Stroll down Main Street and you may think, “This is Surf City.” While residents around the globe live near the ocean, the surf, and have become familiar with the term, “surfing” as in surfing the web, the concept of Surf City has grown to embrace the physical place and a place in our hearts and souls. No where would you see that more than California beach communities that embrace the concept of Surf City as a physical, wave-riding destination. Several such places come to mind. Huntington Beach is one. San Diego’s Swami is another. Encinitas is filled with so many that when you drop by, it’s really a surfer’s paradise. And let’s not forget the people to the north in Pismo Beach, Santa Barbara (Rincon fame), Surfer’s Knoll in Ventura, and of course, Mavericks and Santa Cruz.
When you wander the downtown tourist destinations in these California beach communities you’ll find lots of souvenirs. Gifts and
curios, memorabilia, quirky flip-flops and sunglasses and even baseball caps all offer the locals and travelers something they can afford to show they’ve been there and bought the t-shirt. I previously worked to help California Greetings launch lines of HB themed surfing gifts, but before that, I got Tine & Bud down at the Surf City Store to get their online web store launched. I loved Huntington Beach and its knick knacks, and am glad to see these dedicated shop owners sell the items that make tourists happy.
At California Greetings, I first met Joe Shaw when I worked at the Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau in 301 Main, upstairs from the new California Greetings that had just opened. Shaw brought our office a nice planter and invited us to shop at his store. I loved his merchandise and was glad that downtown Huntington Beach finally got a store that offered a more upscale supply of beach-themed and home decor gifts. Shaw and his partner, Richie Lam, sold the store, and Debbie now owns it. She comes from a retail background, having co-owned and operated Surf City Candy at one time. Debbie is a real smart lady, great marketer, and brings a more feminine approach to the shop. (We all know that women do most the shopping.) If you’re looking for nice items and affordable prices, be sure to visit the California Greetings store in downtown Huntington Beach. It’s really a fun place to shop.