The Oar House has a new tenant, and it’s not the North Florida Land Trust.
Ponte Vedra resident Brian Weissmann has rented the property to house his new surf shop, Trident Surf.
For the last three years, the North Florida Land Trust has sought to raise money to purchase the site, at 4415 Mickler Road in Ponte Vedra Beach, and an adjacent parcel to build a conservation resource center but has yet garnered the necessary funds.
The owner of the two parcel, listed in St. Johns County public records as Alice Leary of Matlacha Isles, Fla., is still interested in selling the property, according to Bonnie Barnes, executive director of the Land Trust.
Until the property owner finds a buyer, Barnes said the owner decided to bring in revenue with the lease to Trident Surf.
Neither the property owner nor the real estate representative were available for comment.
Since opening a few weeks ago, Weissmann said his shop has already become a hangout for area surfers, skateboarders and stand-up paddle boarders.
The shop caters to all three sports.
In addition to boards, accessories and gear, the shop also has its own line of attire, including T-shirts, ball caps and beanies.
Weissmann, originally from Palos Verdes, Calif., said he moved to Ponte Vedra Beach about 5 years ago. He has two children, a daughter, age 10, and a son, 13.
Ever since Weissmann, an avid surfer himself, was in middle school, he hoped to one day open a surf shop.
“Basically, it’s been my life dream to open a surf store,” he said. “For me, it’s like working in a candy store. I’m surrounded by the things I love.”
In addition to the merchandise of Trident Surf, the property houses a lounge area and air-hockey table indoors along with an exterior volleyball court, fire pit and small skate ramp.
“It has kind of a camp feel to it and community hub,” Weissmann said.
Lessons in all three sports are also offered by Trident Surf. As the business slowly gets up to speed, Weissmann said he would like to bring in former professional surfers to help with the lessons.
Right now, he said, Trident Surf is mostly a one-man-band except for help from friends, family and a handful of high school volunteers.
He would like to see the shop become a hub for churches and hopes to eventually establish a chapter of the Christian Surfing Federation.
Meanwhile, the North Florida Land Trust still has its hopes set on buying the property and turning it into a conservation resource center, which could create revenue to help their land conservation mission, Barnes said.
Barnes acknowledges that goal has been an uphill battle.
“They’ve lost faith in us,” she said of the owner. “They don’t think we’re going to do this.”
Barnes said a recent appraisal assessed the two adjacent parcels’ worth at about $925,000 to $950,000. The Land Trust has a $250,000 grant commitment from the St. Johns County Tourist Development Board, about $50,000 in private donations and is looking to raise $500,000 to $700,000 by the spring in order to purchase the Oar House site.
Barnes said if the Land Trust is able to purchase the property by April, the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners have committed an additional $275,000 from the county Tree Bank Fund to help develop the center.
“I’m diligently, diligently working to get this money raised,” Barnes said.
Weissmann, who knows the North Florida Land Trust is eyeing the property, said he did not want to discuss the matter. He is optimistic about the
future of Trident Surf, his life-long dream.
“It’s very gratifying,” Weissmann said about finally opening his shop. “It’s exciting about what the future is going to be. Here, the sky’s the limit.”
sarah@opcfla.com
(904)686-3941
