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ZJ Boarding House

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ZJ Boarding House also known as ZJBH, is a surfboard, skateboard, snowboard, and clothing store Located in Santa Monica, California. For over twenty years ZJ Boarding House has provided not only an outlet for the consumer to purchase board sport equipment, but has impacted the local community in several positive ways. From a small surf shop into a super store for board sports, ZJ Boarding House helps the community, youth, and has expanded to include joint Hurley and Billabong store fronts.

Contents

For many who know the old surf shop, it has remained a staple in the Santa Monica and Venice communities, often sponsoring young skaters and surfers or hosting large sales, raffles, and give-aways.

History

ZJ Boarding House opened on December 16, 1988 by Mikke Pierson and Todd Roberts. The original name was Zuma Jay Surfboards and the shop was affiliated with Zuma Jay's in Malibu. The original shop was about 2000 square feet and occupied the front of 2619 Main Street. Todd Roberts lived in the office at the shop and Mikke Pierson lived in his RV in Malibu.

Founding

Originally ZJ Boarding House was the brainchild of Mikke Pierson (co-owner of ZJ Boarding House), whom at the time in 1988 was part of Zuma Jay surf shop, a small hole in the wall shop in Malibu, California. The move to Santa Monica, California included a partnership with Todd Roberts (co-owner, ZJ Boarding House). Pierson and Roberts became good friends a couple of years previous to the birth of the new shop, while volunteering to take youth from the Brail Institute surfing at the local beaches. Many local many surfers have watched ZJ Boarding house transform from a small surf shop into a mega-store for board sports. Since its move to the Santa Monica location, ZJ Boarding House has expanded the store to the two neighboring store fronts.

Community and events

  • Living up to the claims of community outreach, ZJ Boarding House hosts a surf competition in which the competitors are in costume while surfing on the local Santa Monica beach.
  • Skate 4 Africa: ZJ Boarding House teamed up with a local startup to collect old skateboard equipment to send to young skateboarders in Africa. The sport is becoming increasingly popular among the youth in Africa and is keeping them away from drugs and gangs. Most of the roads are dirt yet these young skateboarders stay determined to ride their boards and have caught the government's attention about the current road conditions.
  • ZJ Boarding House often produces events that bring people in the community together. One summer they set up an outdoor showing of the surfing film, Five Summer Stories. Providing good atmosphere, popcorn, and coconut water.
  • Michael Guffey, a skateboarder from Venice, California won the gold medal at the ESPN X Games 16 in Los Angeles, Caalifornia with help of his fellow ZJ Boarding House team.

    • Business location and hours

    ZJ Boarding House is located at 2619 Main Street Santa Monica, California 90405. Store hours are: Monday-Saturday 10 am – 7 pm . Sunday 10 am – 6 pm.

    References

    ZJ Boarding House Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA