Shaheen Sadeghi

Sadeghi’s LAB Holding (an acronym for Little American Business) was one of the first to introduce the concept of a boutique lifestyle center decades ago when the ex-Quiksilver president redeveloped a goggle factory into what’s been called an “anti-mall.”

The LAB in Costa Mesa isn’t far from South Coast Plaza, a stalwart of luxe retail and one of the most successful mega-malls in the country. In the 1990s, when the LAB was developed, it was considered a thumb-in-the-eye to mall conformity. The Camp, another dining and shopping spot in Costa Mesa that became a thing in 2002, and Anaheim Packing District, an Orange County food hall that celebrated its grand opening in 2014, are other popular Sadeghi creations, filled with independent, small businesses intended for the younger crowd ditching traditional shopping malls.

The fashion-designer turned retail developer’s creations were a risk nonetheless as many still choose to shop online, but Sadeghi believes his developments tap an unmet demand for experiences and human interaction.

Before immigrating to the United States at 11 years old, Sadeghi’s grandfather built a retail and real estate empire and his father, Ali Sadeghi, was a successful businessman in Tehran.

— Alena Botros