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    	<h2 class="title andy-allison-kripp">Andy &amp; Allison Kripp</h2>
        <h3>Downtown Business / The Den Barber Salon</h3>
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            <p>They say an apple doesn't fall far from the tree. However, in the case of Andy and Allison Kripp, the apple had to roll all the way to Chicago before being carried back to Downtown Long Beach.</p>
            <p>Years ago, Andy Kripp decided it was time to start saving his money to fulfill his lifelong dream of moving to California and opening his own business. He moved into the basement of his parents' home in Chicago, squirreled away his earnings, and imagined a life enjoying sunsets over the Pacific. Just two months before having enough money to move, California sent one of its best oranges to Illinois in the form of Allison, who was traveling the country as part of a nationwide cooking tour. After Andy and Allison's Chicago romance, Allison returned to Long Beach with a lot more than just her set of culinary knives. Before long, Andy asked Allison's father, Ted Benaderet, for her hand.</p>
            <p>After spending a few years commuting from Long Beach to a high-end salon in Silver Lake, Andy found himself agreeing with Ted, who suggested that Andy bring his talent home to Downtown Long Beach. Ted was very familiar with Downtown, as he owned the popular Benaderet's Music Store at 1st St / Locust until the late 1960s. Recognizing Andy's talent, knowing his daughter's penchant for management, and understanding the business opportunities available Downtown, Ted took the lead in finding the couple a space suitable for their first business venture.</p>
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            <p>Family played an obvious role in shaping the business, but it just so happens that Ted is only one of the three fathers involved in this story. Andy had decided long ago that he wanted to name his first-born after his father. Allison was agreeable, and their first 'child', a labor of love in its own right, was named The Den in homage to Andy's father, Dennis.</p>
            <p>Open now for almost two years in Camden Harbor View on Ocean Boulevard, the Den continues to build upon its client base through The Den's unique concept and - given Andy's brawny physique - what can only be described as gorilla, <em>not guerrilla</em>, style marketing secrets. Andy described that concept as creating strong word-of mouth advertising by carefully developing a "comfortable, positive environment where clients are known to hang around long after their appointment has finished. Our clients become our friends - we're like a big family. At The Den, we strive to exceed our clients' expectations of high-end salons, but do it for a third of the price and provide an atmosphere where people want to stay and laugh with our team." In fact, it is not uncommon to find the youngest cub in The Den, baby daughter Devyn Kripp, sitting on the lap of one of the Den's team members and making eyes at whatever boys happen to be in the salon. And no technique better exemplifies the spirit of the Kripp's guerilla marketing than the sight of Andy Kripp zipping around Downtown Long Beach on a Segway handing out flyers promoting the family business, with Devyn strapped to his torso enjoying the ocean breezes and the comfort of being held tight to her own father.</p>
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