Northern Monkey Barber

4.9 (27 reviews)

ModerateBarbers

Open • 9:00 am - 8:00 pm

By appointment only

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Services - Northern Monkey Barber

Haircut and shave

Shave only

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Northern Monkey Barber - Longtime customer and friend, Pastor Holland Davis. - Barbers Near Me - San Clemente, California

Northern Monkey Barber - Barbers Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Northern Monkey Barber - Brandon Burr keeping it handsome. - Barbers Near Me - San Clemente, California

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JD R.

11 days ago

Been going to Josh for years and always happy with the results. Great cuts and his new location is DOPE!

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Derek B.

7 months ago

Josh is the complete professional artist, with skills to turn your vague descriptions of what you want into a reality that you didn't know could be achieved. I'm pretty sure he's an AI-powered robot. But a cool and friendly one, with a sweet beard. read more

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Joseph G.

3 years ago

Josh is a genius level master at his many crafts! Lucky for us, he chooses to cut hair some of the time. read more

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Patrick H.

3 years ago

This spot rules. I've had good hair cuts before, but never more than once. I just had my hair cut for the second time here and it was just as good as the first. That consistency is import and I'll be back again. Besides the quality haircut Josh is super chill and the atmosphere is great. read more

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Tyler C.

271

4 years ago

Josh is the best. Been going to him for years. Loyal customer here. Always has something great on TV too.

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Brandon B.

8 years ago

Another great cut by Josh, this time the guy across the street at Panera complemented the hair. Either everyone at this shopping center is overly friendly, or Josh is just that good. Thanks again! Looking forward to coming back! read more

Business owner information

Joshua T.

Thanks for the comments Brandon! Always appreciate the business!

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Markus H.

5 years ago

Simply the best barber in town! Came in shaggy... came out clean! GF-approved! Thanks Josh!

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KC B.

184

7 years ago

Josh rocks! I cannot recommend this shop enough. Not only is it a great cut, Josh will get to know you. It is a true "dad sanctuary", come in, relax and just be yourself. Great cut, great shop, great barber, nothing more needs to be said. read more

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Joe D.

Elite 21

5 years ago

Josh is a true craftsman. He is careful, meticulous and works hard to achieve a haircut that is personal and well executed. He is also a great guy to talk to! He's usually got something fun on his television or can talk about everything from music to SoCal recreation. Since moving to San Clemente in the middle if a pandemic he was an island of relative normal and I think a huge reason the move didn't feel stranger than it was. read more

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Tristan W.

4 years ago

Had an appointment here on feb 7 for my son. Website states hair cuts for ALL AGES. My son is almost 4. The guy said the door might be locked when I got there and to please text him when I arrived so I did which he replied 'one sec'. This nice lady let me in and when I got to his suite he was sitting on his phone didn't even look like he wanted to come unlock the door. He took one look at my son and said 'I don't do kids cuts' I had this appt for HOURS. I said 'your website says all ages' and he replied back 'oh I have to fix that I only do maybe ages 8 and up.' He was rude and my son was very sad cause he was excited. He behaves well when getting hair cut and the guy just seemed like he didn't wanted to be bothered with it. I was extremely upset. Do not recommend this place. read more

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Corey D.

484

5 years ago

Guaranteed a great haircut while watching your favorite tv shows. Best in south Orange County and you will not be disappointed.

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Kenny M.

7 years ago

Josh did an exceptional job with my hair. I would recommend him to anyone! I will definitely be going back for my future cuts.

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Kathy M.

107

7 years ago

My son is graduating from high school today. Pretty much his entire life he has had a buzz cut (by his own choice.) This year however he decided to let it grow out a little bit and wanted a "style" for graduation. (He was getting a "Wolverine" look by just letting it go its own way. As I was nervous about him going in and just getting a new style from some random person at Sports Clips, I suggested that he go see Josh. When he came home, his hair looked fantastic,. It was nothing drastic (which was good for my son) but it gave him a nice shape and an easy to maintain style. Sean had a great experience, and I had heard enough about Josh's talent that I wasn't nervous about what he would come home with. Great experience for my 18-year-old son, thus a great experience for his mom as well. Thanks for being a stylist I could trust! read more

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M W.

8 years ago

What a cool experience. Relaxed guys who know what they are doing. So hard to find someone who understands what you want and being able to execute it. Both my 12 year old and I have become regulars. Josh rocks! read more

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Andy E.

7 years ago

Josh is an artist, in all senses of the word. He's been cutting hair and bringing the cool to San Clemente for years. He's great with kids and has great style. read more

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Dan B.

8 years ago

I've been a client of Josh's for 2 or 3 years. Won't be changing that anytime soon.

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MICHAEL M.

7 years ago

Josh has been cutting my hair for about 6 months and always does a great job. Attention to detail, and his precision is on point! Super cool guy to talk to and just a really good dude! read more

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Fidel F.

7 years ago

Never disappointed with the cut or experience at Northern Monkey. Cold beverage, solid conversations and a great haircut = all around good time. I've been looking for a barber here in San Clemente for awhile. It's nice to finally have a permanent spot. read more

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Mark W.

8 years ago

I've been going to josh for a few years now! The guy does the meanest fade around. Great conversation, no hassle and an awesome decor to keep it interesting every time. If I've learned anything in life it's that peace of mind is priceless and Northern Monkey Barber gives you this from start to finish no questions asked. read more

Business owner information

Joshua T.

Appreciate the long time loyalty Mark! Thanks for the positive…

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Matt S.

6 years ago

Probably a good time to support the NMB by purchasing a gift certificate.

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James K.

183

8 years ago

More than just a great haircut and shave it is an experience. Everything a high end Barber is suppose to be and then some. Josh is a true professional and a master of his craft who I promise will make you look way better than when you came in. And I was jacked up when I came in. I refuse to have anyone else cut my hair read more

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James K.

7 years ago

Josh is the man. He is creative, innovative, and way ahead of the curve in his profession. I love the subscription program he has that allows me to come in once a week, so I can keep my buzz cut looking clean all month long. Josh is the go to barber in South Orange County! read more

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Troy S.

7 years ago

Josh is always personable and does great work. My sons (15 and 3) and I always leave feeling good and looking sharp. I highly recommend Josh's service. read more

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Jason A.

8 years ago

Usually takes me many barbers to find one I can consistently go to in a new city, and was relieved to find Josh. Does a great job with every detail and always makes sure the cut is to your liking. Highly recommend! read more

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Music N.

8 years ago

I'm picky about my haircuts .. like you are .. so go to northern monkey barber .. you'll be stoked .. every time I go, I leave satisfied .. the hang is great .. the quality is great .. nuff said read more

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Joshua T.

One of my earliest supporters! Thanks for posting Eric.

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Cody C.

8 years ago

Josh is an amazing barber! I started going to him 5 months ago and now will not let anyone else touch my hair. Tell him what you want and he does it to the T and even better than you imagined your hair could look. Josh is your guy for a great haircut and he also always has the best music playing at the shop. read more

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Joshua T.

Thanks Cody!

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Dylan W.

8 years ago

Josh is a great guy and excellent barber. I recently had to look good in a tux and although I didn't know what to do with my hair and beard, Josh knew exactly what I needed. Needless to say, I crushed in that tux and the cut from Josh was no small part. read more

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More info about Northern Monkey Barber

1520 N El Camino Real
Ste 5
San Clemente, CA 92673
Directions
(949) 241-6624
Call Now
Visit Website
https://www.northernmonkeybarber.com

Services

Hours

What time does Northern Monkey Barber open?

Northern Monkey Barber opens at 9:00 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

What time does Northern Monkey Barber close?

Northern Monkey Barber closes at 8:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.Northern Monkey Barber is closed on Sunday.

Mon-Sat 9:00 AM - 8:00 PMSun Closed

Payment methods

Does Northern Monkey Barber take Bitcoin?

Yes, Northern Monkey Barber takes Bitcoin.

Does Northern Monkey Barber take credit cards?

Yes, Northern Monkey Barber takes credit cards.

Services

Is Northern Monkey Barber by appointment only?

Yes, Northern Monkey Barber is by appointment only.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Northern Monkey Barber have bike parking?

Yes, Northern Monkey Barber has bike parking.

Does Northern Monkey Barber have parking?

Yes, Northern Monkey Barber has parking options. Private Lot Parking, Street Parking

Other Amenities

Is Northern Monkey Barber wheelchair accessible?

Yes, Northern Monkey Barber is wheelchair accessible.

Does Northern Monkey Barber have free WiFi?

Yes, Northern Monkey Barber has free WiFi.

From the Business

Specialties

Northern Monkey Barber (Josh Thomson) is an Orange County based, CA licenced barber, in San Clemente, California.

History

Established in 2013.

In September of 2013 I became a licensed Barbers Apprentice at a barbershop in San Clemente California. In conjunction with this position I attended classes at a Los Angeles barber college for two years while acquiring the 3200 hours of on the job training required by the state of California. In May of 2016 after completing my apprenticeship, I tested for and passed the Barbers exam administered by the California state board of Barbering and Cosmetology and became a licensed barber. I have been living, working and serving the residents of San Clemente ever since.

Meet the Business Owner: Joshua T.

INTP. 4 with a 5 wing. Husband. Father of three. Barber. Friend.

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Review Highlights - Northern Monkey Barber

“Usually takes me many barbers to find one I can consistently go to in a new city, and was relieved to find Josh.”

Mentioned in 20 reviews

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I've know Matt since he started cutting hair and I've always gotten clean crisp cut and good…read moreconversation. Go check him out!!

I used to come here regularly and I don't know what changed but this last cut was the worst by far…read more I asked for a low fade with bulk and I had literally 6 inches of hair on my head and 3ish inches on the sides. I had so much hair to work with but I was given a high fade and it was so uneven. I didn't ask for it to be fixed because it was already cut too short. I legitimately believe the barber was under the influence of drugs. He was saying strange things repetitively. I will not be coming back. I'm using my wife's account to post this. I don't have yelp, but I had to leave a review cause this is so bad.

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New and classic styles

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Join us

Atomic Barbershop

5.0(31 reviews)

0.2 mi

We booked the appointment via the website, super easy setup. Atomic is a 2 minute drive from our…read morehouse so it was super easy. Beware if the parking lot, the think is on a crazy slant, I thought my truck was going to tip over lol. My 14 year told AJ what he wanted but with the years of cutting hair and expertise, he explained you can't have a perm front doucher cut with straight hair. So he could have a low cut fade but his hair needs to flow. We all agreed and he hit it out of the park. He did an excellent job. I even got to shop used surfboards next door and get a Cappuccino at Sur across the street. We just moved to town, so we are excited to have AJ be our local barber.

Great spot for tweens/teens! We were looking for someone who understood how to cut our 12 year old…read moreson's hair (straight and flat) while still giving him the cut he wanted. And AJ nailed it. It was just a great experience. We will absolutely be back.

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The Señor Barbers at Presidio Plaza

3.8(103 reviews)

1.0 mi

•$

Been coming here for about 10 years now. Amazing haircuts from when I first stepped foot into this…read morebarbershop in 2015. 10 years later the quality of the haircuts are still the same. I highly recommend to get a haircut here.

Brandon takes his time and is meticulous with his work. We love having Brandon as our barber. He is…read morepatient and kind.

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Haircut

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Horrible fade not even all around

A Cut Above Barbershop

3.9(32 reviews)

1.3 mi

•$$

Terrible service, I never experienced such a terrible service until I came to this location. The…read moreBarber did not care about the cut. He was laughing and he chopped away. It gave it a negative feel and I'll never be coming back.

