LINDA SADEGHI
OWNER
THE LAB ANTI-MALL
WHY: Co-founder, designer and owner of anti-mall retail center in Costa Mesa, known for its eclectic mix of mom-and-pop retailers and restaurants.
IN THE NEWS: Repurposing former Urban Outfitters space, spanning 12K sq. ft., into six
mini-stores and one new restaurant at The LAB. Vacant storefront will be divided into “realistic retail spaces” with new footprints ranging from 600 to 1.5K sq. ft.
NOTABLE: Says she was the first one to tour the buildings when property still housed a night-vision goggle factory. The LAB stands for “Little American Businesses.”
QUOTABLE: Anti-mall opened in 1993. “We were migrating from the apparel industry into retail. The LAB was an appropriate name for our experiment on so many levels, and our original vision lasted so much longer, and now it’s a family business for us.”
