O’Neill’s Surf Shop

In 1959 Jack O'Neill moved with his family to Santa Cruz and opened a 500 square foot Surf Shop at this location above Cowell Beach. It was his first retail store in Santa Cruz, offering custom built foam surfboards and thermal barrier suits, as wetsuits were then known. The shop became a focal point for a tight-knit surfing community, and the business grew steadily, gaining recognition as a pioneer and leader in surfing. In 1996 O'Neill extended his vision by founding the O'Neill Sea Odyssey, an award-winning ocean education program for kids. The site was later recognized for the local origins of an innovative global business and as a place where parents continue to bring their children for a day at the beach.

Santa Cruz, California · United States