Back in 2014, Aqua Surf Shop was forced out from their location of 14 years on Sloat Boulevard across from the SF Zoo due to real estate development. Aqua Shop reopened in 2015 at 3847 Judah, near the corner of 44th Avenue. With a small but dedicated staff, they quickly renovated the space, put a mural on the wall, and officially opened for business and stocked up the space. Aqua shop intends to get the best gear suited for their customers – whether or not they make the sale.
Devin Dargell, the current owner, says that their customer base and sales remain about the same as when they were on Sloat, but that he likes the new location better because Judah has a more of a sense of community and regular foot traffic created by Judalicious, Other Avenues and Outerlands. Aqua is not just a surf shop, but also carries skate supplies as well as many gifty items that are affordable and locally made, such as t shirts, comfortable beach pants and even unique socks. In addition to serving the community with unique gifts and activity gear, Aqua hopes to sponsor more community events and workshops.
While business is growing slowly but surely, Aqua experiences the same small business blues familiar to all businesses in San Francisco where the real estate keeps creeping up and the standard of living cannot support the staff, hence having to recruit, hire and train new staff members. As for himself, Devin plans to stay here where he is raising his family and hopes to make this small business profitable and sustainable.
Visit our neighbors Aqua Surf Shop online, or better yet, pay them a visit after your next grocery run to Other Avenues!
