Local Business Highlight: Pixie Toys
SMALL TOY SHOP BRINGS BIG JOY TO BIXBY KNOLLS By Lindsey Goodrow Toys have always played a fundamental role in Heather Daykin-Rasmussen’s life ever since she can remember. She grew up in the south bay and was practically raised in a toy shop in Hermosa Beach called Enchanted Elf, which was run by her mother. She says it felt much like her second home, and would often nap within its magical walls among the dolls and train sets. Although living in this world of make-believe would only last until she was seven years old, which is when her mother’s toy shop closed, it would set into motion one day owning her own toy store, Pixie Toys, years down the line. When Rasmussen was twenty years old, she was attending El Camino College with a great interest in children’s psychology and teaching, but with dreams to do something magical with her life. She was working at yet another toy store, called Toy Jungle, organizing inventory and backstocking. With pretty much a life up to this point led in and out of toy shops, she was suddenly struck with a fantastic idea. Almost jokingly, Heather told her friends and loved ones that with all her experience she should open her own toy shop business. Much to her surprise, her friends and family wholeheartedly agreed with her. With a small amount of money she had saved, matched by money from her loved ones, Heather rented out a small space — just a wall of shelves — in a knitting studio called Banana Berry in Long Beach in 2007. This was the beginning of Pixie Toys. THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF OWNING YOUR FIRST BUSINESS Without formal training, Heather had to rely on her open heart and eagerness to learn in order to grow Pixie Toys into a thriving business. With an attuned eye and a finger on the pulse for what was hip in the market, she stocked her shelves with brands and products unique to the industry. Her toy store history came in handy, as she was able to offer her customers items that couldn’t be found at larger chains like Toys ”R” Us or Target. What she was doing at that yarn store on Wardlow was working well, as she began to rent out an entire room, followed by two rooms in the store. Her toy products were taking over the space, and Rasmussen soon found herself needing to move locations in order to run a proper business. PIXIE TOYS MAKES ITS HOME IN BIXBY KNOLLS Patrons looking for incredible toys that suit children of all ages now flock to Heather’s shop at 3914 Atlantic Ave. There, a sea of toys grouped by theme, like Dinosaurs, Garden, and Mermaid Art, wait patiently to be played with. Once your precious toy has been selected, Heather or her staff gift wrap it and include a personalized card, which is a small gesture that goes a long way. Having now operated Pixie Toys in Bixby Knolls for a decade, Heather feels at home in the amazing community she found here. Bixby is a city filled with residents and business owners who want to see each other thrive and Pixie Toys has done just that. Something to attribute to this small business’s success is First Fridays, a monthly event that takes place in Bixby Knolls (much like Fourth Fridays on 4th Street in Long Beach) which offers small business owners like Heather Daykin-Rasmussen an incredible opportunity to promote her store by surrounding it with people. The event brings the entire community together with food, drinks, art, and live music. The entire city celebrates the surrounding businesses and helps support them. STAYING CONNECTED DURING THE PANDEMIC The pandemic hit small businesses hard, and Pixie Toys wasn’t immune to this struggle. Without a real online presence, Heather was unable to reach her customers for a short period of time. But like magic, she found a way to bring toys and joy back to her community. Her loyal customers would call in orders for toys, and Heather would personally deliver them to the family’s doorstep, bringing comfort in a time of need. Pixie Toys was already stocked full of puzzles and fidget spinners, which were all the rage at the height of the pandemic, keeping children smiling as well as Pixie Toys afloat. The pandemic may have rocked Heather’s business for a moment, but it also instilled a greater sense of importance around what this toy shop truly meant to her. “I play a ton of games with my family. We try to do at least one a day. Some are super silly, like ‘Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza’ but they all bring us together”. For the latest toy trends, Rasmussen is known to refer to her ten-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter for their knowledgable insights. Pixie Toys 3914 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, CA 90807 (562) 490-0702
Gaytonia: The Castle of Long Beach
GAYTONIA The Castle of Long Beach By Lindsey Goodrow On the quiet corner of Quincy and Shaw in Belmont Heights, atop a hill covered in extravagant homes, stands Gaytonia, a fantastical structure that seems plucked straight out of a children’s fairytale or teleported from the 12th Century English countryside. The neon green glow attracts the eye of all who pass by and illuminates the building’s grandeur at night. There is nothing quite like Gaytonia in Long Beach, which has remained true since it was first built in 1930. THE MEN BEHIND GAYTONIA This may surprise many Long Beach residents who have often basked in the warm neon glow and pondered the building’s fabulous namesake, but Gaytonia was named after the man who paid for its construction — George T. Gayton — not, as some have guessed, after the Long Beach’s pride in its LGBTQI+ residents. Gayton poured around $100,000 into building this ostentatious castle, an unheard-of cost in 1930 which now roughly equates to $1,700,000. While Gayton’s name is forever fixed to Gaytonia’s facade (and who can blame him for naming a castle after himself), all fanciful design credit goes to architect Reginald Freemont Inwood. Inwood and Gayton had previously paired up as an architect/contractor duo to construct the Belmont Theatre in the late 1920s. The Art Deco bones of this 800-seat movie house are still admired every day by pedestrians walking down 2nd Street, as it lays smack dab in the middle of the well-known shopping block. The movie theater closed its doors in 1977, but the building itself now houses the Belmont Athletic Club gymnasium. ROCK-HARD ARCHITECTURE Gaytonia may be nearly a century old, but its architecture is reminiscent of medieval castles built half a millennium ago. Much like the Villa Riviera, Gaytonia is constructed mainly