Small Business Saturday falls on Nov. 28 this year, one day after Black Friday. Independent shops across Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach are already stocked with holiday inventory, and several holiday shopping events are on the calendar through early December.
Here is what South Bay shoppers can find right now at locally owned stores in all three cities.
Books for every budget
Pages: a bookstore, at 904 Manhattan Ave. in Manhattan Beach, lists children's titles starting at $9.99, including the board book "Room on the Broom Push-Pull-Slide" by Julia Donaldson. "Fight or Flight (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #21)" by Jeff Kinney is $15.99. For adult readers, the store's website lists a signed preorder of "Just in Time" by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka at $20.00. Staff picks include "The Correspondent" by Virginia Evans ($28.00) and "Whistler" by Ann Patchett ($30.00).
Pages is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The store hosts a Storytime with The Grinch on Nov. 18 at 5 p.m. and an author event with Carol Lin on Nov. 19 at 6 p.m.
In Redondo Beach, Moonstone & Mist Bookshop opened a brick-and-mortar location on Sept. 1 inside BlendzUP Acai & Coffee Bar at 1913 S. Catalina Ave. in the Riviera Village. Owner Renee Joyce started the shop as a pop-up in October 2025, according to Local Anchor. The store carries new and gently used books across all genres and is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, according to its website. Specific prices were not listed online at publication time.
Gifts and home goods
Gum Tree, a family-owned home and gift shop, operates three South Bay locations: 238 Pier Ave. in Hermosa Beach, 1140 Highland Ave. in Manhattan Beach and 1722 S. Catalina Ave. in Redondo Beach. All three are open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, according to the store's website.
The online shop organizes a holiday gift guide by price, with categories for gifts under $30, under $50 and under $100. Listed ornaments range from a $16.00 Soft Serve Ice Cream Cone to a $23.00 Crate of Records. A Baguette Ornament is $17.00. A Distressed Gold Finish Metal Folding Nativity Scene is $28.00. Gum Tree also offers complimentary gift wrapping, according to Experience Manhattan Beach.
Curious, at 128 Pier Ave. in Hermosa Beach, stocks more than 2,000 products on its online catalog. Stocking-stuffer-priced items include Chopstick Pencils at $4.00, a "Pizza Lover" Pizza Cutter at $13.75 and "The Perfect Date" dice set at $15.75. A 1,000-piece Changing Colours Puzzle runs $48.75.
Tabula Rasa Essentials, at 919A Manhattan Ave. in Manhattan Beach, is an independently owned gift boutique founded in 2000 by owner Maureen McBride, according to the store's LinkedIn page. The shop offers complimentary gift wrap and curbside pickup. Its online catalog lists Manhattan Beach-themed coasters at $14 and tea towels at $20. The shop also advertises complimentary gift wrapping and curbside pickup.
Holiday shopping events
Several organized events give shoppers a reason to walk the storefronts:
- Nov. 18: Downtown Manhattan Beach Pier Lighting and Holiday Open House, 5 to 9 p.m. Downtown shops stay open until 9 p.m. Pages: a bookstore is participating.
- Nov. 21-22: Hermosa for the Holidays at Pier Plaza, featuring local artisan vendors and a tree lighting ceremony on Sunday.
- Nov. 28: The third annual Bad Bitch Bazaar at The Studio, 636 Cypress Ave. in Hermosa Beach, runs 2 to 7 p.m. on Small Business Saturday, featuring women-owned local brands, according to Palos Verdes Pulse.
- Dec. 3: Riviera Village Holiday Stroll in Redondo Beach, 5 to 9 p.m.
- Dec. 6: North Manhattan Beach Holiday Stroll on Highland Avenue, 4 to 8 p.m.
