Brix Gatti-Espejo and Bubba Espejo

Best friends since age 11, Brix Gatti-Espejo and Bubba Espejo have spent most of  their lives together — first as kids walking to school, later as travel companions, and now as a married couple, parents of two, and co-owners of  On the Mark Fine Foods & Provisions and its offshoot, The Oyster Cartel. “We’ve traveled to seven countries together,” Bubba says. “Our passion for food and travel and exploring new cultures just kind of came full circle.”

The pair took over On the Mark two years ago and have grown it into a neighborhood hub offering charcuterie boards, specialty sandwiches, organic wines, and hard-to-find culinary goods. Last summer, they launched The Oyster Cartel, a mobile Champagne, oyster, and caviar bar that brings the full tasting-room experience to events. “We get to have fun every day,” Brix says.

“And we get to do it together,” Bubba adds.

Working with more than 200 small businesses, they see their shop as a platform for other dreamers. “Being able to connect with those brands, bringing exposure but also building a relationship — [they] become like family,” Bubba says. The couple also created the Taste Festival to showcase local vendors and raise funds for area charities, and they regularly support  the Boys & Girls Club, Palm Springs Animal Shelter, DAP Health, and youth sports programs.

Their guiding mantra: Be the change you want to see in the world. “You need to do things the right way,” Brix says, “even if  it’s the hardest way. … We couldn’t do this without each other.”