Shopping Paradise

“My friend’s birthday is in two days. That means I have to find the perfect gift and I have to find it fast. But I want my gift to be special. I could try the mall and risk buying her something she already has. I don’t want my gift tossed into the closet, never to be seen again. That’s why I’m going to Belmont Shore’s Second Street to find her a present, joining rollerbladers, bicyclists, and window shoppers as they stream down shopper’s paradise.
Like a one-stop shopping center that stretches for blocks, Second Street is an alternative to malls. There are no escalators, fountain courts or carousels. No more Macy’s card people trying to sign you up or sales associates calling you to sample the newest fragrance at the perfume counter. At Second Street, shopping comes without hassles, all situated amidst towering palm trees in an open and free environment.
My friend Helena Hsieh of Long Beach raves about the place: “I love all the specialty shops and restaurants. The way the place is decorated at night is unbelievable with all of the sparkling lights. The atmosphere there is also really active—you just want to join the crowd and shop.”
Second Street offers a wide selection of clothing stores, including Mezzanine, which happens to be my favorite. It carries a great selection of dresses and casual outfits, so if you want to break away from the monotony of black Bebe tees or red Tommy shirts, check this place out.
Aside from the clothing stores, another great thing about Second Street is the huge array of restaurants serving everything from burgers to pizzas to tacos. Johnny Rocket’s and Super Mex are just two of the best stops while Pizza Grill and Taco Surf are other good choices. Every restaurant offers great food at reasonable prices as well as friendly service and a nice eating environment.
The Belmont Shore crowd is an even mix of teenagers and twenty-ish shoppers all leisurely strolling down Second Street. The shopping center is most busiest during the weekends and the crowd is largest in the afternoon, so if you want to avoid the rush and find a good place to park, arrive early.
With summer rapidly approaching, there is no better place to be than Second Street. Just grab a hat (it gets really warm!), a friend, loose change for the parking meter, and you’re off! As high school sophomore Teary Chhay noted, “There are a lot of interesting things to see at Second Street. The place is really great.””

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