Ryan and Tammy Callis are living their dream in Seal Beach.
They enjoy the beach lifestyle with their three kids, spending their family time surfing, riding their bicycles, having quality reading time and home schooling their children. By many people’s yardstick, they might seem a bit unconventional, but they enjoy bringing their own sense of creativity to what life has to offer.
They bring that same philosophy to their family business, The Canvas Shop.
Is it eclectic? You bet.
The unique shop, which is literally a “mom and pop” operation, pushes the boundary of traditional retail marketing.
The front of the shop is stocked with unique and what the Callises like to think of as “thoughtfully” made products. From vintage records to stationery, surfboards to handcrafted leather bags, the selection of items might seem like a hodgepodge.
However, there are signs of a method at work. The theme that threads the enterprise and its products is that The Canvas Shop’s inventory is rich with goods that are made in America (and mostly in California) by small companies or individuals.
Nestled in the back of the shop is a large studio space, stocked with art supplies, records, and art books. They actually hold weekly art classes in the space.
It is also geared toward being a local Mecca for the creative at heart. The Callises have a membership program that allows people to come and work freely in the space.
The Canvas Shop pushes the envelope of traditional retail by hosting regular community events, such as documentary and surf movie screenings, record listening parties, creative showcases, and campfire story nights.
“This new mom-and-pop shop has become a gathering place for people to connect, create and discover,” Ryan Callis said.
Together, the Callises set a new aesthetic for and embody the mission of the shop.
True artists at heart, they bring a unique view and an optimistic voice to the retail space and have transformed a former family-owned boat yard into a multi-purpose retail shop and creative haven.
“We’re in a cool and unique, historical building at 700 Marina Dr. and what we are doing here is unique to Seal Beach,” Ryan Callis said.
The Canvas Shop is located at· 702 Marina Dr., Seal Beach. For more information, call (562) 493-6563, or send e-mail to: canvasshopsb.com.
