Jeff Ho Surfboards and Zephyr Productions facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jeff Ho Surfboards and Zephyr Productions |
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| Built | 1922 |
| Architect | J. L. Schrurs |
| Designated | May 14, 2007 |
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Jeff Ho Surfboards and Zephyr Productions was a famous surfboard shop in Santa Monica, California. It was open from 1971 to 1976. More than just a store, this was the place where a legendary group of skaters, the Z-Boys, got their start.
The building where the shop was located is now a special historic place. It was officially named a city landmark in 2007.
The Story of the Surf Shop
In 1971, three friends named Jeff Ho, Skip Engblom, and Craig Stecyk opened their shop. It was located at 2003–2011 Main Street in Santa Monica. In one part of the building, they sold surf gear. In another part, they designed and built their own unique surfboards.
The shop closed in 1976. A year later, it reopened as a different surf shop called Horizons West. That shop stayed open for many years until it closed in 2010. Since 2012, the building has been home to a coffee shop called Dogtown Coffee.
Birthplace of the Z-Boys
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The shop was located in an area of Santa Monica and Venice known as Dogtown. Jeff Ho and Skip Engblom created a surf team with local kids who surfed nearby. This was the Zephyr Surf Team.
Later, they started the Zephyr Skate Team. This team became world-famous as the Z-Boys. They changed skateboarding forever with their new, surf-inspired style. The Z-Boys made skateboarding incredibly popular.
The surf shop was the team's home base. It was where they all hung out. Some of the members even worked there. Nathan Pratt learned how to build surfboards from the shop's owners.
The team included famous skaters like Jay Adams, Tony Alva, and Stacy Peralta. Other members were Bob Biniak, Chris Cahill, Paul Constantineau, Shogo Kubo, Jim Muir, Peggy Oki, Nathan Pratt, Wentzle Ruml, and Allen Sarlo.
The story of the Z-Boys and their surf shop has been told in two movies:
- Dogtown and Z-Boys (2001), a documentary film.
- Lords of Dogtown (2005), a movie based on their lives.
Saving a Historic Building
In 2007, there were plans to tear down the building that once housed the surf shop. The plan was to build new condominiums in its place.
Local skaters and surfers did not want to see this important piece of history destroyed. They started a campaign to save the building. On April 9, 2007, they officially asked the city to make the building a landmark.
On May 14, 2007, the city of Santa Monica agreed. They decided the building was special enough to be protected. It was officially named a City Landmark, saving it from being torn down.
