BARGAIN HUNTER HIDDEN GEMS WHEN COOKIE-CUTTER MALL STORES JUST WON'T DO, HIT THE STREETS TO FIND THE HARD-CORE SHOPPER'S.

Byline: JULIA SCOTT

My bipolar relationship with chain stores at the mall goes something like this:

I love you!

You are supremely convenient. I can find everything I want super-quick because every chain has the same layout as every other, right down to the color of the floor.

Returning purchases, even after I open and use them, is not usually a problem. And between the food court and the lounge chairs, I can shop day and night.

Shop, shop, shop, shop, shop.

Back to reality.

I'm tired of paying good money for the same cheaply made T-shirt that millions of other people own. The cookie-cutter layouts are downright boring, and don't get me started on customer service.

Everybody knows where the mall is, but finding decent shopping alternatives can be a challenge. They are a lot smaller and don't have the advertising budget of big-box stores. When the thought of going to the mall gives you the blues, here are five alternatives across the region.

LONG BEACH

A compact stretch of more than a dozen vintage furniture and clothing stores beckons shoppers to East Fourth Street between Cherry Avenue and Redondo Avenue. The quality of the used clothing varied widely, but much of the vintage furniture was pristine.

At 2106 E. Fourth St., Imonni feels like a neatly organized closet from an earlier time. Side rooms offer men's clothes and women's dresses next to vintage posters and art. A stretchy bracelet made of stone, metal and glass trinkets in fall colors was $14. Felt hats with slightly curved brims and a creased top were $10 to $14.

A few doors down at 2118 E. Fourth St., rows and rows of broken-in cowboy boots line the walls of Flashback Fashion. The store imports most of its stock from Texas, and many boots were priced $25 to $65. Racks packed with clothing hangers do require intense searching.

The Vintage Collective specializes in Art Deco furniture and pieces from the 1950s and 1960s. A sleek walnut hutch with sliding glass doors was $395, and a teak Danish credenza was $995. More than 25 dealers sell furniture on consignment at the Collective, creating variety and a mix of prices. Visit them at 2122 E. Fourth St.

CLAREMONT

Imagine a walkable cluster of independent stores in a neighborhood where cars stop for pedestrians, public bathrooms are clean and stocked with toilet paper, and locals smile at you. This throwback haven is called The Village, and the wide variety of businesses makes shopping convenient and entertaining.

At Espiritu, 284 W. Second St., much of the earthy goods are imported from Mexico or Latin America. Nativity sets with precious lambs and babes were $20 to $100, and a beaded stretchy belt was $22. A wood Corona beer-bottle opener was $5.

If your budget allows, stop in at The Little Dress Shop at 214 W. Second St. A standout Betsy Johnson dress -- lime-colored with blue flowers cascading across a cleavage-prone neckline -- was $225. A supple robe with a brown sash for $179 was so soft you could wear it to bed.

Get in touch with your inner hippie at The Folk Music Center, which sells cotton peace T-shirts for $10. Cedar Mbiras, African handheld instruments that sound like water dropping slowly, are $26 to $30. It's at 220 Yale Ave.

BURBANK

A stone's throw from the renowned Porto's Bakery on Magnolia Boulevard is a strip of stores that sell antiques, used clothing and knickknacks. Each store has its own distinct character, making for a hit-or-miss experience.

Visit Best of Times Antiques at 3401 W. Magnolia Blvd. to find something you wished you had inherited from your crazy aunt, like a red-leather makeup box for $30 or animal-skin toss pillows in black and white, $20 each. Antique Polaroid cameras were $100 and up.

For trendy clothes with a dash of Hollywood glamour, stop by Carly Jean at 3319 W. Magnolia Blvd. The boutique sells new, used and gently used clothes worn once or twice at the nearby movie and TV studios. A $57 peach-colored dress made of a print that recalls your grandmother's house dress is made fashionable by the thick gold trim around the neck.

