The new
Rockpile Surf & Sport shop in Spring Lake could soon be a shopping paradise for water sports enthusiasts and skateboarders.
The shop opened in November at 114 W. Savidge Street, adjacent to what used to be Chapter 11 Sports owned by Ned Silverman. Silverman now manages the new store and feels right at home. The owner,
TWC Surf & Sport in Sylvan Lake, Michigan wanted a lakeshore presence on the west side of the state.
Silverman says the shop is in the 600-square-foot area that used to be his wife's clothing boutique, The Channel, but will expand into the former Chapter 11 space by spring.
The plan is to offer skateboards, wakeboards, surfboards and possibly bikes after the expansion, and to service and tune the equipment. In addition, the shop will offer beachwear and accessories, with an eye to attracting female customers to what's historically a male-oriented industry.
"We opened in November because we wanted to catch Christmas and the visibility that brings," Silverman says. "We have some remodeling done and we're still figuring out the product mix. We want to focus on things that don't require a heavy investment in inventory."
The building sat empty for about eight months after Silverman closed Chapter 11 Sports and Linda closed The Channel due to bankruptcy. Chapter 11 had operated for 20 years, and Silverman still has a heart for the business.
"We had no source of income and it was devastating," Silverman says. "Building up this business, we have to be sensitive because a lot of our customers are hurting in this economy, too. You've got to really be creative and find a way to make it work. To be an entrepreneur you have to ignore the reality to overcome the odds."
Source: Ned Silverman, Rockpile Surf & Sport
Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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