Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
O’Neill’s Surf Shop
Photographed by Craig Baker
1. O’Neill’s Surf Shop Marker
In 1959 Jack O'Neill came with his family to Santa Cruz and opened his 500 square foot "Surf Shop” at this location, just above Cowell Beach. The Surf Shop was O'Neill's first retail store in Santa Cruz, offering custom built foam surfboards and "thermal barrier” suits, as wetsuits were known at the time.
O'Neill's Surf Shop became a focal point for a tight-knit surfing community. The business grew steadily, earning recognition as a pioneer and leader in the world of surfing. In 1996 O’Neill extended his vision by founding the O’Neill Sea Odyssey, an award-winning ocean education program for kids.
On May 31, 2012, the site of Jack O’Neill’s Santa Cruz Surf Shop was designated by the State of California as a California Point of Historical Interest, recognizing the local origins of an innovative global business as well as a place where parents continue to bring their children for a day at the beach.
“In the beginning the name of the business was just Surf Shop. We were the first to use the name, and later got it registered. Nobody in the world called themselves Surf Shop before us." — Jack O’Neill
Erected 2013
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is May 31, 2012.
Location. 36° 57.754′ N, 122° 1.455′ W. Marker is in Santa Cruz, California, in Santa Cruz County. It is at the intersection of Beach Street and Pacific Avenue, on the right when traveling east on Beach Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 175 W Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz CA 95060, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Central Coast and specifically on the Coast Ranges. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexico’s Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Sedgwick Lynch House (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Welcome to the Santa Cruz Wharf (about 700 feet away); Sunshine Villa (approx.
Photographed by Craig Baker
2. O’Neill Mural and Marker
The marker faces a public parking lot, next to a hotel restaurant.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 9, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 27, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 2,256 times since then and 125 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 27, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