The famed It's a Wrap at 3315 W. Magnolia Blvd. would not win prizes for best-smelling. But it has one of the largest selections of used clothing on the strip, with brand names such as Juicy Couture and Marc Jacobs hidden in its racks. An exquisite pair of brick-red suede boots from Saks Fifth Avenue were $85. If prices seem slightly higher than competitors, remember that you are buying a slice of fame. The stock comes from the Paramount lot and shows such as "CSI: Miami" and "All My Children."

MONROVIA

A pocket of discount home-improvement stores has sprung up around South Mountain Avenue and the 210 Freeway, not far from a competing Home Depot.

The Contractor's Carpet Center at 622 E. Evergreen Ave. gets the remainders of massive carpet rolls from manufacturers. The best prices were on the smallest rolls, but larger rolls were still well below retail. An 11-foot-by-12-foot cream-colored chunk of carpet with a diagonal pattern was $190. A salesman was friendly and said he could schedule installations within a week.

Buddy's Flooring Outlet at 1435 S. Shamrock Ave. has dozens of choices for hardwood flooring from $1.49 to $5 per square foot when you buy at least 1,000 square feet. Laminate flooring was 89 cents to $2.09 per square foot. They also sell tile and a few rugs.

A notable exception among the do-it-yourself suppliers in the area is The Outlet by ELS at 1521 S. California Ave. Think a small-scale Costco with lower prices but a slightly more disorganized store. A Vinotemp wine cooler designed to hold about a dozen bottles was $60. A heavy-duty canvas tool bag the size of a bread box was $20, and a limited selection of Crocs shoes were $15 to $20.

ELS sells floor models, items damaged during shipping, and returns, so the quality varies greatly. Sales are final except for clothes, which can be exchanged within 14 days. Small electronics that break within 30 days will be replaced, repaired or exchanged.

CANOGA PARK

A few blocks north of the ritzy Westfield Topanga mall is a collection of thrift stores that cater to shoppers with a taste for vintage. To uncover the treasure in these stores, shoppers need a discriminating eye and a tenacious appetite for digging.

Aardvark's Odd Ark at 21434 Sherman Way is well-organized and had plenty to offer. Straight leg Levi's were $15, and bootcut jeans were $20. Suspenders were $12, kitschy housewife aprons were $3 to $5, and silky Asian-inspired robes were $8 to $30. The store takes cash or credit cards, and all sales are final.

Nearby, Out of the Closet at 21703 Sherman Way smelled just like a stale closet stuffed with possibilities. I saw a black Victoria Secret purse for $5 and a $6 stainless-steel teapot. Ice cream dishes were $1.

Next door at 21709 Sherman Way, Thrift Town was a bit neater, and the clothes were in better shape. At the back of the store, I found a brown suede Inc. jacket without a price tag. The marigold lining was in perfect condition, and the jacket was only slightly worn. I asked the owner how much it cost and nearly choked at the answer. Five dollars equals a major score.

CAPTION(S):

6 photos, 5 maps

Photo:

(1 -- 2 -- color) LONG BEACH: The Vintage Collective, 2122 E. Fourth St. Davin Gumm's store specializes in art deco furniture and pieces from the 1950s and 1960s.

Steven Georges/Staff Photographer

(3 -- color) BURBANK: Above, Carly Jean, 3319 W. Magnolia Blvd., sells new, used and gently used clothes worn once or twice at the nearby movie and television studios.

(4 -- color) CLAREMONT: Inset above, Espiritu, 284 W. Second St., has earthy goods imported from Mexico or Latin America

(5 -- color) In search of vintage items? In Burbank, try Carly Jean, above, or in Long Beach, check out The Vintage Collection, below.

John McCoy/Staff Photographer

(6 -- color) In Claremont, Espiritu sells a hand-crafted clay Nativity set.

Walter Richard Weis/Staff Photographer

Map:

(1) LONG BEACH

(2) CLAREMONT

(3) MONROVIA

(4) BURBANK

(5) CANOGA PARK