of stone. The famous castle of Long Beach features what would come to expect from a proper castle — pitched roofs, turrets (mini towers), conical caps, and even an area that resembles a parapet, which is a low, protective wall along the roof meant to keep watch guards safe from intruders. Some might say this is a bit much for a developing residential neighborhood, but Reginald Freemont Inwood would disagree. This designer and architect was well-known for having an elaborate style and even built three castle-like homes in the area; one in Belmont Shore and two in Naples. At the completion of Gaytonia’s construction, Gayton and Inwood placed the giant neon sign atop it. Neon signage became a popular fixture in outdoor advertising in the 20s and 30s. The signs – dubbed "liquid fire" – and were visible even in daylight. So why the loud display? Why a castle with a bright neon sign? Whose attention was Inwood and Gayton trying to attract? ATTRACTING SEAMEN Residents assume that the construction of Gaytonia and subsequent designation of it as a hotel-style apartment building would attract naval officers to live there. Long Beach became the West Coast homeport for Pacific Fleet battleships in 1918, a decade before the blueprint of Gaytonia was even drawn. In 1928, Long Beach was honored to become the homeport for the Navy’s first two aircraft carriers: Uss Saratoga and USS Lexington. Suffice it to say, many seamen and officers were looking for a place to call home in Long Beach. What better way to entice these Naval men than with a stylish castle. GAYTONIA NOW Whether or not Gaytonia was in fact built to attract the Navy or not, it remains an enduring display of strength in Long Beach. Surviving the 1933 earthquake that nearly leveled the rest of the city, Gaytonia is a picture of resilience. Located at 212 Quincy Ave., Gaytonia still functions as an apartment building. While it was managed like a hotel in the 30s and 40s, with maid and valet service, it’s now a picturesque community of residents. Most feel close to one another and check in on each other. Gaytonia is a Belmont Shore architectural gem as well as a historical landmark. You may be tempted to take a peek inside, but the remarkable building is shut off from the peering eyes of strangers, protected by its century-old stones. The best you can do to get close is to stare into that neon sign that reads “Gaytonia” and imagine you’re within the confines of a castle. “Gaytonia” by Jamie Tablason
Local Business Highlight: The Ordinarie
Local Business Highlight: The Ordinarie Local Business Highlight: The Ordinarie By Lindsey Goodrow The Ordinarie is an ironic name for a gathering spot that is anything but. Located in the Promenade, a six-block-long thoroughfare in the heart of Downtown Long Beach, The Ordinarie breaks free from the constraints of an ordinary restaurant by serving as an establishment for people of all persuasions to enjoy epic entertainment and ambiance. Lucky for Long Beach, they just launched an all-new food and cocktail menu and we can’t wait to enjoy it. Owner, Christy Caldwell The concept behind this local tavern is pulled straight from American folklore — In 1634, The Laws of Commonwealth stated that: “Every community is required by law to build an Ordinarie for the receiving, refreshment, and entertainment of travelers and strangers.” Ordinaries were not only commonplace from the very start of American culture, but necessary places for weary travelers to rest up during their long and winding journeys. While these businesses did indeed supply drinks and food, they also offered refuge and comfort. This is exactly what the owner of The Ordinarie, Christy Caldwell, had in mind when he decided to open his business. If you’re fortunate enough to meet Caldwell, perhaps while eating the famed french dip sandwich or drinking a Last Word on a plush bar stool of The Ordinarie, you will immediately notice his soft Irish accent. Born in Bulcrana, a small town along the Irish Coast, Caldwell was thrust into hospitality from a young age. He grew up in a long line of tavern owners, himself being a 4th generation barkeeper. From a very young age, he began working at his grandad’s own version of an ordinarie, called Mcgrorys. Caldwell started helping out there “as soon as [he] was tall enough to reach the Guinness tap”. Having grown up in the hospitality business, it felt like the natural order of things for Caldwell to continue servicing the community in this way. He left Ireland for California in 1998, settling into the South Bay and working at an Irish bar in Hermosa Beach. When he could get away, he traveled all around the United States, falling in love with the traditional bar culture in cities like New York and San Francisco. He appreciated the way these bars paid homage to American history, and would himself end up recreating such a business. Before opening The Ordinarie, Caldwell bartended and managed the Auld Dubliner, a famous Irish pub in downtown Long Beach, known to be the top buyer of Guinness in all of California. While he began working at this “classic, convivial Irish haunt”, he fell in love with the vibe of Long Beach, which felt remarkably different than the Los Angeles he had gotten used to in the South Bay. Long Beach culture — the art, music, and bar ambiance – made him feel right at home. He would continue working at and thriving in the Auld Dubliner for 13 years before opening his own establishment. When The Ordinarie finally opened its doors in 2018, it was immediately noticed as paying respect to its Art Deco roots. Nestled in a retro building that once housed the Blue Cafe, The Ordinarie kept the streamlined elegance of the architecture intact and even hung up aerodynamic signage that doesn’t compromise the style of the building. The Ordinarie quickly became a Long Beach favorite for locals and visitors alike due to their craft cocktails, delicious grub, and live music. Once stepping foot in this establishment, patrons immediately feel at ease and welcome. This is a business that values comfort, tradition, and festivity. The Ordinarie, while brilliantly sticking to its old traditions, manages to evolve into something new and exciting with this menu launch. Since opening its doors, it has served as a welcoming presence in the heart of downtown and will continue to do so in the future. For delicious food, impeccable cocktails, excellent hospitality, and great music, drop into The Ordinarie. To find out more about The Ordinarie, you can visit their website here.
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