Outside the Box: The Long Beach Free Store

On Saturday night, some people walked into the Long Beach Free Store, looked around, and realized the "store" was actually a trade and giveway venue.

They walked out promising to bring items to donate.

Such donations are just what the is all about.

The free store, 430 E. First Street, is the first of its kind in the area and in the strict sense of the word, it is not a store at all.

The Free Store is more of an exchange station, where donations are accepted and people can trade in goods for other goods, with no impact on the pocketbook.

Because it was a grand opening Saturday however, people were allowed to pick up items even if they did not bring anything in to trade.

Long Beach resident Sharon Moisieff opened the store with the Catalyst Network, a nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to connecting people to one another within their communities.

Though "free stores" have opened on both coasts, the Long Beach Free Store is the first of its kind in Southern California.

Moisieff said about 100 people came in to trade and pick up.

"More than 60 percent brought in stuff," Moisieff told Patch.

Among the many items brought in was a trumpet that someone snapped up immediately.

"And it was an item that was useful and needed to the person that picked it up," Moisieff said.

According to Moisieff, people generally brought items in that were gently used or in even better condition.

"There were a lot of things … that were still new in the package,” she said.

“We get a lot of brand new stuff."

There were also some different sorts of items, things one might not think of as average donation material.

“There was a blood pressure monitor ... cables … I don’t know what the cables were for,” Moisieff said thoughtfully.

Now that the neighborhood knows the store is there, organizers are trying to work out a regular schedule.

"We're trying for one or two weekdays and a day on the weekend and then one evening one," Moisieff said.

To stay updated on the store's hours, please visit here.