I have to at least get a couple weekends in where I can just be on Santa Monica beach or Malibu and just ride the waves.

I love Santa Monica and Venice because I like the beach. I have a lot of friends in that area.

Not everyone in Santa Monica is a well-heeled, juice-cleansing, Prius-driving yogini, but for better or worse, that is the city's dominant chord.

I was born in Santa Monica but brought up abroad so I don't use English much.

I looked in Malibu, the Palisades and all over Santa Monica, and I ended up wanting to be in a busy district. I think our store has really benefited from the traffic here because people aren't just zipping by; they are seeing us.

Eventually Santa Monica has to grow out towards this way, it has to expand out eventually. And I'm not too far from the main activity, so I took a chance.