Five thousand one reasons to open your wallet at 5001

PHOTO by ROSHEILA ROBLES

Despite being home to a number of major retailers—like the Body Shop/Banana Republic/Gap trifecta, where, I’m not too proud to admit, I worshiped as a teen—as well as more than a few choice boutiques (Blue Windows, Body O Soul), Second Street can often seem an endless row of eateries and sweet shops and coffee bars—as opposed to the city’s most visible shopping district.

You don’t even realize when it happens, following your nose (and stomach) down to Open Sesame or Natraj, passing by Romance, Etc. with barely a peek inside. Food is your focus, not the Nikes at O’ My Sole. And yet at sunset on a recent Sunday, one store popped out from among the others—figuratively speaking—blocking the path I was cutting toward George’s Greek Cafe. Crossing the street from the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf on Argonne Avenue, I was struck by a stretch of shelves filled with assorted rainbow-colored martini glasses and tumblers at 5001. The effect recalled Sunday mornings spent watching the sun drip through stained glass windows at Saint Bartholomew, and it drew me in.

Not that I’ve ever wanted for reasons to enter 5001. The furniture/art/accessory shop is a marvel of miscellany, the kind of place that’s essential to streets like Second, where you can pick up a housewarming gift (like a domino salt and pepper set, $15.95) or just reward yourself (perhaps with a green/orange/brown seat belt bag by Harvey’s, $124). Owner Peter Daltorio won’t tell you where he hunts for his inventory—it’s his little secret—but it’s a measure of his broad range of tastes that you can stop in for La Tourangelle gourmet oils (grapeseed, walnut, white truffle, sesame) and walk out with a cute set of light-up orchid flowers, too (available in purple and white and perfect for bathroom vases, Daltorio says; $16.95).

Whether you’re hunting for big pieces (the store currently has two very nice dark wood beds) or baubles (Nalgene bottles sporting a portrait of JC and the words “Holy Water,” $12.95) or even jewelry and eyeware, 5001 invariably stocks something worth opening your wallet for—even if you’re trying very hard not to. Need a joke gift? There’s the Magic Frog to Prince ($4.95), a sea monkey just-add-water gag of sorts that transforms a foam frog into a foam prince. Or there’s the Looking Good for Jesus beauty kit by Blue Q, complete with JC-shaped hand-held mirror and “sparkle cream.”

For the more serious-minded shopper, there’s a Lug travel blanket and pillow set (softer than your cat and available in green, grey and blue; $28.95) or an array of hand soaps wrapped in pretty printed paper (with a wax seal!) for $9.95 each. The design-oriented among us will love the “Flybrary,” a wall-mounted horizontal series of prongs that you can hang books on, newspaper style, for maximum space saving ($29.95), or any number of the store’s clocks—they’re all around, just look up!

And then there’s scents. From high-end soy-based candles and reed diffusers to room sprays and oils, 5001 likely out-olfactories any shop within reasonable driving distance. If you have cats, you will come to swear by the Archipelago reed diffusers, which at $34.95 (for about 8 ounces) are a bit pricey compared to knock off brands at Target, but so worth it when it comes to protecting against putridness for months at a time. (Can’t decide on a scent? Try out the mini diffuser set, offering small vials of Burl Wood, Bamboo Teak and Bergamot Tobacco for $29.95). There are also Votivo candles ($26.95), plus a sizeable of selection of leopard-print jars by the Tyler Candle Company with such names as “Wisteria Lane,” “Miss Priss,” “Drama” and “Diva” ($6.95 for 11 ounces).

But by far the best reason to shop 5001 comes down to a single name: Michael Aram. The metalist from New York, whose works Daltorio has been carrying since 1989, is sophisticated and stylish in his designs, incorporating bits from nature like twigs, flowers, leaves and coral. My favorite, among the baskets made from pipes, plus dishes, wine racks, place card holders and serving spoons, is a red coral-shaped candle holder ($275.95). It is, like 5001 itself, bound to give you pause, a striking visual that will put thoughts of anything else—work, frenzy, falafels—on hold, at least momentarily.

5001 5001 E SECOND ST | LONG BEACH 90803 | 562.439.1875

Tags: 5001, Long Beach, second street, shopping