Okay so maybe Burien never became the next Brooklyn, but the old town section of the south end ’burb provides a darn good day trip option with sweet shops and cafes, and a beach drive or two. If you go, be sure to check out Howard and Marge, one of the newer shops on 152nd Street. Here, we meet owner Robin Dunkle.

WWW: What song or album is playing on your store’s sound system right now?
Dunkle: The Black Keys are playing on Pandora in the store right now.

What was your first job in retail? What did you love or hate about it and how does it compare to what you do now?
I graduated in 1989 from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, with a degree in Merchandise Marketing. I started a contemporary women’s clothing line called Tantrumm Apparel Inc. and Red Heart Knits, which I designed and manufactured in our factory in Newport Beach, California. During that time, I opened a retail shop called the Loft in Costa Mesa, California. This is where we put our over-runs along with designs from other local friends in the design business.

I loved that part of my life because it was my dream to create and manufacture my own clothing line. We had a corporate showroom in the California Mart in Los Angeles and I loved traveling to our tradeshow’s in Dallas, New York, Vegas, and other cities. It was a fast-paced lifestyle for 10 great years! I disliked that first job because it was super stressful. There were huge deadlines and the big department stores had the ability to put the little guys like us out of business with bounced shipments and cancelled orders. What could go wrong, did go wrong. But even with all of that, I really miss manufacturing. I loved being knee-deep in bolts of fabric in downtown Los Angeles, shopping trims, and interacting with our sewers.

I love my boutique in Olde Burien because we offer what the people need here in our little town. I keep everyone up on the latest fashion and trends. People appreciate being able to shop locally and get a cute new outfit last minute, or a quick birthday present on the way to meet a friend for lunch.

What’s your favorite thing in the store right now?
My favorite thing in the store right now is a line called Love Heals. It is a designer jewelry line out of Ojai, California. The line mixes charms, strands, and stones so you can create your own necklace or bracelet and earrings. With every piece sold, they plant 10 fruit-bearing trees in Ethiopia. They have planted over 700,000 trees to date.

Where do you shop when you’re not at your store?
I love and prefer boutique shopping to find unique, interesting, and different things. I love antiques and rustic things.

What do you love about your store’s neighborhood? What nearby restaurants, coffee shops, etc do you recommend?
Our neighborhood is a best-kept secret. Here you will be able to stroll, shop, and eat or drink at the little restaurants, pubs, and coffee shops. I get lots of new, out of town, and local shoppers who stroll over after visiting 909 Coffee and Wine for breakfast or lunch. We also have a cool independent movie theater called the Tin Theater, which is connected to the Tin Room Bar. It’s a very intimate, 40-seat theater, featuring a different movie every week. You feel all of the comforts of home while being waited on with popcorn, candy, and cocktails!

What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened in your store?
A man came in looking like your regular dad or the guy next door, and started looking at the women’s clothes. He told us he had a “Pimp & Ho” party to go to, where the guys were suppose to dress as the “Ho’s.” He tried on short dresses and tops in the dressing room and came out with nothing underneath. He proceeded to try to show his junk to my employee without success!