DesignDistrict_Layout 1 1/11/10 1:42 PM Page 1

July 21-August 3, 2009

Creatives Set Up Shop In New

Long Beach ‘Design District’

The creative entrepreneurs of the Long Beach Design District just north of East Anaheim Street on Coronado Avenue include, left to
right: Jonathan Glasgow, Interstices Architecture; Paul Murnane, Magnitude; Cynthia Murnane, Magnitude; Lisa Lowe, Ore’ Originals;
Michael Bachman, Kuro; Justin Dionisio, Kuro; Carl Dene, Vision Design Studio; Michael Kollin, Kollin Altomare Architects; and Paul
Altomare, Kollin Altomare Architects. (Photograph by the Business Journal’s Thomas McConville)
n By ASHLEIGH OLDLAND work – even Dene’s close friends and family told him that
Staff Writer the buildings should be scrapped. But his vision of restor-
ing the run-down industrial brick and concrete and moving
ndustrial warehouses are quickly being transformed into
I trendy office space for architects, graphic artists, interi- his graphic design firm into the space has proved to be a
revolutionary idea that other creatives are copying.
or designers and other creative-service professionals on the
sparsely traveled Coronado Avenue just north of East “I pulled up to these buildings, and they looked like – to
Anaheim Street in Long Beach. some people – that they should have been torn down,” Dene
Carl Dene, owner of Vision Design Studio and member says. “But I was just instantly connected to the spaces, and I
of the East Anaheim Street Business Alliance, started the said, ‘This is going to be one of the coolest streets in Long
trend on Coronado Avenue when he purchased two ware- Beach.’”
houses that were formerly used as uniform-cleaning Since Dene purchased his property in 2007, six other cre-
facilities. ative-service businesses have bought and fixed up decrepit
The old warehouses were blighted and needed a lot of industrial buildings on Coronado and created hip office
DesignDistrict_Layout 1 1/11/10 1:42 PM Page 2

spaces, unofficially dubbing the area the

“Design District” of Long Beach. Creative Services
“It went from this decrepit,
empty, falling-apart street to a
On Coronado Avenue
cool new space,” Dene says. Interstices Architecture: A full-service architecture and interior design firm that

“Once somebody goes in and does strives for design quality and diversity, a high level of service to clients and the com-
something really cool and really munity, accountability for design and management and overall project cost-conscious-
invests in it and believes in it, ness. 1322 Coronado Ave.; www.interstices-lb.com.
things happen.” Kollin Altomare Architects: A full-service architectural firm committed to making

But creatives and city officials don’t clients’ ideas and dreams the motivation for projects. 1350 Coronado Ave.; www.kol-
want the Design District to stay solely linaltomare.com.
on Coronado Avenue. East Anaheim Magnitude: A design firm specializing in corporate branding and strategic commu-

Street Business Alliance President Rod nications. Magnitude employees consider themselves “brand engineers.” 1356
Wilson says he hopes that the Design Coronado Ave.; www.magnitude-inc.com.
District will continue to spread north Masterworks Construction: A comprehensive general contractor featuring a full

and south of East Anaheim Street, spectrum of residential and commercial remodeling and building services.
encompassing the area between Masterworks offers architectural design, construction, landscape design and land-
Redondo and Temple avenues and 14th scape installation services. 1376 Coronado Ave.; www.mworksconstruction.com.
and Anaheim streets. Ore Originals: A bold line of innovative, fun and functional products ranging

City Manager Pat West agrees. He from pet bowls to living goods to shoulder bags. Items may be purchased online or
calls the Design District an incubator for at various retail locations. 1357 Coronado Ave.; www.oreoriginals.com.
the creative class and adds that finding Vision Design Studio: A graphic design firm serving clients from coast to coast.
space for creatives to flourish will help 1342 Coronado Ave.; www.doyouhavevision.com.
stimulate the local economy and be a Kuro: Coming soon to the Design District, Kuro, a full-service creative agency
great asset to the city. specializing in public relations, social marketing and interactive design, is expected
“Just an incredible amount of fantastic to open this month at 1324 Coronado Ave.; www.kuro.la.
activity is going in there and transition-
“There are a lot of creatives in the City of Long Beach,” he
ing that from an old manufacturing, industrial blighted area
into this brand-new Design District with graphic artists and says. “Part of the future of Long Beach is the creative class.
the creative class,” West says. “We are trying to utilize that as And there’s so [many] of us here, but there’s nothing connect-
an incubator and hopefully grow it through that entire area.” ing the dots – nothing connects us together. . . . We are really
Dene says he hopes that the Design District will become a trying to build this as a place where creatives want to be.” n
place for all creatives in Long Beach to connect.