Blitz Surf Shop Sells to Local Lad – End of Era for Larry
One of the icons of Gisborne’s retailing sector, Blitz Surf Shop, has sold for an undisclosed price to an ex-pat surfer who is returning home.
Euan Nelson, who has been working in the UK for the past 16 years, will take over the business on December 11.
The business, complete with the historic two-storey Wainui Road building in which it is based, was sold after a Bayleys auction on Friday.
It was established by Peter Nattrass in1983, as what would today be regarded as a small cosmic hippie store in an old bowling club building that stood beside the current store.
Larry Foster was in partnership with Pete Nattrass for about a year, taking it over in his own right after that.
He bought the two-storey building next door and eventually refurbished the whole building, later adding a sizeable extension at the back to house and display the Blitz surfboards.
Over the years he has seen numerous changes in the surf industry, including the emergence of the surfwear superlabels.
“We were there before Quiksilver and Billabong,” he said.
“In those days it was Ocean Pacific, Golden Breed and Hang 10.”
The growing tendency towards lifestyle wear, and its increasing sophistication, eventually led to a downtown store, Blitz Main Street or BMS. Larry and Leigh Foster will continue to operate that, along with 22 Above.
Mr Foster is looking forward to having a lighter load to enable more time for surfing and fishing but plans to support Euan Nelson during the changeover leading up to the busy Christmas rush.
source: Marianne Gillingham : Gisborne Herald : 1 Dec 2009
