Press release:
Costa Mesa, CA, February 6, 2013 – As part of the City of Costa Mesa’s 60th anniversary, Shaheen Sadeghi, owner of The LAB and The CAMP specialty retail centers, was honored with the Mayor’s Award Tuesday night.
“We’re honored,” Sadeghi responded. “Costa Mesa, known as The City of the Arts, has been our natural home for the last 20 years as we pioneered a different and interactive approach to retail. Linda and I, and our entire LAB team thank the City for its long-standing encouragement and support.”
In 1993, Sadeghi recycled and transformed a former military night-vision goggle factory on Bristol St. into a unique indoor/outdoor environment and urban youth gathering spot. Soon known as the “Anti-Mall”, The LAB gained international attention and acclaim. An acronym for Little American Business, The LAB showcases up and coming like-minded young businesses, serving the lifestyle demands of the trend-setting shopper. Most importantly, The LAB broke ground 20 years ago with the incorporation of live music, community art projects, poetry readings, open air seminars, fashion shows and other seasonal festivals within the “Living Room” central promenade of its retail campus.
A decade later, Sadeghi followed The LAB’s success with the opening of The CAMP, Orange County’s only “green” retail campus. The CAMP pioneered many environmental firsts such as introducing indigenous landscaping, capturing all storm water on site, a grass roof, a yurt café, use of FSC certified wood in construction, herb boxes on site, a Community Supported Agriculture drop-off location, crafts festivals, educational seminars and films, as well as an incredible selection of eco-friendly eats, goods and services.
These projects anchor The SOBECA District (South on Bristol, Entertainment, Culture, Arts), a 39-acre triangle of land bordered by the San Diego, Costa Mesa and Corona del Mar freeways. Sadeghi was instrumental in the City’s rezoning of this area, drafting guidelines for an overlay and mix of retail, commercial and residential uses as an arts district.
“With The LAB, Shaheen enhanced Costa Mesa’s standing as a city where new and vibrant ideas thrive,” Mayor Jim Righeimer said. “We’ve always been an eclectic town. The LAB cemented that reputation. Shaheen’s vision for Costa Mesa and Bristol Street in particular has been forward-thinking, and his legacy long-lasting. Costa Mesa is the unique city it is today because of visionaries such as Shaheen Sadeghi.”
