Surf Shop History
158 SURF AND SKATE OPENS ON THE OUTER BANKS 158 combine’s over 40 years in the industry into a retail outlet. With over 40 years of surf and skate experience between the three partners, 158 is opening its doors. 158 owners, Matthew Price, Mike Rowe, and Craig Purkiss have been busy putting together a unique retail shop in the heart of Kitty Hawk, NC. Matt Price has been doing graphic design with Savage Rips clothing for over 5 years. He has managed numerous surf shops on the east coast and even dipped into the repping game a couple years back. Craig Purkiss has been in the surf industry for over a decade, repping for companies like Bully’s, Viper fins, Zinka, Crush/Kreed eyewear and many more. He has managed surf shops since 1998 and also partnered up with Matt in 2002 to start Savage Rips clothing. Mike Rowe is the owner/shaper for Hooked surfboards and apparel; he started making glass fins in the 90’s and was a shop rat for New Sun in the 80’s. Mike specializes in custom surfboard shapes. After many discussions and idea swapping the three different personality’s joined forces to form 158 Surf and Skate. The black and white interior, clean lines, abstract art, and well merchandised displays give 158 a decor like no other. Inside you will find national and local art along with custom made surfboards and limited edition surf, skate, and street wear. “Because of the success of Savage Rips and the demand for surfboards from Hooked, we decided to combine the brands and open a showroom.”-Craig Purkiss. 158 is not your typical surf retail store, it’s more of a surf and skate boutique. “We wanted to stay away from the mainstream and focus on some underground brands to bring an edgier side to this area. “-Matt Price. “The goal of 158 is to provide a retail store dedicated to the other group of surfers, artists and skaters. We have recognized the fact that not everyone wants to buy what they can find in the malls and in every other surf shop in there area. Its time to for a shop to bring all of that to them, instead of the customers searching online to try and find something outside the box. That is where 158 comes in.”-Craig Purkiss
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Locations
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Services
- Lessons
- Repairs
- Skate Team
- Skim Board Team
- Surf Team
Products From 158 Surf Shop
More About 158 Surf Shop
An interview with 158 Surf Shop
When did you start your business?
2007
Do you consider the location of your shop a key factor to the business’s success?
Yes for sure. We’re right on the main road in the OBX.
Who is your average buyer?
Our average buyer are kids from 12-35. We have a strong local following that helps support our shop.
If a total Barney walks in do you treat him with the same respect as a full on loc?
Yes for sure. We treat everybody equally. We focus on supreme customer service.
What is the dumbest question a customer has ever asked?
Everybody has to learn sometime so I don’t consider any questions “dumb.”
Do you have a mascot (ex. - An animal that roams freely throughout the building)?
We have the party animal, which is llama.
What is the craziest return a customer has ever tried to make?
We haven’t really had any crazy returns. This one time this lady tried to return a bikini that had been worn though. The state of North Carolina has a law where people cannot return undergarments and such. I explained this to her and she got pretty heated. I looked back at the bat that is hanging on the wall and says “Complaint Department” and she quickly realized that she definitely wasn’t going to be able to return the bikini.
Does your store support any local surfers or have a surf team?
Yes have a surf/skate & skim team- Surf-Dana Quinn, Christian Kane, Seth Barick etc etc. Skim- Robo, Joe Rice. Skate- Forrest Davis, Raleigh, Gian Carlo.
What is your most annoying grom story?
We used to have a massage chair that we called “the loiter” chair that groms would always fall asleep in. Also it’s annoying when groms ask a million questions. Overall though we love the groms.
Have you ever had any type of celeb roll in and make a purchase?
The naked dude in the movie “Walk Hard” named Tyler Nelson.
Have you ever pulled a hot chick/guy solely due to the fact that you own/manage a surf shop?
All of the dudes that work here are married or have fiancés so no, but we have had some older moms hit on our employees.
How many days a week do you surf now compared to before you owned/managed a surf shop?
We still surf about the same. Whenever there’s waves we surf.
Who is your favorite surfer and why?
Dane Reynolds & Christian Fletcher- Christian was doing huge airs before anybody and has rad style. Dane just completely kills it all the way around the board.
Has a customer trying on clothes ever walked out completely naked?
Nope haven’t seen any nudies yet.
Has a person ever walked in totally blitzkrieged (really intoxicated) and tried to make a purchase? If so elaborate.
Yes. Actually the more type of people we get are people that are super stoned where we have to basically walk them through the sale.
Every store has to deal with shoplifting. What is your most memorable experience and what is your shoplifting policy?
We had these 2 kids that decided they were gonna steal some beanies from us. We didn’t know they did it until some of our buddies told us about it. Our friends confronted them and told them they better return them. One of the kids we made do a bunch of community service around the shop. The other kid is banned for life. Shoplifting in our shop will be detrimental to your health.
And last but not least tell us one of the craziest shop stories you can remember?
The first time we opened up our in house ramp at the shop Raleigh (one of the skaters we sponsor) blazed around the building in his car and then ran into it. The building is all brick too. Coincidentally the part of the building he ran into was an insurance office.