Adventures in Crafting at Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles
The first thing to know about Crafted is that it's not your average craft show. You won't find crocheted toilet roll covers here. Crafted is the nation's largest permanent craft market and many of the vendors already have virtual stores on Etsy.
Visiting Crafted is not a normal day out shopping; it's an adventure. Follow the directions on the Crafted website and meander through the port of Los Angeles past cruise ships, the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, the Los Angeles Maritime Museum and the newly opened USS Iowa battleship until you reach the two 1940's era warehouses that Crafted calls home.
The developers, the same firm that brought us Bergamot Station in Santa Monica, transformed these cavernous warehouses into a hip marketplace. Take a minute to look at the wooden beamed ceilings with gigantic fans and especially at the name on the fans; someone has a sense of humor.
Crafted opened its doors on June 29, 2012 for the first phase of development with over 100 vendors. About half of one warehouse is currently being used and booths come in different shapes and sizes. Vendors choose how much they want to build out their booths so while some are standard with little decor others feel more gallery-like. Many of the booths are shared by several vendors.
Crafted is an adventure because you never know what you'll find from one booth to the next. Shopping for the person that has everything isn't a chore here it's a treasure hunt.
Expect to see a variety of jewelry, lotions and soaps, hair accessories, furniture and home décor.
On the food scene, there are pies, every flavor of jam and jelly, chocolate and even moles. Inspect the ingredients and you'll find minimally processed foods are the norm. One unexpected find is the plant and landscape designers that showcase native California plant displays and arrangements.
Plan Your Visit
Crafted is continuously evolving so check the calendar of events for current hours, events and food truck hours. Plan to spend at least a couple of hours here.
If there are no food trucks scheduled your lunch options are slim but there will usually be a table with drinks and food items and there are always booths with tempting baked goods. Crafted does not have a permit yet for food sampling.
Bringing the kids? There is a do-it-yourself craft station of recycled materials where budding artists can create their dream project.
Hours and Parking
Parking is $5 for the day and current hours are 11 am – 6 pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Hours subject to change, credit cards accepted.
Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles
110 & 112 East 22nd Street
San Pedro, CA 90291
(310) 732-1270
More Info
Kristi Marcelle is a travel writer and regular contributor at Ciao Bambino. She loves planning travel adventures with her family, a good glass of wine at the whining hour and the Green Bay Packers. Follow her on Twitter.
