Manhattan Beach Surf Shop Moves to New Location
Sep 14, 2015 04:40PM ● By Mb News Staff
Nikau Kai Waterman Shop is open in a new location at 1140 Highland Avenue in downtown Manhattan Beach.
Nikau Kai Waterman Shop, Manhattan Beach's popular place for all things ocean, has moved a few doors down to a new shop in downtown Manhattan Beach. Where previously they were across the street from the legendary Uncle Bill's Pancake House, the mighty Nikau Kai is now next to the landmark Kettle restaurant.
Indeed, locals (and anyone looking for surfing and beach gear) will be glad to know it's business as usual, meaning if you're looking to buy or rent waterman gear or up for lessons, Nikau Kai has what you're looking for.
Owner Jason Shanks, himself an avid waterman, opened Nikau Kai in MB in the spring of 2012, expanding from his original "lesson business" that consisted of "just a couple boards and an SUP bike trailer, which was actually a converted double stroller that a friend was throwing out," he told DigMB.
Today, the growing shop carries gear for SUP beginners all the way up to advanced surfers in brands that include Naish, Focus, and Imagine to the "best custom boards available in Southern California, if not the world--Infinity out of Dana Point," says Shanks.
Of Infinity, he says, "When you're ready to move into a custom performance surf SUP, they are hands down the best. You might not hear that from other shops but ask the top SUP surfers, and they will agree.
"On the other side of the coin, we have some great lifestyle brands that help you look good both in and out of the water." Those brands include Iron & Resin, Deus Machina, Hippy Tree, and The Critical Slide Society, the newest addition. "They have a super stylish surf vibe," Shanks says of The Critical Slide Society.
"We're always trying out new brands and adding to our own line and that makes this a really fun and always evolving spot."
Next up in Nikau Kai's evolution is the addition of food, an espresso bar, and beer and wine, which will take a few months to roll out.
Says Shanks, "We're setting things in place to have you covered morning, noon, and night with a full espresso bar, breakfast burritos as well as a solid lunch burrito offering...
"It was time to grow," he says. "It's been a fun journey identifying the right spot for us and how we could expand our offerings."
Though the shop is "still a fairly small operation," the recent addition of a warehouse will help the store "stock more of those larger items so we don't run out," he said.
"But still, for many specialty items, we can usually get them in a just a couple days," he adds. "We love custom orders: It's a great feeling to seek out and find that hard-to-get item for someone and share in their stoke in finally getting their hands on it."
For anyone venturing to the beach and ocean, Shanks says, "We've pretty much got you covered head to toe," saying it happens frequently that Nikau Kai supplies folks who "forgot an essential beach item or had an unintended layover" with what they need.
"We can set you up from, 'I'm wearing a suit from my last meeting and I'm ready to relax' to 'I just need to rent a surfboard for the next couple hours. '"
In addition to SUP gear and surfboards, Nikau Kai stocks "all sizes" and gear includes Boogie boards, fins, and wetsuits. They also offer lessons in surfing and stand up paddling so if you're ready to get in the water and try these fun ocean sports, Nikau Kai is ready to help.
Nikau Kai is now located across an alleyway adjacent The Kettle at 1140 Highland Ave.; (310) 545-7007.
Indeed, locals (and anyone looking for surfing and beach gear) will be glad to know it's business as usual, meaning if you're looking to buy or rent waterman gear or up for lessons, Nikau Kai has what you're looking for.
Owner Jason Shanks, himself an avid waterman, opened Nikau Kai in MB in the spring of 2012, expanding from his original "lesson business" that consisted of "just a couple boards and an SUP bike trailer, which was actually a converted double stroller that a friend was throwing out," he told DigMB.
Today, the growing shop carries gear for SUP beginners all the way up to advanced surfers in brands that include Naish, Focus, and Imagine to the "best custom boards available in Southern California, if not the world--Infinity out of Dana Point," says Shanks.
Of Infinity, he says, "When you're ready to move into a custom performance surf SUP, they are hands down the best. You might not hear that from other shops but ask the top SUP surfers, and they will agree.
"On the other side of the coin, we have some great lifestyle brands that help you look good both in and out of the water." Those brands include Iron & Resin, Deus Machina, Hippy Tree, and The Critical Slide Society, the newest addition. "They have a super stylish surf vibe," Shanks says of The Critical Slide Society.
"We're always trying out new brands and adding to our own line and that makes this a really fun and always evolving spot."
Next up in Nikau Kai's evolution is the addition of food, an espresso bar, and beer and wine, which will take a few months to roll out.
Says Shanks, "We're setting things in place to have you covered morning, noon, and night with a full espresso bar, breakfast burritos as well as a solid lunch burrito offering...
"It was time to grow," he says. "It's been a fun journey identifying the right spot for us and how we could expand our offerings."
Though the shop is "still a fairly small operation," the recent addition of a warehouse will help the store "stock more of those larger items so we don't run out," he said.
"But still, for many specialty items, we can usually get them in a just a couple days," he adds. "We love custom orders: It's a great feeling to seek out and find that hard-to-get item for someone and share in their stoke in finally getting their hands on it."
For anyone venturing to the beach and ocean, Shanks says, "We've pretty much got you covered head to toe," saying it happens frequently that Nikau Kai supplies folks who "forgot an essential beach item or had an unintended layover" with what they need.
"We can set you up from, 'I'm wearing a suit from my last meeting and I'm ready to relax' to 'I just need to rent a surfboard for the next couple hours. '"
In addition to SUP gear and surfboards, Nikau Kai stocks "all sizes" and gear includes Boogie boards, fins, and wetsuits. They also offer lessons in surfing and stand up paddling so if you're ready to get in the water and try these fun ocean sports, Nikau Kai is ready to help.
Nikau Kai is now located across an alleyway adjacent The Kettle at 1140 Highland Ave.; (310) 545-7007.
