Moe’s journey is a true testament to determination, grit, and the pursuit of a dream. Born in Iran, Moe moved to the United States at the age of 17 in 1977 with only $500 to his name and no family or friends to lean on. He didn’t speak English, but what he lacked in language, he made up for with relentless drive.

 

After settling in the U.S., Moe enrolled at Oklahoma State University, where he earned a degree in electrical engineering. By 23, he had already started his entrepreneurial journey, opening his own business. This was just the beginning of Moe’s dynamic career.

In the early '80s, Moe found his true calling in hospitality and entertainment. He refined his customer service skills by running several nightclubs in the heart of Old Sacramento, learning the ins and outs of creating memorable experiences for people from all walks of life. But Moe’s big break came in 1984, when he opened Broadway's Rock in the vibrant North Beach area of San Francisco. Moe’s shop specialized in rock & roll and heavy metal stage clothing and quickly became a hotspot for fans and bands alike.

Located next to iconic venues like The Stone and Mabuhay Gardens, Moe’s store became a cultural landmark where fans could stock up on custom studded leather jackets, spiked Doc Martens, and a huge selection of band tees. He supplied some of the biggest names in rock—Motley Crue, Judas Priest, Megadeth, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, and Poison. Before and after shows, crowds would flood his shop, and Moe became an integral part of the Bay Area music and fashion scene. Broadway’s Rock also gained national recognition when it was featured on Season 3 of MTV’s Real World: San Francisco.

 

As the years passed, Moe expanded his business vision, evolving his retail hub into a diverse enterprise that reflected the ever-changing culture of the region. In the early '90s, he introduced body piercing and tattooing to his business, which laid the foundation for what would become Zebra, a thriving cultural institution. 

 

Beyond the world of rock & roll fashion, Moe also built a successful career in real estate in the East Bay, where he has practiced for over 35 years. And In 2005, Moe launched Easy Lounge, one of Oakland’s most popular speakeasies, in the vibrant Lake Merritt area.

Through it all, Moe’s story remains one of perseverance and adaptability, as he continuously embraced new opportunities and cultivated a space where people could express themselves freely, whether through fashion, music, or art.

 

Moe, a longtime resident of Walnut Creek, has been happily married to his wife, Siobhan, for over 40 years. They met while working in Sacramento and have two children, Sean and Shiva and two grandchildren Willow and Manolo. Their son now helps run the family business, managing the Walnut Creek and Berkeley Zebra locations.