Love the barbers here and it's a fun spot to hangout. Always get a good laugh. The best shop in San…read moreClemente

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Blended haircut into the beard for a busy young student

A nicely done short men's haircut for summer and the heat

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These burgundy highlight add much wanted depth to this color for a fall feel

Jerry's Barber Shop

4.4(53 reviews)

0.5 mi

•$$

Martha is super nice and took her time to ensure a detailed haircut. Her dog Princess is also…read moresuper sweet and friendly.

I love Jerrys barber. Always loyal to this barber. Thank you soo much always clean and very funny…read moreand friendly. Best service we can get in SC. Thank you.

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Great Barbershop

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Bonsignore's Barber Shop

4.0(4 reviews)

1.2 mi

•$

Stopped by here Saturday afternoon. Waited around for about 20 minutes and nobody showed up. Doors…read morewere open but no one around to cut my hair. I returned to give them a second chance, he was cutting one guys hair and said he had one more to do, then he was going to go and get some food and wouldn't be back for a while. Fortunately there are many options for barber shops within a mile. Went and got a great haircut down the street. I gave him 2 stars since I didn't actually get my haircut by them. This review is only based on customer service.

I was on a road trip visiting CA and needed a hair cut. The barber was excellent. He knew exactly…read morehow to cut my hair based on the shape of my head. I've always had a difficult time getting a good cut, but he did a great job and was only $11.00. Made me feel comfortable and welcome, and no wait. The shop was clean and his buzzers were quiet, unlike some where afterwards you can't hear anything because of how loud the buzzer was.

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The Eagles Nest Barbershop

5.0(5 reviews)

0.7 mi

Victor is the man. Third time I've had him cut my hair, and he does quality work. I will be coming…read morehere every time from now on.

Very easy to make an appointment online, and the crew is really friendly. Good music, clean shop,…read morewell that right off the main road in San Clemente. They were actually able to squeeze me in even earlier than my appointment and the haircut is top-notch. I'll be coming here again for sure. Might be my new regular spot.

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Jam the great

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Mats Schedule

Beach Cities Barbershop

4.2(26 reviews)

2.7 mi

•$

I was camping nearby and needed a haircut. The shop was empty when I arrived. No one greeted me…read more Got a bad vibe. Left immediately. Also, One thing to note. The shop has MAGA written all over it. I choose not to support these businesses . No hard feelings, I am just more selective who I give my dollars to. Just wanted to warn anyone else with similar values.

I was on vacation in the area and wanted a haircut. I found this place on yelp. This is the best…read morehair cut I have had in a long time! I dont get this kind of service at home. I really wish I had this barbershop where I lived.

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@swagzilla69

Sweet Doo

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Ambitious Edge Barbershop

3.8(53 reviews)

0.5 mi

I won't be cheating on my original barber lol this place is…read morealright if you need a quick haircut for cheap. haircut quality is very mid , along with beard trim also mid. don't expect to see a hot towel, razor, or a mustache clean up. if you want a simple gen z fade or cut. go on in. very concerning to read this is the " best barbershop"in san clemente...

I leave this review because they waited to close until I got there which was a big W. I wish thy…read moredidn't though because I left with the worst haircut I have gotten in a long time. It felt as though little effort went into it. I have a huge step up on one side and I look like a rhino. Nice guy but wouldn't recommend

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The Clint Came In for a High Skin Fade, Hard-part & Beard Service! 949-218-4351 AmbitiousEdge.Com

This Client Came In for a High Skin Taper & Front Line-Up! 949-218-4341 AmbitiousEdge.Com

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Best Fades In Orange County!

