We can finally OPEN...Today and each day through Christmas!

Wednesday, December 5th...we are finally able to open up shop!  After a really really long and hectic 5 weeks, we're able to OPEN for business!  Bay Head still has the National Guard at all entrances ...they will allow shoppers to come into town using the Bridge Avenue entrance.  We'll be here 10-6 Monday through Saturday and 10-5 on Sunday.  This Saturday we are closed at 4 o'clock for Bay Head's Christmas Celebration.  Thanks so much for all your patience and we look forward to seeing customers again!

Jetty helps out big time...

Yesterday, I received an email from Cory and Jeremy from Jetty Life Clothing, right here in Ocean County, NJ. The have raised a whole lot of money from the sales of their Sandy Relief t-shirts, that will go to help families and first response teams in all the shore communities. They asked me who in Bay Head could use their help. I got them in touch with Pastor Scott Bostwick of St. Paul’s Methodist Church in town. Scott and his crew are doing some awesome work, serving 300-400 meals a day…residents, workers, police officers & National Guardsmen stop into get warm, have a meal, get warm clothing or just talk…truly a heartwarming place.

Jeremy asked Scott what they needed to continue their efforts and then wrote out a nice sized check to help meet their needs

In times like these, people really show their true colors…both Jetty and St. Pauls are a true blessing to our community.

Post Hurricane Sandy...serious destruction.

On Monday, October 29th, Hurricane Sandy hit the New Jersey Coastline like a freight train causing crazy devestation...rocking so many shore communities.  The eye came onshore just below Atlantic city with 90 mph winds and 25 to 30 ft. waves! We own a surf shop in Bay Head, 1 block off the ocean and 1 block from the bay...we live in Brick, 3 1/2 miles inland from the shop. We just got power back at home after 10 days..speculation says Bay Head may not have power until December... boy do I Hope they're wrong! The National Guard is still manning all entrances and cruising the streets, keeping things in order...thank God, and only business owners and home owners are allowed entrance into town. As I type this, it's 28 degrees, there's 8 inches of snow on the ground from last night's N'or Easter... something we surely didn't need. Since typing the story below, we've been going into town to help out those that have fared worse than we have, in an atttempt to restore some stoke back into the community members wherever we can.

written after my 1st time back into Bay Head.

 

A buddy and a customer, Brian Hajeski reacts to the rubble on the Mantoloking Bridge.

Here to stay -One of our surf instructors, Tim Britt...classic.

Long time friend & Beach House employee...Currie Wagner stands amongst the rubble of his Grandmother's 100 year old home.

The new Howe Street Jetty

Used to be a house at the entrance to North St...now just pilings.



The Atlantic...flowing down North Street early on.

At the end of Howe Street

 

A friend's Mantoloking home...destroyed...heartbreaking.

 

The Bay Head 'rock wall' that saved homes from even worse destruction

'Sandy's Whale' found amongst the rubble in front of the shop.

A Bumper Car on Mantoloking Beach...all the way from Seaside...10 miles to the South

the famed 'South Beach Guard Shack'...reduced to rubble.

Before...

 

...and after.

 

the break through at the Mantoloking Bridge.

 

1974 US Surfing Championships - Cape Hatteras, NC - "It was Better Back then"

I had a really cool NYC surfer  come in to the shop yesterday...James Breslin, Son of  Pulitzer Prize winning writer Jimmy Breslin and a great writer in his own right.  This long time Long Island surfer was loaded with NY surf facts and stories and was a super nice guy...it was a very cool visit.  We got to talking about growing up surfing West Hampton and sharing lots of waves with the late NY surfing legend Ricky Rasmussen.  This led me to an article he participated in that was in New York Magazine 1982...a really sad story.

 

as well as this surfing footage from "It was better back then"...available at the Beach House.  It Was Better Back Then

This DVD includes the 1974 US Surfing Championships - Cape Hatteras NC - with Ricky Rasmussen, Tony Staples, Greg Loehr, Jim Cartland...really cool.  1974 US Surfing Championships

Our new, expanded wetsuit area upgraded to handle way more suits & New Patagonia suits hit the rack...

New Patagonia suits hit the rack & We've added 50% more space and 50% more wetsuit inventory!  We upgraded our wetsuit area & constructed a new rack to handle lots more wetsuits...thinking about our customers.

More suits are good...
 

We've got R1 suits in, fulls as well as long-sleeve shorties...R2s hit the rack as well as R3 hooded suits.  Patagonia's new boots & gloves are in as well...awesome warmth and flex!  Stop in the shop as the weather and water cools down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fall 2012 Swap...awesome day!

Today was an awesome day...great weather, great people, awesome boards, great food and drink! Thanks to everyone that came out and had a great time.  All of my family and friends that helped out, the OLC guys, local chargers and collectors. Thanks to Tony from Clean Ocean Surfboards, Jimmy from Harpoon Willys and Harry for the unreal coffee! We even got to share Jamie's 30th Birthday with everyone!  Lots of Hobies, 2 Greg Noll Cats, plenty of Webers, Jacobs, Bings, Bonzers & more.