recommended for all first time clients and includes a consultation providing information on where the eyebrow should start, arch and end. As a client, you will also learn about products you can use that will provide your ideal look. Fret Not, First Timers Since you can count on this safe space to offer ethically-minded services with plant-based products, you can rest assured that the care you receive will also be 100% compassionate. In other words, Wax N’ Blush cares so deeply about the products they use and the intention behind their services that you are guaranteed to be in good hands, no matter your experience or familiarity with waxings, facials, or makeup services. Not only can you rely on Wax N’ Blush for radical self-care, but you can count on the staff to be patient and understanding every step of the way through your self-care journey. Larissa has opened a business that is safe, all inclusive, and empowering to all who walk in. Disconnect from the world and reconnect to your body when you book a service with Larissa and her team at Wax N’ Blush. BOOK HERE! Connecting To Your Community When Larissa Plascencia-Olea decided to open up shop in the downtown Long Beach area she was already a longtime resident in our small-business loving community. Long Beach had been her home for a decade, and she had already witnessed the level of support that locals show businesses such as hers. She knew instantly, after deciding to start her small business, that this was the right city to do it in. Larissa Plascencia-Olea says that her business incorporates three core values: ethics, authenticity and community. During the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent shutdown, her business (along with so many others) had to close its doors. The community rallied to support them through this tough time, keeping them afloat. “We coincidentally expanded right when the pandemic hit,” Larissa says, “and being that we are a service-focused brand, we’ve had to get creative in finding ways to still be there for our clients without actually being there! This was difficult in the beginning but we love that we now offer take home items that will allow our clients to have a ‘spa day’ at home”. When asked what Larissa is looking forward to when it comes to Wax N’ Blush’s future, she let’s Whipple Group know that her boutique has created a calendar of events where locals can participate in skincare and makeup workshops in order to learn more about how their products work and why they’re good for you. If you’d like updates on how Wax N’ Blush is growing in the Long Beach community as well as how they're expanding their offerings, follow their journey by subscribing to their mailer! Enter your email address HERE.

Long Beach Landmarks: Pike

by Sally Lee

PIKE

A Brief History of Long Beach's Century-Old Entertainment Center

By Lindsey Goodrow

The Pike is a 344,000 square foot open-air shopping destination that spans the distance between the Aquarium of the Pacific and the Long Beach Convention Center. It houses more than a dozen premier retail outlets and another dozen restaurants to keep you satiated while you shop by the sea. It is also known for its giant movie theater and a solar-powered Ferris wheel. While this area is currently known as a fun retail destination, at the turn of the 20th century, Long Beach Pike was a grand amusement park that turned a sleepy seaside resort town into a bustling city. Below is the brief but rich history of the Pike and how it came to be.

WILLMORE CITY

Before Long Beach was incorporated and given its current name, it was called Willmore, named after William E. Willmore, who leased the 4,000-acre plot from Jothan Bixby and developed it into a seaside resort town in 1880. It was essentially a bare-bones community with a pier and some basic wooden structures. Willmore’s plans for a city fell apart quickly and he resold the land with an enticing advertisement at auction reading, “Willmore, the future city by the blue and bounding sea”. It was purchased and renamed Long Beach, which was much more fitting with its four-mile stretch of shoreline and also less narcissistic. The city began to grow exponentially after this, and in 1902 there was a rush of modernization and an influx of residents and tourists with the completion of the Pacific Electric Railway Long Beach line, which happened to stop right at the end of Pine Ave. This railway stop would become the place of origin for The Pike.

PACIFIC ELECTRIC RAILWAY

The Pacific Electric Long Beach line brought new curious people to the city and it was quickly realized that they needed to be given a reason to stay; to live, grow, and prosper in a brand new city. The railway gave people work, but it was difficult and grueling. While the transformative transportation line expanded along the Southern California coast, elaborate swimming pools were built to cool down and entertain the subsequent railway workers.

THE LOST BATHHOUSE

How do you convince hundreds of men to build a railway in the desert? Put in an elaborate indoor swimming pool nearby! Extravagant swimming pools were all the rage at the turn of the 20th century. Financed by prosperous railroad companies, these pools were constructed and filled up to entice workers to work happily in the sweltering heat of the California desert. They could cool off, get clean, and socialize while they swam and splashed around. The Seaside Water Company opened up a state-of-the-art bathhouse in Long Beach called The Plunge in 1906. It was a stunning sight to behold when you walked up to its domed circular portico entrance. Pillared corridor wings jutted off on either side and the gabled roof was adorned with decorative cupulas - and that was just the outside of the building!

Inside was a state-of-the-art pleasure pool fit with stadium seating for onlookers to watch trapeze acts, acrobatics, and ballet that was all taking place in the water. The Plunge is what brought residents to Long Beach, keeping them cool and entertained while they developed the city further. To keep up with the heavy foot traffic that began once the bathhouse opened, a long wooden boardwalk was built in front and along the beach, with shops, venues, and restaurants quickly sprouting up along the way. One could hardly keep up with this level of expansion - but in 1906 The Pike officially became an amusement park with its first rollercoaster.

THE CONEY ISLAND OF THE WEST COAST

While the bathhouse brought the railroad workers, their families, and tourists to Long Beach, The Pike’s rollercoasters and rides kept them from ever wanting to leave. Walking around the Pike was like discovering a brand new world full of wonder and light. A series of coasters were built throughout the years, growing bigger and bolder along the way. The most famous and at the time the second-largest rollercoaster in The United States was the Cyclone Racer, a dual-track wooden coaster whose railings extended out over the water. There was also a beautifully designed Looff carousel, a station for saltwater taffy, a strong man, pony rides, and much more.

In The Pike's golden era in 1954, it was listed as one of the five largest amusement parks with 218 concessions. But nothing good lasts forever. The Plunge closed in 1966 followed by the demolition of the Cyclone Racer in 1968, as well as the handing over of control of downtown and shoreline development in 1974, and the beginning stages of development for what would come to be the Convention Center in 1975.

Most traces of the wonderful Pike amusement park have vanished. While there has been a shift from finding entertainment in bathhouses and rollercoasters to finding it in the best deals at the outlets, we still have a wonderful time down at the Pike Outlets. Head down there now and take a ride on the solar-powered Ferris wheel for some of the best views of the harbor - maybe you’ll be able to picture what it must have looked like one hundred years ago.