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Surfing has always been a west coast-based sport, but east coast surfers got their own style mecca with the Ron Jon Surf Shop. Ron DiMenna, a surfer from Long Beach Island, New Jersey, opened his first store in 1961. He had originally planed to buy one surfboard from California for himself. His dad suggested he get three boards instead, and sell two at a profit, essentially getting his own board for free. This savvy business decision led to the founding of Ron Jon Enterprises.

 

His shop offered surfing and water sports products and services to surfers on the Jersey shore. The enterprise proved successful, and he opened a second store in Cocoa Beach, Florida, called One-of-a-Kind Ron Jon Surf Shop. The stores soon became an inherent part of the east coast surfing scene. Eventually, Ron Jon even let those west coasters get in on the action, opening a store in Orange County, California.