This place was great, but takes a lot to get a "perfect" score. Here's why JT and his Gallery/Event Space merit a perfect score:
1. JT: he was hyper-communicative and extremely helpful as our last-minute changes came up. He even went as far as to offer us additional furniture (an extra table) that we hadn't previously asked for, at the last minute. A great location can be diminished by poor management, but in this case, management actually improves an already great spot!
2. Location: it's tough to find an even somewhat-affordable location to hold an event in Santa Monica. Finding one with parking is even harder and more rare. This space is spacious, well-lit, easily accessible, has indoor and outdoor space, plenty of electrical outlets, and a great flow! In addition, unlike most places, it even comes with a kitchen! Now, this isn't a fully stocked professional catering setup, but it's more than enough to warm up food or keep it cool in the refrigerator, or wash dishes when your event is over. It's a nice little extra that really helps out.
3. Flexibility: This says it all. It feels like if something is wrong or you need something different at the last minute, just communicate with JT and he'll be very reasonable with you. You gotta love renting from a small business instead of a huge conglomerate where everybody you talk to is just a robot with a pre-prepared script.
My family and I were happy and my mother's 65th birthday was great! We will definitely be looking to rent from JT again in the future!