WCEC Storming Back Stories: Eastern Lines Surf Shop Enjoys Summer Season After Sandy

Don Tarrant is one of the guys that defies his age.  He is 59, but going on 15 and he has been surfing for 47 years.  “Surfing is a lot of fun, great exercise and one of the fastest growing natural sports. Nothing can match the feeling of paddling for an ocean swell, catching the wave, jumping to your feet and riding a wave formed of pure ocean energy,” he says.  His love for surfing and waves resulted in him opening Eastern Lines Surf Shop, where he has been selling boards and giving surf instructions, even competition classes for advanced surfers, since1981. 

Eastern Lines began its existence in a little store in the Acme shopping center in Belmar in February 1981, although in the early years, the shop was known as Zodiac Surf & Skate. Although he grew up in the Seaside Heights area, when he began to look around for a shop location , Belmar was an easy choice. Besides the fact that there was no other shop there, Belmar has always been rich in the surfing history of the Jersey Shore.

In the 60's many surf shops flourished in Belmar, Manatee, Hobie, Challenger, and West Winds, to name a few. Many surfers in New Jersey in the 60's got their first surfboard in Belmar. In fact, Belmar was the first municipality in NJ to open a full time surfing beach during the summer season.

The devastation Hurricane Sandy leveled on Belmar was wide-spread and immense.  The Borough's response was aggressive and required multiple approaches to simultaneously clear debris from the streets and pump out the massive amount of flooding that occurred with the surge.  The Belmar boardwalk was destroyed, beaches littered with glass and broken boardwalk planks.  Hundreds of residents were left homeless and the recovery is still in the works.

Belmar has worked tirelessly to get the town ready for the summer season.  Despite many struggles, there have been many good things happening.  In May, Belmar was voted the #1 beach in Monmouth County’s top ten beaches competition and the Mayor and government municipalities have not stopped to make a big impression on both the visitors and residents of Belmar.  Their beach staff cleans and grooms the beaches every morning and their awareness campaign to tell tourists “We are back” is in full gear.

“I have seen a lot of storms, but nothing like Sandy. I just never thought anything like this could happen.  It was so unexpected,” Tarrants says.  “I am very optimistic, but I had my doubts that Belmar would be back for the summer season.”   The store was bombarded with three feet of sand and water gushing in from the nearby ocean and boardwalk debris hitting the shop’s front door. The result: $350,000 in damage.  Tarrant, with the help of his family and volunteers, completely restored the first floor and cleaned the black mud that soaked the shop and repaired all the electrical wiring.  

“Belmar is back.  The boardwalk is rebuilt and it is only surf’s up from here.  People are enjoying the beach, swimming and surfing and like other small business owners, we have worked very hard to get the business open for summer.   The Jersey Shore is a cool place and tourists are really supporting the Belmar community by shopping here and visiting the boardwalk.” 

Tarrant states that overall it has been a great summer and will only get better.  Many vacationers have commented on how amazing the recovery has been in Belmar and how beautiful and clean the beaches are. 

About The WCEC

The WCEC, a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit corporation, is a U. S. Small Business Administration’s Women’s Business Center.  The WCEC provides the tools for individuals to successfully own, operate and grow their small businesses, thereby investing financially, intellectually and emotionally in their communities. The WCEC provides more than 150 classes, seminars and individual consulting sessions each year for more than 5,000 participants. For more information please visit hwww.wcecnj.org/.