Breast Cancer Survivor Opens Mission Street Store

South Pasadena resident Dominique Romero isn’t your typical 39-year-old.

The past five years have been less than ideal—first carbon monoxide poisoning, then cancer.

“I’m still not completely recovered from the carbon monoxide. It took about three years until I started feeling better,” said Romero. “… Then two months later, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.”

“But I was never really scared or worried. I just embraced it as my next journey I needed to go on.”

Towards the end of her treatment, Romero rented a loft in the on Mission Street. She got to know the owner and began producing tons of art—so much so that the store decided to host a four-month exhibit in her honor.

But that wasn’t enough. Romero was ready to build a creative empire. And on Aug. 8 of this year, she purchased the building and turned it into her own retail space called .

The Next Step

Sitting in her former workspace—now filled with clothes—Romero explains her plans for her new store in a soft voice.

“My vision is basically for it to be a hub to give back to the world. It’s a place I want to use for lectures, book signings and a venue for artists, “ she said. “I’d like to collaborate with the American Cancer Society.  … And a portion of certain products [sold in my store] goes to my oncologist office in Fountain Valley. “

In light of , Romero is selling pink-themed scarves and T-shirts throughout October—and hosting a breast cancer event in conjunction with the Art Crawl Oct. 22 from 5 to 9 p.m. (Stay tuned for more on this.) Plus, a portion of proceeds from these pink-themed items, as well as various jewelry, will be donated to women she’s met while being treated for breast cancer.  

“I know there are people [at my oncologist’s office] who can’t afford their treatments—women there who can’t afford to eat after they pay for their treatments. And I prefer that it go directly to them,” she explained.  

A Special Place

An interior designer by trade, Romero is employed full-time with L.A. Unified School District. But she spends time in Eleven8 during afternoons and weekends to meet customers and other local artists. Currently the store sells only women’s clothes, yet she eventually plans to sell men’s, too.

“I think there’s a lot of opportunity for local artists to be recognized in the area. So that’s my goal—to make it a special place.,” she said of Eleven8. “As an artist, I know how important it is to get your work seen. I just want to be able to give back to the community. “

And even though she hasn’t completely recovered from her illnesses, she’s keen on forging ahead.

“It’s still very difficult,” says Romero of her recovery process. “But I can walk, I have hair, and I’m not sick anymore—that’s all that counts. “

“… I don’t think there’s ever such a thing as wasted time—you can never waste time. But I don’t want wait on my time. … Because tomorrow, you don’t know what’s going to happen.”