About Us
Dear Friends, Family,
& Community,
Wave Street Studios is Monterey's premier event venue and broadcast studio — a flexible, professionally equipped space for live performances, broadcasts and recordings, weddings, private parties, workshops, and classes. Its historic character and adaptable layout have made it a favorite setting for touring and local musicians, community gatherings, and milestone celebrations alike. Our vision has always been to foster something lasting for this community: a space that supports and uplifts artists, preserves Monterey's rich history, and sets a new standard for sustainable living and shared experience.
A Family Endeavor
As a lifelong resident of the Monterey Peninsula, this community is my home. I've spent my life designing, building, and creating, but Wave Street Studios is by far the most personal and meaningful project I've ever undertaken. My wife, Judy, and I built this space together, and it remains a true family endeavor — our son, Foster, and daughter, Courtney, can often be found touring the venue and welcoming guests, and are involved next door at Studio Café as well. What we've created here isn't just a business; it's a reflection of our family's love for this town, for its people, and for the artists and visionaries who make it special.
Rhett Smith
Designer, Owner & Operator
Quock Mui and the Spirit of Wave Street Studios
A Historical Landmark at Wave Street Studios
The Quock Mui House
Resting above Wave Street, this historic cottage has always been a gateway between Monterey's past and its future. Today it's home to Wave Street Studios — Monterey's event venue and broadcast studio, built on a simple dream: that creativity thrives, stories unfold, and people connect in meaningful ways. More than a venue, it's a living reflection of the energy and artistry of everyone who walks through its doors.
Long before it held a stage or a soundboard, this cottage was the home of Quock Mui (1859–1936), the first documented Chinese American woman born on the Monterey Peninsula. Born at Point Lobos to Cantonese pioneer fishermen, she grew up in a multicultural world and went on to master five languages — Chinese, English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Rumsen. Those skills earned her the name "Spanish Mary" and made her an essential bridge between the diverse communities working the Monterey coastline.
Her story is also one of survival and resilience. After a suspicious fire destroyed her community's village at Point Alones in 1906, her family was displaced, eventually resettling at McAbee Beach on what is now Cannery Row. In 1924, her family purchased this cottage on Wave Street, where she lived until her passing in 1936.
Quock Mui's spirit of endurance and transformation is the heartbeat of Wave Street Studios. This space honors her legacy by creating a place where voices are heard, creativity thrives, and community finds connection. In every note played and every story shared here, we carry forward her power of rising again.
A glimpse into the transformation of Wave Street Studios, from its raw beginnings to a thriving creative space in the heart of Monterey.
Preserving the legacy of Quock Mui, Monterey’s pioneering figure, as seen in the early stages of restoring her historic cottage above Wave Street Studios.
Explore the journey of Wave Street Studios from its original state to a beautifully reimagined venue blending history, sustainability, and creativity.
A glimpse into the transformation of Wave Street Studios, from its raw beginnings to a thriving creative space in the heart of Monterey.