A Quirky Place to Meet

Wardrobe stylist and costume designer Shirley Kurata, 55, was nominated for an Academy Award for best costume design in 2023 for the film Everything Everywhere All at Once. Her partner, Charlie Staunton, 54, is an artist and designer. The couple created a space central to the artists and musicians in their community.

Charlie Staunton: We used to be in a moped gang, and the moped shop in East Hollywood was our hangout.

Shirley Kurata: Charlie was into going fast. I was more into the aesthetic than the drag racing. I love anything that is hip and dorky at the same time.

Charlie: Our friend who owned the shop decided to become a Hollywood stuntman and race car driver instead. In 2015, we rented the space. It was a classic case of making your hobby a business.

Shirley: We have an eclectic mix of stuff. Vintage and designer men’s streetwear, records, cameras, eyewear, books, bike parts, skateboards.

Charlie: It’s kind of like if you took a Tumblr page and made everything for sale.

Shirley: We wanted a place that felt inviting — a store where you don’t feel obligated to buy stuff.

Charlie: It’s a place to showcase cool artists and creatives.

Shirley: We called it Virgil Normal because we’re on Normal Avenue, and the cross street is Virgil. We kind of like that it sounds like a person.

"We wanted a place that felt inviting — a store where you don’t feel obligated to buy stuff," says Shirley Kurata.

Gregg Segal

Charlie: We work with a lot of designers who manufacture in L.A. We’re kind of like the local music venue, where indie bands can go and have a show, get their chops, spread the word. We do that for up-and-coming makers.

Shirley: My career is as a costume designer for film, but having the shop has been one of the most fulfilling things I’ve done. It’s beyond just having a store; it’s about having a community, being part of this neighborhood.

Charlie: Our patio is a nice little gathering place where artists do pop-ups or DJ or play their instruments or airbrush, or whatever their talent is. Any excuse to get people together. Otherwise, you never see them. It’s all email.

Shirley: Or texts. Face-to-face interactions are becoming rarer. Human interaction is really good for your soul and for your creativity.

Charlie: Sometimes you have to ask yourself, Should I be doing this? It’s not like we’re making a ton of money on the store. Rent, insurance, the products we sell — they’re all going up.

Shirley: It’s tough for anyone with a small business to be financially viable, especially in places where rent is so expensive. I always encourage people to support their small businesses because small businesses are what make your city interesting.