Mother Stories
General Store’s Visionary New Mama, Serena Mitnik-Miller
Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano
Photography by Nicki Sebastian
Jan 10, 2017
If you’ve walked into any new, carefully “curated” indie boutique of late, chances are it’s been inspired by General Store—the pioneering California creation of artist Serena Mitnik-Miller and her husband Mason St. Peter. A complete original at the time of its 2009 launch in San Francisco’s Ocean Beach neighborhood, General Store provides a mix of clothing (both new and vintage) and home goods that oscillate between minimal and hand-crafted, bohemian aesthetics, seamlessly. After opening its second location in L.A. in 2012, the shop has become the frontrunner in all things cool. With such a forward-thinking retail operation under their belt (plus a new baby boy, 5-month-old Wild Hawk Moon), it’s no wonder Serena and Mason’s Topanga Canyon home, which they’ve restored most of themselves, is also the stuff of our dreams (that we didn’t even know existed). If you see loads of imitators on the horizon, don’t be surprised.
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- "We have been spending time in Topanga for years. A neighbor tipped us off to this spot while we were also in escrow on a place in San Francisco. In the end, Topanga was meant to be. We have now been working on our home for almost two years. It has been a long process of deconstruction, refinishing, painting, and building back the bare essentials. We changed very little of the layout and structure, removing a few unnecessary walls, which opened up the main living, kitchen, and dining space to its original one-room state as it was built in 1927. Originally built as a hunting cabin, we fell in love with the beautiful post-and-beam structure, an abundance of windows, and original hard wood floors."
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- Plant life.
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- Serena wears a handwoven Mexican Huipil dress.
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- "Warm, simple, functional, and filled with light."
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- "Wild's rattan bassinet. It is the most useful item we own at the moment."
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- "It is hard to say at this point, but I am a realist, so I imagine it will be everywhere, scratch that it...already is!"
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- Shelfie.
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- "We spend most of our time in Topanga since Wild has arrived and head to S.F. about once a month."
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- "The pros are having a comfortable place to land when we are in S.F. every month. It has been a slow transition and just in the past few months we finally feel settled in Topanga. The cons are maintaining two homes."
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- "I grew up barefoot and wanted the same for my children. This way I feel like we can have the best of both worlds. We love this area, the state park is in our backyard, and children and dogs run free in the streets. Life is simple here."
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- "We are very happy here, I cant imagine living anywhere else at the moment."
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- "The beach is always our favorite place to relax. Gjusta is our favorite baby-friendly eatery. Honestly, we spend a lot of time at home these days."
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- Wild is wrapped up in Heather Taylor blanket and swaddle by Jenny Pennywood.
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- "In 2009, Mason and I founded General Store in San Francisco and then partnered with our friends Hannah Henderson and John Moore in 2012 to open General Store Venice. When I am not working at the two General Stores, I try to find time to paint." Serena wears a Dôen top and Chimala pants.
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- "My life has been very untraditional, born on the east coast, moved to Kauai in grade school until I graduated high school, went back to the east coast for college, dropped out, and moved to California, where I eventually ended up at UCSC studying photography and printmaking. I lived in the Bay Area for almost 15 years until recently transitioning to Topanga."
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- "I tend to be very focussed on whatever I am doing, so work used to be my main focus, now Wild is."
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- "I don’t see my career path changing, I just see things slowing down a bit."
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- "I believe life is what you make it. Many people choose to make sacrifices for their art and others choose to sacrifice for their families, but I believe there is a balance in between. I choose to live a creative and inspired life that started before my son was born and will continue. Painting and creating make me a happy and fulfilled person and that will make me a better mother."
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- "When we first opened General Store, Mason and I did everything. As we have grown I have learned to focus on the parts I enjoy— handpicking new and vintage items is definitely my favorite part of the job."
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- "I have a solo show in New York next fall."
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- "At the moment we mostly just use the changing table and store the giant yoga ball. We have a crib, but he hasn't used it yet. The room is decorated with what we have collected and were given, but I really want it to be an open slate and have his interests inform the space as he grows."
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- "The mobile made for Wild by a friend, and his mini art collection."
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- "Every moment, it has been such an amazing experience and were are just getting started. Sometimes I still cannot believe we made this little guy, he blows my mind everyday."
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- "Keeping him alive. I am constantly checking to see if he is breathing."
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- "Wild Hawk Moon is his first, middle, and last name. Hawk is Mason's spirit animal and we see them everywhere we go. Wild Hawk is a nod to his Native American heritage. Moon is a name we chose to be our new family name."
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- "I have the books, I meant to watch the movies, and sometimes the apps make sense, but honestly I use my gut, friends and family, and our lactation consultant has been really helpful."
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- "My mother, my grandmothers, and a few very close friends."
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- "Yes, I mostly grew up with my single mother, which I think has informed my independence. She was also a kindergarten teacher, so since a young age I was always really comfortable around children. We lived a very creative, simple, and healthy life, which inspires me to do the same." Wild wears a Rudy Jude top and pants, and hand-knit booties by his Aunt Marion, available at General Store S.F.
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- "I am open to all experiences, but the active nature of a boy excites me, surfing and exploring the outdoors. But if he wants to play the flute or be a dancer, well I support that, too."
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- "I think it is very important to be actively engaged in what you believe in. We have become complacent and it is time to fight for what we believe. I hope to be involved and educate our child."
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- "No matter how much you plan, ultimately you cannot control the outcome. But knowledge is power and the more you know the better you can prepare for all scenarios."
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- "I had a pretty great pregnancy, very low energy and nausea the first three months, but after that I felt great. However, I did plan to have a home birth and chose to go to the hospital and induce 3 weeks early at multiple doctors' recommendations. The end result was a C-section, which was not ideal, but Wild is happy and healthy and that is all that matters!"
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- "I am just getting my feet wet as a parent, so I am not sure I have nailed the balancing act, but so far communication and scheduling time for ourselves seems most important."
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- "We want to try for a second."
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- "I am a jeans and t-shirt gal, no frills, and I love vintage. Comfort is important to me also."
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- "It's taken a few months to get back into my jeans and there is a whole section of my closet that is on break while I breastfeed, but otherwise nothing has changed." Serena wears a Babaa sweater, Apiece Apart t-shirt, and Jesse Kamm pants. Wild wears a Naturapura cardigan, See.Sun pants, and B.Ella socks.
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- "Vintage denim, t-shirts, and sweatshirts."
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- "Jesse Kamm, Lauren Manoogian, Black Crane, Milena Silvano, Chimala, Caron Callahan, and Dôen."
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- "In person is usually more successful for me, I love small, well-curated shops, or searching for treasures at flea markets."
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- "I am pretty simple. Moisturizer and lip balm on a regular day, a dab of mascara and tinted lip balm if I am dressing up."
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- "I try to walk everyday and surf and hike as often as possible. Spending time in nature is where I find peace." For more on Serena, General Store, and baby Wild Hawk, check out her mega-inspiring Instagram feed.
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