Will Oregon save the surf shop? Let's see!
I grew up, as noted here often, in the Pacific Northwest. Though I look back now with misty-eyed appreciation, at the time I did not find the dreary, cold, rednecked, cold, cloudy, economically depressed, oppressively green, wet, backwoods, backwater, cold, wet thing charming.
And Portland, the jewel, the rose, did not exist in my youth. It was merely a dull city four hours away. It had not yet become “Portland.”
In any case, I read just yesterday that Portland is getting its first surf shop and its second soon after and since it is “Portland” they will also sell coffee and craft beer.
Genius?
Yes!
Cosube and Up North Surf Club are appropriately named, sell coffee/beer, feat. art and screen film and might actually be successful. There is one other place in town that has been open since 1983 and sells surfboards but also sells snowboards and SUPs (yuck on the SUPs!). It’s owner tells The Oregonian newspaper:
“I totally think we need more bars and coffee shops in Portland. It’s a cool idea, I guess. I think a lot of places already do things like that without actually saying they’re a surf shop. Maybe I should open up a margarita stand outside.”
Does that sound like he’s being facetious or serious? Maybe facetious. But I think he really should open up a margarita stand outside.
Which brings my around to my point. If surf shops in southern California made wonderful cocktails I would visit tons and probably accidentally make drunken purchases.
How in the hell have surf shop owners not thought of this already? Does “Portland” have to lead us all to the well and show us how to drink?
Far be it from me, being in Burbank this week, to comment. So I won’t.
Also, no one named “Chas” lives long enough to to catch whitewater in Newport, let alone paddle back out and come correct. Charles is acceptable… Charlie if you cut the sleeves off your flannel and sport your local Neo-Nazi chapter.
Chaz missed PDX growth. He missed the prime of SoCal’s empire. He was in Australia to watch Cali burn.
What can Chas tell us?
That writing about surfing for fun can be fun… If you’re doing it purely for fun. And I find it funny!
!
What?
i heard Portland chicks are the worst in the usa
The Shanty and Patagonia teamed up years ago (Cardiff being the world renowned bastion of culture that it is), which was brilliant as patrons of both establishments intersect at similar socioeconomic backgrounds. Shame that only one will let you in barefoot while carrying a piece of pizza and walking your dog though.
Wasn’t Quik talking some amazing idea of putting barber shops in new flagship stores??
Makes way more sense to put in a “day” coffee lounge and “arvo/evening” beer lounge.
You’d get the hipster tools looking to be cool buying around their morning coffee, and then you’d get the pissed idiots buying on a whim when on the cans at night!!
And yes I am available for marketing concepts.
All that is in the Coolangatta one.
Really they should put Balter beer in there then!!! Is it a toss or does it work?
Isn’t Portland the center of the universe for hipsters and crappy tasting beer?
Every city on the West Coast is giving it a run for its money, though.
My first visit to PDX will be next week. Unfortunately I will be staying out by the airport but I will tell everyone that you said hello, Chas.
The socks and sandals brewery culture there is super lame, but pour me another if they have more events like this: http://www.staywildmagazine…
Says no Rollerblades or segways, I’m completely not interested now.