Collection: Welcome to OBX Hoodies & Lanyards
32 Years ago I moved to the Outer Banks right before Memorial Day Weekend after graduating college on a whim. Wanting to surf, have a fun summer and figure out my path in life. Luckily for me, a chance encounter with the owner of Tortuga's Lie changed my summer and my life. A simple gesture giving me a parking spot to park for two weeks while I looked for a room to rent lead to me meeting two dudes' opening a surf shop next door. The Pit Surf Shop.
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May 18th, 1994 - Just graduated College. Committed to go to the Outer Banks with a buddy who was returning to live and work there at Tortuga's Lie and see if I could find a room to rent to come back and forth to chase surf and good times.
- May 20, 1994 - I met Bob Sanders from Tortuga's Lie. A buddy of mine (Smoke) was returning to work for him that summer. While my buddy was settling in, a chance encounter with his ‘boss’—a handshake and a brief conversation—changed my life. Permission to park and stay in his restaurant's lot. A simple parking spot at a busy restaurant. Something I never could have imagined the value of (monetary) back then. A Simple Parking Spot changed my life. The first night there I met two guys opening a surf shop called the PIT SURF next door. About 15 yards from my truck. I Literally stared at them working sitting on my tail gate. So I started helping them work on the shop the next day. I thought it was the coolest thing ever. And as luck would have it....
- Friday May 27, 1994 - Memorial Day Weekend - I'm Invited the week before to LIVE in the surf shop and help out, it's My first full weekend living in a Surf Shop. Yes living and sleeping in the surf shop. Such a wild part of my life. A SURF SHOP! Eventually I moved to the double door shed in the back due to an Alcohol Permit to sell. I couldn't live in the premises. So I put insulation in the shed out back and a window A/C unit and ran an extension cord. The beginning on my life chasing surf and good times. This place, the Outer Banks, changed my life. I never looked back. I moved to San Diego in January of 1999.
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June 18th, 2025 - I moved back to the East Coast to the Outer Banks. My Father passed in February earlier that year and my mom and brother are in Virginia. --- Sometimes you hear people say "the smallest simple gesture changed their life." I'm one of those persons. Grateful. Thirty years is a long time to wait to say "Thank you." Well, today—Wednesday, June 18, 2025—I finally got the chance to say "Thank You" in person to Bob, the owner of Tortuga's Lie. He was a catalyst that changed my life and lead me to the Action Sports industry. 27 years in San Diego from 1998 to 2025.
- May 20, 2026 - Memorial Day Weekend. We're Launching OBX Hoodies. Something I thought a lot about in 1994,95,and 96'. I moved to San Diego in 1998 and often thought about my business ideas. Well. I now live in the Outer Banks again after spending 27 years in San Diego enjoying the so cal' surf life style. Living in the Pit Surf Shop changed my life. It' lead to me working as a Sales Rep in the Surf industry for some Major Brands and some pioneering one's too. Lead to a life of entrepreneurial adventures. So I look forward to being back in the place I learned to surf that changed my life and look forward to creating a simple little brand that hopefully does the locals proud. My Father passed and I relocated to the East Coast to be closer to my family. The only place I could think of to live was the Outer Banks. This place is magical. Harsh winters, beautiful summers and shoulder seasons.
Welcome to OBX Hoodies - www.OuterBanks.Store
Yes, our hoodies are on the higher end—but higher price means higher quality. We prefer to offer only Independent Trading Co hoodies when we can. They are Quality. Our lanyards are top-notch too. Welcome to OBX Hoodies!
Thanks for your support.
Under the RED LABEL Brand Umbrella.
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