Terry Kennedy at Ipso Facto 2026. Ipso Facto Hours of Operation: Tuesday through Saturday from 12 pm to 7 pm and Sunday & Monday from 12 pm to 6 pm. Located at 517 N Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, photo by Breanna Pineda

Since childhood, Terri Frances Kennedy has been interested in creativity. After getting her first sewing machine at seven years old, she has learned how to alter and make clothes. Since then, she has found herself in many different artistic pursuits.

“I wake up every day with a conscious effort to create something,” she says.

Terri has dipped her toes in photography, drawing and music. However, it was her love of fashion and design that motivated her to start her own storefront.

Now, Ipso Facto has been open for nearly 36 years and serves as not only an alternative fashion clothing store, but as a hub for sharing art, music and ideas.

From the beginning, Terri has wanted her store to have a “salon light atmosphere,” as she describes it. In other words, she wanted it to serve as a meeting place where people could share opinions and have discussions on a variety of topics.

“No matter who you are, just to exchange ideas. A place where people could feel accepted,” she says.

Her store holds a close connection with the growing alternative scene of Fullerton. Terri recalls that when she first opened Ipso Facto, there were not many clothing stores in the area catering to the unique fashion styles of goth, punk and other types of alternative clothing. To this day, Terri’s interest in alternative clothing and music is evident in her store, with the different styles across the 3,000 items sold both in person and online.

“The [alternative] scene is not static, it’s dynamic. So many different subsets of goth exist,” she says.

However, Terri admits that when she initially started her business, there was no extensive planning for the years ahead. Rather, she took small steps, starting Ipso Facto at 26 with $11,000 from a retirement fund. Despite having no experience running a business, Terri had lots of help from friends and family during the early days of her storefront.
There were many hurdles to face before she could see success. Terri describes the first four years of Ipso Facto as being difficult to manage with little profit. She had to learn the ropes of getting permits and handling finances.

“It was more expensive than I realized, [dealing] with things I did not expect to come up.” Terri explains, “You just learn stuff along the way.”

Part of this trial and error came with originally opening Ipso Facto as part clothing store, part art gallery. Terri originally included the art gallery in hopes that it would attract newcomers to the storefront, yet as clothing became Ipso Facto’s primary source of income, she ultimately decided to stop balancing the art gallery as well.

“I had to make the hard decision and figure out how to make more [money] per square foot [of the store] so I could afford everything.”

Despite this, Ipso Facto still has a range of different events for the community. The store is no stranger to CD release parties, live performances, lectures from professors, and their annual anniversary bashes. This allows for Terri to continue her goal of providing a space where people feel welcome to talk about their interests or opinions.

“[We have] fabulous conversation and learning. Not just [people who are] goth but people who are into quirky things,” she explains.

Terri also ensures these events are free and accessible to younger generations to come with their parents. While many concert venues often do not allow families to attend, the free concerts allow for all ages.

“Part of [the events] is for the up-and-coming young kids who like this genre and want to participate,” she says.

The effort that goes into hosting these events has made Ipso Facto a cultural hub for the community in Fullerton and a well-known store in the Orange County area. Terri credits a big portion of her business’s success to being aware of the different financial situations of customers. Before buying items for the store, she considers whether customers are willing to pay for the higher prices.

This is why she offers sales racks and jewelry for under $10. Even with the ever-changing landscape for fashion, Terri’s dedication to promoting local creativity is a constant in her business. However, she emphasizes that the local retail business market is by no means easy.

“The reason I am still here after 36 years is not that I make a lot of money,” she laughs.

While Terri shares that there is a lot of work that goes into maintaining a storefront, she believes that if you are passionate about your business, it can lead to a unique career.

“It’s worth it if you are invested in it and if it’s an extension of yourself,” she says. “There’s nothing like it.”