Deus Ex Machina Combines Craft, Coast, Custom Creativity

If you want a laid back vibe, cup o' joe and some cool motorcycles to look at, Megadeluxe recommends Deus Ex Machina, 1001 Venice Blvd. at the corner of Lincoln Boulevard.

But did you know that Deus is an international phenomenon with locations in Australia, its country of origin, Italy and Indonesia? The concept came to life in Sydney in 2006 "with some neatly customized motorcycles and a quaint notion that doing something is more fun than just owning something," according to its website.

According to a Patch article in 2011, "Deus Ex Machina started out as a custom motorcycle shop, then expanded to include custom-made surf boards, fixed gear bicycles, skateboards and a clothing line."

Customer Service Manager Stefan Wigand at the time called out the inherent philosophies of Venice and the core culture at Deus.

"We looked into Orange County, but Venice is where the advent of this core culture began," he said. "We just like building beautiful objects and not for show. It's just what we do." 

The coffee shop was established to bring people in. Said Wigand, "We want people to come and hang out here, just come and have fun."

Earlier this year, 

Venice Beach Hotels listed Deus as one of the area's five funkiest shops, writing: "No matter the product, the focus here is on craft. Items that aren’t created in-house are still a reflection of the California coast. The common thread of Pacific surf culture that all Deus’s locations share also runs through the collection. Though the wares aren’t exactly for those on a shoestring budget, there’s an emphasis on freedom that gives this business a backpacker ethos."