About Rider Shack — Los Angeles Surf Shop Since 2006
A surf shop born from passion, not a business plan
Rider Shack started the way most great things start — with more passion than money and a willingness to figure it out as we went. In November 2006, Jeff and Lacey opened the doors of a 500 square foot garage tucked behind a Foster Freeze near Venice and Marina del Rey. The space was humble. The budget was tight. The list of goals was endless.
What we had was genuine love for the surf lifestyle and a commitment to building something real for the community we were part of. That turned out to be enough. Within our first year of business, Fox 11 named Rider Shack the Best Surf Shop in Los Angeles — an award we went on to win three years in a row.
Growing into the community
The garage was a start, but we quickly outgrew it. We moved to a larger space on West Washington Blvd — more than double the size, and in need of some love. The Style Network from E! Entertainment took notice and featured Rider Shack on "Peter Perfect" in a full one-hour segment documenting the store makeover. Not quite how we expected to announce the new location, but it captured something true about the Rider Shack spirit — we've always been willing to roll up our sleeves and make something out of whatever we have.
We stayed at West Washington for two and a half years before outgrowing that space too. In May 2010, we opened our current location — 5,000 square feet in the heart of Venice, between Marina del Rey and Culver City. It's a proper surf shop now, stocked with everything a Los Angeles surfer needs: boards, wetsuits, fins, surf skates, sunscreen, beach gear, and the expertise to help you choose the right one.
Jeff's story
Jeff was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona — about as far from the ocean as you can get. Every summer his family would escape the Arizona heat and drive to San Diego. That's where surfing started for him. A trip to the Oceanside swap meet and seventy-five dollars of lawn mowing money got him his first surfboard — a Surfboards Hawaii. From the first wave at Oceanside Pier, he was hooked.
Back in Phoenix, Jeff rode skateboards and surfed behind the boat at local lakes — first on his surfboard, then on one of the original Skurfer wakeboards. He always knew the ocean was where he needed to be. After graduating from college, he moved to Los Angeles and never looked back.
Lacey's story
Lacey was born and raised in Santa Barbara — the kind of California childhood that happens on the coast. Gaviota, Refugio, El Cap, and Pismo Beach were her backyard. She grew up camping on stretches of Southern California coastline that were still largely undeveloped, spending long days on the beach. She'll tell you the smell of sunscreen takes her straight back to those days.
A family move relocated her to Nevada during high school. The moment she turned eighteen, she came back to Southern California. Some people move to California. Lacey just came home.
What we're about
Rider Shack is a family and friend-oriented shop. We work hard to make it feel that way every day — a place where you can talk about waves, get honest gear advice, and feel like you're among people who actually surf the same breaks you do. We host parties and BBQs, support the local surf community, and try to earn the trust of every customer who walks through the door.
If you're in the area — Venice Beach, Santa Monica, Malibu, Marina del Rey, Culver City, or anywhere along the LA coast — stop in. We'd love to meet you.
Live Love Surf — Jeff, Lacey, and the Rider Shack team
