ONeill Clothing is opening a flagship store near the Santa Monica Promenade. Located just steps from the sand at 2nd Street and Broadway, the new store will include ONeill men’s, boys and women’s apparel, along with the brand’s signature neoprene wetsuits, which were invented by Jack ONeill nearly 60 years ago.
ONeill is also famous for opening the first surf shop in 1952 and helping to kick start the popularity of the surf lifestyle all over California and beyond. The store will officially open with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 8th, organized by the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, followed by an invitation-only grand opening party later in the month.
Inspired by Jack ONeill’s oceanfront home, window displays showcase one-of-a-kind artwork from ONeill employees and friends; and the interior is lined with various photography from past decades and current advertising campaigns.
“Were excited to have an opportunity to thoroughly represent the ONeill brand in Santa Monica,” said ONeill Clothing CEO, Toby Bost. “This global retail concept is the first to be rolled out in the United States, and will showcase everything ONeill is about in one of the best shopping locations in the country.”
“This first L.A. store is an important milestone for ONeill as we aim to have a greater retail presence in underrepresented areas around the country,” added Eppo van Berckelaer, Head of Global Marketing, ONeill. “Not only does ONeill Santa Monica serve as a genuine showcase for our product in a key global market, it also offers a unique brand experience that highlights the past, present and future of ONeill.”
Throughout the Summer, ONeill Santa Monica will host special events, VIP shopping experiences and other promotions for visitors to the Promenade, which serves as LA’s #1 coastal entertainment destination, with hundreds of shops, restaurants and theatres. Additionally, ONeill Santa Monica has partnered with Heal the Bay, a local non-profit which campaigns for cleaner coastal areas and watersheds throughout the Los Angeles area. ONeill will support Heal the Bay through a series of beach cleanups and other events throughout the year, along with donating proceeds of product sales. ONeill will also be offering an exclusive t-shirt to benefit the organization, which will be available for purchase at the Santa Monica store only. Plans to support other charitable groups in the months ahead are underway.
“This new space will bring jobs into the local economy, support amazing non-profits to better our communities, and keep people excited about the surf lifestyle, which we love to see,” said Steve Ward, ONeill Senior VP of Sales and Marketing. “Whether youre an avid surfer or wakeboarder, trying out stand up paddling, or just looking to hang out on the beach in style, ONeill offers products for everyone.”
ONeill Santa Monica will be managed by Wendi Harrell, who previously oversaw ONeill’s outlet store in Nevada at the Vegas Premium Outlets North. ONeill also has a retail space at the Anaheim GardenWalk shopping district, which opened three years ago.
