When Steve Schwinn first visited Santa Cruz as a child, surfing at Four Mile Beach with his older brother, something clicked. Despite moving fourteen times throughout his youth—from Texas to the Netherlands to Minneapolis, through various California cities, back to Texas, then to Cleveland and Rhode Island—Santa Cruz exerted a magnetic pull that would eventually make it his permanent home.

In this deeply personal conversation, Schwinn shares the winding path that led him to establish Iron Horse Furniture in Santa Cruz, continuing a family business that began in 2002 in a small East Bay storefront. What makes his story particularly remarkable is how the business not only survived the 2008 recession but emerged stronger, setting the foundation for his eventual move to Santa Cruz.

The furniture world serves as a fascinating lens through which to view both design evolution and community dynamics. Schwinn discusses the shift toward "quiet modern"—a blend of Japanese-influenced natural elements with contemporary lines—and how Santa Cruz, with its appreciation for quality craftsmanship, has embraced this aesthetic. His observations about modern furniture reveal deeper insights about home, comfort, and the spaces we create for ourselves.

Perhaps most compelling is Schwinn's candid reflection on what it means to belong in Santa Cruz—a place that requires commitment and where leaving often means not being able to return due to prohibitive housing costs and the tight-knit community structure. "I just remember treading lightly," he says about his early days here, "I've never wanted to act like anything was owed to me." This sentiment resonates with anyone who has tried to establish themselves in a close-knit coastal community.

As Santa Cruz undergoes significant changes, with wealthy remote workers buying second homes and shifting neighborhood dynamics, Schwinn offers a perspective grounded in optimism and community connection. His expanding business now creates more local jobs while maintaining the values that made it successful. For anyone who loves Santa Cruz or wonders what makes this coastal town so special despite its challenges, this conversation offers illuminating insights from someone who chose to make it home.