Art Gallery Opens Next to New T. Patterson Shop

The Mint Fine Art Gallery just opened next to the new T. Patterson surf shop in North Beach. Both are in the same North Beach plaza as on El Camino Real.

Mint owner Mark Gabriel spent years as a surfer and professional snowboarder, and developed art and photo contacts while shooting videos for surf brand Volcom.

His gallery is currently showing work from four photographers and a painter.

Gabriel started out in retail, running a surf shop, but felt the market was too crowded by bigger stores.

"If you're not going to stock a million dollars in product, a lot of people will go [to stores that] do, so it's hard to compete," he said.

The Mint Gallery previously operated in Dana Point, but Gabriel wanted a spot along Pacific Coast Highway.

Its new next-door neighbor T. Patterson used to be a couple of blocks away on Los Molinos, but just held a grand opening for its store.

The Mint also held its grand opening last weekend -- celebrating by taking a dozen kids with cystic fibrosis to surf out on the waves as part of the Mauli Ola Foundation.

"We take kids with cystic fibrosis out to better their lives, rinse them out with salt water and teach them a few things," Gabriel said.