Pungo Boardhouse

When did you start your business?

April 2007. Right after my wife and I graduated from college.

Do you consider the location of your shop a key factor to the business’s success?

Yes definitely. We’re located right off of the main road and close to the beach.

Who is your average buyer?

We have a wide range of customers. From the core surfers that live nearby to the summer tourists. Probably the ages of 10-20 year old kids are the most common customer.If a total Barney walks in do you treat him with the same respect as a full on loc?

Yes definitely. We treat everybody equally no matter who it is.

What is the dumbest question a customer has ever asked?

The little old ladies that come in and ask “Do you guys still sell jelly?” This used to be a jelly store before we made it a surf shop.

Do you have a mascot (ex. - An animal that roams freely throughout the building)?

A little white poodle named “Lolli.”

What is the craziest return a customer has ever tried to make?

A guy bought a softboard around a year ago and came back in because the plastic fin was broken and demanded to get a whole new fin set.

Does your store support any local surfers or have a surf team?

Yes we have a surf team. Ethan my brother, Josh the Grom, Nick Pro, Lucas my brother.

What is your most annoying grom story?

We had a skate contest in the back and this little kid wouldn’t stop bugging us and saying “watch my trick! Watch my trick!” He wouldn’t stop.

Have you ever had any type of celeb roll in and make a purchase?

Nope no celebs.

Have you ever pulled a hot chick/guy solely due to the fact that you own/manage a surf shop?

I’m married, but my brother probably has.

How many days a week do you surf now compared to before you owned/managed a surf shop?

Whenever there’s waves I surf.

Who is your favorite surfer and why?

My dad is my favorite surfer. He kills it. He charges huge Hatteras and whatever else.

Has a customer trying on clothes ever walked out completely naked?

Nope. Definitely not.

Has a person ever walked in totally blitzkrieged (really intoxicated) and tried to make a purchase? If so elaborate.

Yes that happens pretty often actually. These are the best type of customers because they buy everything and give you beer. It works out great.

Every store has to deal with shoplifting. What is your most memorable experience and what is your shoplifting policy?

We have been opened for 2 years and it didn’t happen until a few months ago. These girls came in trying on bathing suits and walked out with them. Our policy is we’ll whoop yer ass. Tie you up and call the cops. Karma will catch up with shoplifters as well.

And last but not least tell us one of the craziest shop stories you can remember?

There’s an antique store next store and this lady was over there messed up on some sort of drug. She was over there all day and stole a bunch of stuff. She then came over here and wanted to buy some stuff and pay with a check. The antique shop called the cops on her. I was across the street and looked over at our shop and there were a bunch of cops all over the place. She was putting stuff that she stole from the antique shop all over the place down from our shop. She kept going back into the antique shop and stealing more. The cops dumped her purse out on the top of my van. It was definitely a crazy experience.