Walk, drive or ride a bike down Pier Avenue in Hermosa Beach any day of the week, and it’s impossible to miss Stars Antique Market. It stands out not just because of its eclectic window displays, but because of the building itself.
The red barn-style structure, built in 1917, was originally a church. Step through the doors, and you can still feel the echoes of that past. The original choir loft remains, a tangible link to over a century of local history.
Over the decades, the 7,500-square-foot space has taken on many identities. After serving as a church, it became a grocery store—even housing a Mrs. Gooch’s in 1976—before transforming into Stars Antique Market in 1991.
When Stars first opened, Bonnie Moton, a Redondo Beach native, was among its very first booth renters. Now, 34 years later, she owns the market with her husband, Mike, who can often be found behind the register on weekends, chatting with customers and helping answer questions.
“Back in 1991, I had a full-time job at Commerce Clearing House and a small booth at Stars,” Bonnie recalls. “I’d help behind the register on weekends too. The opportunity to buy the business came about unexpectedly in 1997 and taking that chance turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
Today, Stars hosts around 70 dealers, with a waitlist to join. One longtime dealer recently retired at age 92, after decades as one of Stars’ most beloved contributors.
Each prospective dealer must apply and submit photos of their merchandise. Bonnie curates the market carefully, aiming for a diverse mix of offerings—a balance that keeps the market fresh and engaging for every visitor.
What makes Stars such a beloved destination in the South Bay, and even across Greater Los Angeles, is the sheer variety packed into its intimate space. Unlike sprawling venues such as the Rose Bowl Flea Market or Long Beach Swap Meet, Stars offers a treasure-hunting experience that’s both accessible and deeply personal.
Some booths specialize in vintage clothing, others in retro kitchenware or airline memorabilia. Shoppers often come in search of Metlox Pottery, a cherished ceramic line produced in nearby Manhattan Beach from 1927 to 1989.
“It’s a place for everyone. No matter who you are, you can find something for you,” says Heidi Androl, who’s had a booth at Stars for just over a year. “It really is a South Bay institution.”
Heidi, a South Bay resident for nearly 15 years, frequented Stars long before becoming a dealer. “It’s my happy place,” she says. “When I tell people I have a spot there, so many light up—everyone seems to have a connection to Stars.”
Like many vendors, Heidi sources her pieces from across the country and abroad—from local estate sales to swap meets in Sweden and Paris. That global reach and unique inventory have made Stars a go-to spot for Hollywood set decorators. Heidi even sold a piece that appeared on Apple TV+’s The Morning Show.
Bonnie, meanwhile, has endless stories about the people who’ve walked through Stars’ doors and the serendipitous finds that have unfolded. One day a woman came in hoping to find a painting her grandfather had made—one her husband had unknowingly donated during spring cleaning. Against all odds, she discovered it hanging in a booth.
“I truly believe people matter—that’s how I run my business,” says Bonnie. “It’s about more than just the dollar.”
In another remarkable twist, Bonnie was once helping a man clear out his late wife’s booth when she stumbled across an old black-and-white photo. Looking closer, she realized it was of her at about 4 years old with her mother on Easter Sunday, taken by a local photographer decades earlier.
It’s moments like these that capture what makes Stars Antique Market so special: You never quite know what treasures—or memories—you might uncover.
“I love what we do and the connections people have to the things we sell,” says Bonnie. “So many of the pieces that leave here really do come full circle.”
