Website: monamoore.com

"My family's work in the fashion business goes back four generations to 1907. My cousin in Roanoke, Virginia runs the family business there now, a shoe store and one of the oldest family businesses still operating in that city. When I was little, a trip to visit my grandparents always meant new shoes- like Buster Brown, Bass, and Clark's. At age six in 1972 I got black patent leather go-go boots and an obsession began. I am not sure my grandfather carried anything so stylish before or after those boots, but I had plenty of Tretorns and Topsiders.

In high school, I figured out that the best shoes were from French designers and made in Italy. I studied fashion magazines and learned to speak French, not realizing that both would eventually lead me back to the family trade.

The first Mona Moore was a shoe store in Montreal, 2002-2010. After a family move to Los Angeles, we opened on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice Beach in 2009. I travel to Paris and Milan four times a year, (and NYC between each) to place orders for the most beautiful, interesting, and hard-to-find pieces in the world, but perfect basics are never overlooked. We carry designers such as Maison Margiela, The Row, Marsell, Haider Ackermann, Vetements, Molly Goddard, and Visvim, introducing new fledgling designers all the time.

The summer of 2016 my youngest daughter, Kali, moved back to LA from NYC and joined me in running the business, helping carry-on the family tradition. Then in October of 2017 we moved to our permanent home and flagship store at 208 Lincoln Boulevard, Venice CA. There is also plenty of room for our growing online business.

Behind the white painted cinder blocks and metal roll down doors is our little piece of fashion paradise. Neon signs, white washed oak shelves, floors and racks dotted with pops of colorful clothing, accessories, and shoes. Walking into Mona Moore is like walking into the closet of my dreams. I want to try everything on and take it all home with me. The goal is for you to feel that comfort and excitement too.

-Lisa D Bush, Owner of Mona Moore