Alicia's Barber & Styling Salon

5.0(8 reviews)

0.9 mi

•$$

Jennifer is amazing, and sweet, including a great listener. I told all these things to my daughter…read moreabout this place. I know she will love this place, and Jennifer

Great haircut and will return! Price was reasonable, atmosphere was perfect. Right on Del Mar.read more

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Our mother-daughter team, Alicia and Jennifer

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Your friendly neighborhood barber and styling salon!

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Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

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Beale H.

8 years ago

Josh is an amazing barber and a great guy and you can have a great conversation while he is making you look sharp. I've been going to him for a couple of months now and wouldn't go anywhere else. If you are looking for a great guy to take care of your hair, make you look your best and always get a phenomenal hair cut, go to State of the Art Barber shop and ask for Josh. The atmosphere is very much a guys environment and you will enjoy your time there while engaging in some good conversation while your hair gets dialed in. Thanks Josh for always doing a great job. Beale read more

Collin O.

134

8 years ago

What Josh has going on with Northern Monkey is magic. Walking into the shop is like stepping in to something timeless, and you know you're getting much more than a cut. This is an 'old school cool' tradition that's too good to pass up. Professional, fast, and fairly priced, he'll make you feel more like a friend than a client. Over the years I've seen Josh, I've never left the chair feeling (or looking) less than a million bucks. Book a cut with this guy and you won't regret it. read more

Marshall M.

8 years ago

I never found a Barber that I trusted to cut my hair every time, and consistently go back to time after time, until Josh started cutting my hair. A few months ago I moved to San Diego and I still drive back up to San Clemente to get my hair cut, Josh Is the only person I trust to do a stellar job every time and I won't go to anyone else for a haircut since he started cutting my hair, best Barber In the game. read more

Adrian L.

8 years ago

Josh is the man! I've been going to Josh for my haircuts for a little over a year now and he does an amazing job every time. Average haircut is about 30 minutes which is nothing for the quality of work he does! He takes pride in each haircut he does and his fades are clean. Josh is the only person I let touch my hair! read more

Nick O.

8 years ago

If your looking for the fade master come on down to SOA for some premium cuts. I guarantee they'll make sure to take the time you need to make sure that when you walk out with exactly what you want to the best expectations! I feel so fresh walking out every time and have people ask where I go regularly. read more

Andy E.

8 years ago

Excellent customer service, efficient, and quality is second to none. Josh is a pro. Hands down. Every haircut I've had has been exactly what I've asked for. The barber shop is cool. Free beer. Comfortable atmosphere. I hope Josh stays in San Clemente; as long as he does he has a customer. read more

Roger S.

8 years ago

I've been stoked on the haircuts I've had with NMB. Haven't been as pleased elsewhere. This dude has an eye for style and doesn't just process you through the hipster mill. You can trust him with your mop, or whatever hairs you've got left. read more

Holland D.

874

8 years ago

I've been going to Josh Thomson for over a year now. He is amazing at what he does. Always have great conversation and I leave with a great cut. Highly recommend him. read more

Jesse C.

253

8 years ago

I've been going to Josh for a couple of years and he always treats me right. Best cuts and hang time around. Highly recommend stopping by, you won't regret it! read more

Andrew T.

397

8 years ago

Josh has been my barber for a few months now. And he consistently kills it. Super easy appointment system, cool shop. Cool dude. Great cuts. Highly recommend. read more

Steve P.

8 years ago

Best barber around I have tried many in OC and he is the best ..,.

Northern Monkey Barber - barbers - Updated July 2026

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Outdoor Amenities

Other Amenities

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Review Highlights - Northern Monkey Barber

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More businesses like Northern Monkey Barber

Shark Tank Barbershop

Atomic Barbershop

The Señor Barbers at Presidio Plaza

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Jerry's Barber Shop

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Alicia's Barber & Styling Salon

11 Northern Monkey Barber reviews that are not currently recommended

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

11 reviews that are not currently recommended

Northern Monkey Barber - barbers - Updated July 2026

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Related Searches in San Clemente, CA

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