Stylish community joins forces on Superior

In a corner of town more popularly known for industrial buildings and oil changes, a budding pocket of artists and businesses are combining forces to forge their own slice of “Costa Mesa cool.”

They’re calling their neighborhood Style on Superior.

So far, 11 businesses on Superior Avenue’s 1600 block are part of the group. Formed about four months ago, owners say the name and association are already helping their operations thrive with newly found connectivity. Employees wave to each other when walking along their street. If one business doesn’t have something, it will refer the customer to another on the block that does.

Style on Superior, however informal at this early juncture, is among the newest nooks within Costa Mesa’s busy shopping and dining landscape, where legacy institutions such as South Coast Plaza often reign supreme while newer ones, like South Coast Collection and hipster-friendly Camp and Lab “anti-malls,” occupy their own niches.

Style on Superior has a character all its own, comprised of disparate interests that have organically combined instead of being fused together by a master plan or City Hall oversight.

Behind the idea of Style on Superior is Keariene Muizz, director of Find Art Gallery and Magazine at 1640 Superior.

She says she used to park her car outside the gallery and feel alone. The businesses nearby did their own thing — hosting events and whatnot — but there was never a sense of community.

Muizz approached folks along the block with the concept of coming together under a common name. The landlord for several of the properties, John Morehart, loved the idea, Muizz said.

“We have a lot of artistic businesses here in the creative industries,” she said. “When I came up with Style on Superior, everyone loved it. We all bring our own eclectic style to the block.”

Many along Superior have been bringing their own styles for years, like Duane and Elaine Turney, husband-and-wife owners of Here Today Gone Tomorrow, a furniture and accessory store with a coastal theme at 1644 Superior.

HtgT, as the store is sometimes called, has sold its wares for the past decade in a silver-colored, airy World War II-era Quonset hut. The Turneys have personally witnessed the slow transformation of their “funky” Westside block that, while close to the Newport Beach border, is pure Costa Mesa.

Style on Superior is unique, Elaine said. “I think it’s more of a relaxed, hip, urban environment, like SoHo in New York. It has the feel of those neighborhoods,” she said, as classic jazz tunes played softly in the background. “It’s a little neighborhood find, a little gem.”

Added Duane: “I think the camaraderie is really nice, to have the shop owners on the street all knowing each other, operating and cooperating with each other.”

“You don’t really see that anymore. It’s just like in the olden days,” Elaine said.

Across the street is Davis Ink Ltd., an interior design business that’s been operating for about 12 years, two of them at 1661 Superior. Davis Ink’s work can be found for clients in Los Angeles, San Diego and abroad, like Mexico and Russia.

The firm is owned by Davis Krumins and his wife, Andrea.

Davis Ink’s showroom space shows off trinkets from their vendors, like an Edgar Allan Poe lunch box and “Thanksgiving gumballs,” to name a few. It includes a giant cow in the window and a kitchen table centerpieced with an inflatable turkey.

Andrea said Style on Superior requires repeat visits to see it all.

“There’s a lot to absorb,” she said. “You’re not going to come here once.”

Mayor Steve Mensinger said Style on Superior is emblematic of a changing Westside and how “excited people are about it.”

Businesses there are “seeing young professionals move in, and they’re trying to capture that market,” he said. “That’s what’s unique about Costa Mesa. There’s an optimism.”

In October, Style on Superior held its inaugural group event: a free scavenger hunt, complete with prizes from the participating businesses, live music and food trucks. About 150 people came.

Style on Superior’s next event, a “holiday mystery marketplace,” is Saturday, from noon to 5 p.m. They’re calling it “Cheer on Superior.”

Participants will gather clues while shopping the stores. There will also be a raffle.

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Style on Superior participating businesses:

Beach Cities Hand Car Wash and Detailing, 1645 Superior, a boutique facility

The Find Consignments, 1646 Superior, home furnishings and other unique items

Waffleholic Cafe, 1661 Superior, which serves waffle sandwiches and Southern comfort food

Viridian, 1663 Superior, which sells vintage furnishings, estate jewelry and original art

31 Bits, 1663 Superior, a jewelry store that benefits Ugandan women

Crush Studios, 1630 Superior, a photo studio that specializes in boudoir photography

Dainese, 1645 Superior, seller of motorcycle gear and accessories

Davis Ink Ltd., 1661 Superior, interior design studio

Find Art Magazine and Gallery, 1640 Superior, contemporary space which focuses on “undiscovered talent”

Here Today Gone Tomorrow, 1644 Superior, an eclectic furniture store with a coastal vibe

Precision Motors, 1650 Superior, an independent BMV / Mini service center

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If You Go

What: Style on Superior’s “Cheer on Superior” event

Where: The 1600 block of Superior Avenue, Costa Mesa

When: Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday

For more information: Visit https://styleonsuperior.weebly.com or search “Style on Superior” on Facebook