Humans of HanaHaus | Michelle Pierce

Books: The Old Man and the Sea, Earnest Hemingway. State of Wonder, Ann Patchett. New York Sketches, E.B. White.The Boy from the Sea, Garrett Carr 

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Name: Michelle Pierce
Occupation: Owner, Lido Village Books
Home: Alaska

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Michelle Pierce first came across HanaHaus the way many locals do—on a casual stroll to Blue Bottle Coffee. “I was walking to get a coffee and just stumbled in,” she recalls. “I immediately loved the energy. It’s like you’re with people, but not with people. Everyone’s working on something, but no one needs anything from you. That’s kind of lovely.” 

Michelle owns Lido Village Books, a Newport Beach bookstore that has been part of the community for 50 years. She purchased it in March 2020, just days before the world shut down. 

Since then, she’s navigated moves, expansions, and the launch of a second store, Malibu Village Books, which officially opened in March 2023. Between both shops, she manages inventory curation, events, partnerships, and a team of booksellers. “What don’t I do?” she laughs. “I own and run the stores, curate the books, manage events, mentor staff… but I wouldn’t trade it.” 

“Every village deserves a bookstore.”

When Michelle needs to focus, she comes to HanaHaus.

“If I stay at the store, I won’t get anything done—people want to chat. Which is amazing and lovely, but sometimes I need to get things done. HanaHaus gives me space to breathe and think. I do team check-ins here, interviews, even just deep-dive chats with staff over a coffee.”

Michelle’s long-term vision is expansive. She’s currently building It Takes a Village Literary Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on education, advocacy, and community media. The long-term goal? A creative trifecta: a bookstore, café, and publishing house under one roof. “The idea is to build a space that fuels every part of the literary experience,” she explains. “The café supports the bookstore, the publishing house creates the content, and events bring the community together.” 

Even with the pressures of the modern book industry, Michelle is all in.

“Independent bookstores are third spaces. We’re not just selling books—we’re creating experiences, sparking conversations, and holding space for curiosity and connection. And no two bookstores are the same. That’s the magic.” 

HanaHaus and Lido Village Books are teaming up to bring even more literary energy to the community. Together, they’ve launched a rotating collection of books curated in collaboration with Michelle and the HanaHaus team, centered around themes and ideas that matter to the community—innovation, creativity, wellness, equity, and more. “We wanted to bring books into this space in a way that felt intentional and organic.” 

Guests can browse the featured shelf inside HanaHaus and purchase any of the selected titles directly from Lido Village Books, just a short walk away.  More community-focused literary events are in the works. 

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What is your favorite space in HanaHaus? 💛

London and Paris - “I always feel like I’m in my own little space.”

What is your go-to Blue Bottle Coffee order? ☕️

Original hot latte with cow’s milk

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Discover more about Lido Village Books:

TikTok & Instagram: @lvbabookstore

Website: https://www.lidovillagebooks.com/

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/LVBaBookstore 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@VillageBookstores

Address: 3424 Via Lido #103, Newport Beach, CA 92663

Humans of HanaHaus | Daniel Mickelson

Left to right: Sofia Shultz (Senior Marketing Manager), Daniel Mickelson (Managing Partner), Ava Cream (Marketing Coordinator), Kyle Lemburg (Creative Director)

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Name: Daniel Mickelson
Company: Alchemy Performance Marketing Agency
Origin: Lake Forest, California

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At HanaHaus, every corner buzzes with the energy of innovators, creators, and visionaries. This month, we are excited to spotlight Daniel Mickelson, managing partner of the creative marketing agency Alchemy Paid Media, whose journey blends digital innovation, teamwork, and the magic of in-person collaboration.

Daniel’s days are a dynamic mix of client check-ins, campaign launches, and creative brainstorming. As the driving force behind Alchemy, he and his team manage everything from running ads on Google, Microsoft, and Meta to building custom websites and producing standout video content. What sets Alchemy apart is their unique model: an in-house film team led by Kyle Lemburg, Creative Director, allowing them to seamlessly blend marketing strategy with cinematic storytelling. 

“For our agency, it’s cool because we have an in-house film team run by Kyle. That makes everything a little easier. When the creative is good, companies pay less per converted lead. A strong creative just makes business sense, so that’s why we integrate it into our model,” Daniel explains.

This approach means clients don’t have to choose between great marketing and compelling visuals—Alchemy delivers both, ensuring every campaign is not just seen, but remembered.

Alchemy’s client list is as varied as their skill set. From national non-profit news organizations and luxury interior designers, to restaurants, legal and medical offices, plumbers, yachts, and event venues, Daniel’s team brings a remembered, creative marketing solutions to every industry by staying focused on revenue generation frompaid media and qualified lead generation.

Daniel’s introduction to HanaHaus came through a longtime friend, successful serial entrepreneur, and regular, Joey Karam. After the pandemic shifted their workflow, Daniel and his team embraced remote work but still found value in gathering. While the team is spread across Orange County, HanaHaus serves as their hub for syncing up, solving challenges, and sharing ideas. Daily check-ins with clients happen online, but when the team needs to tackle big questions or brainstorm innovative solutions, they gather at HanaHaus to collaborate face-to-face.

“It’s nice to come someplace that works really hard to foster that environment. We do so much stuff virtually, having that touchpoint at HanaHaus is really awesome!” – Daniel

The shift to remote work came out of necessity during the pandemic, but it’s now a core part of Alchemy’s philosophy. Daniel notes that while remote work offers flexibility, in-person meetings at HanaHaus make training and problem-solving more efficient.

“When we come together in person, it’s easier to address questions in real time and find faster solutions. Sometimes being at home feels super congested, like you want to get out of the house,” says Sofia, Senior Marketing Manager at Alchemy.  

Daniel and his team keep coming back for the community, the creative energy, and the chance to break out of the virtual routine. As Ava, Marketing Coordinator, puts it, “It helps the team feel more connected. It’s nice to come together as a team in person, away from the screen, and just touch base with everyone.”

Why do you like working at HanaHaus? 🏠

“It helps the team feel more connected. It’s nice to come together as a team in person, away from the screen, and just touch base with everyone.” Ava, Marketing Coordinator

What is your go-to Blue Bottle Coffee order? ☕️

Sofia loves a classic Iced Americano—though Daniel refers to it as just “watered down espresso,” much to everyone’s amusement.

Ava is the resident “Matcha Queen” and orders the Iced Matcha Latte.

Kyle keeps it simple with a classic Iced Oatmilk Latte.

As Sofia lightheartedly put it, Daniel “only drinks caramel and milk,” keeping his coffee on the sweeter side—a comment that Daniel says was “hurtful but true” 😄

What is your favorite space in HanaHaus? 💛

When it comes to workspace favorites, Daniel gravitates toward open seating—especially what he calls “the hot seats, by the cold fire,” referencing the cozy fireplace in the open area.

Ava loves the “Chicken Nugget” chairs next to the stairs for their cozy, hug-like feeling.

Discover more about Daniel and Alchemy:

Website: alchemypaidmedia.com

Instagram: @alchemypaidmedia

LinkedIn: Alchemy Performance Marketing Agency

Meta: @alchemypaidmedia

HanaHaus guests are eligible to start for free with a free month of marketing agency services with Alchemy in July with a signed 3 month contract starting in August - Learn More