Mitch’s Surf Shop

Love it here! Great selection of unusual wave slider machines and a healthy selection of counter culture clothing as well. Think of this shop as the edgy, way cooler distant relative of the uninteresting Patagonia family. Great vibe and long standing support crew. No damn kids working part-​time to make mommy and daddy happy. You can even build a surfboard from things you can buy here hidden in the back. I think they call it «foam». Tony, the shop manager taught me how to surf during a tsunami warning and even came to my dogs bar-​mitzvah. Additionally, Lorraine (She Who Does Not Age) will always great you with smiles and a cheery high pitched «Hi!!!» outside the human range of hearing. They even have an attack lobster! You have been warned…

Pretty cool merchandise throughout the store. Shop tees were pretty expensive as was some of the other merchandise. I would have gotten one had they been cheaper. The staff is super friendly and I would recommend this shop. They have a wide selection of boards and shoes (tons of sanuks 50% off right now!) I would shop here over the other surf shop down the street just because they were super nice and wanted to help you.

San Diego’s North County boasts some of the best surfing beaches in the nation, therefore we have an avalanche of businesses cashing in on surfers and wannabes alike. Surf shops line the coast highway, the myriad of choices can be daunting.
Mitch’s is like a secret surfing spot. You could easily drive by this single story wooden building and end up 2 blocks away in a fancy schmancy surf boutique with all of the merchandise that is showcased in this month’s surf magazines. Mitch’s has more soul and less fashionistas. Catering to real surfers, they sell surfboards, blanks, resin, cloth, leashes, wax, flip flops and apparel. You won’t find ornamental surf trinkets here, it is all about function!
I have been shopping at Mitch’s for decades and the owner, Lorraine is one of the nicest people that you would ever meet. She is truly interested in her clients as well as providing quality equipment at a great price. I did not see her for about 10 years, yet Lorraine still remembered my boys names and made time to ask about the family.
Businesses like Mitch’s are few and far between, so skip the big box retail and shop at this fine establishment.

Great surf shop with quality surfboards made by true craftsmen. The staff is very helpful and friendly as well… They also carry everything you need to build and repair surfboards. There is a reason they have been in business for over 40 years! Keep up the good work!

A bitchin little surf shop. The Unilocal reviews say it all. Surfers give it 5 stars, non surfers or new surfers give it very few stars. That’s why I like Mitch’s. If you seriously surf they cater to you. There are a million Surf Rides and other big shops with wall to wall production boards from the big shapers. Nothing wrong with that. There’s a time a place for a hot pressed disposal Merrick. But if surfing is in your soul and you could look at boards all day even if you can’t afford one, or possibly do not in any way need or even have room for another board; if yet you still want to look and admire the art work that a handmade surfboard really is; if you surf because your soul won’t let you not, then Mitch’s is a great shop for you.

I purchased a new wetsuit here and the staff couldn’t be more friendly and helpful. As good as it gets.

I’ve been going to Mitch’s for over 20 years and I just can’t say enough good things about them. Unpretentious, super knowledgeable, and very friendly staff. They make board buying FUN. Super helpful and never pushy. I just purchased my 4^th board from them and, like Nordstroms, it was an amazing experience. Mike (who is fantastic) explained the performance nuances of the different boards I was looking at and helped me select an amazing new Takayama which met my needs. The right board makes such a difference in the lineup and he nailed it. Thanks Mitch’s. You guys are an institution.

I just bought my wetsuit there, I had a great experience, the staff was very helpful and knowledgeable giving me the right advice.

This is a real surfer’s surf shop. A surf shop the way it should be. They sell everything you need to make a board from scratch. Boards they have in stock are all handmade. The people who work there actually surf and do it well. They don’t cater to mass produced b.s., clothing zonies and little fat kids or selling puka shells and frosted tips to texans like Surfride up the street. They’re never open when i need them and that’s the way i like it. While everything in town is getting manicured, yuppized and paved over they’re still the same old run down building. I was born and raised in this town and Mitch’s is one of the last few relics left. Anyone who gives it less than five stars is a surf ride kook and should stick to real estate investing and going to the mall.

I was looking for a surfboard rental for the week and came across Mitch’s. I visited a rental shop in Del Mar but was astonished by the price ($ 50/​day). I definitely could buy a nice board for the price of the rental. Mitch’s was a short drive up the coast. The parking was right up front. The employees immediately greeted and assisted me. They had a complete selection of both soft top and fiberglass boards of all sizes. They also provided unsolicited tips on where to go and the surf forecast. I paid less than half the price at the other shop. They also have wetsuits to rent, but I didn’t need one since the water was relatively warm. Overall, a pleasant, hassle-​free transaction.

Over the years, we’ve stopped by Mitch’s twice to pick up some local «swag» aka t-​shirts to remember our trip to the area. They have a decent selection of t-​shirts with their logo on them. Good quality and reasonably priced. However, they are obviously not in the tourist trade because there isn’t much else there but surf gear, which I like and respect. I don’t want to get tourist junk.
Staff is always nice enough and they have a cool, easy to find location.
I can’t speak to the surfboards or other merchandise.

This place has been around forever. Knowledgeable staff. Both the old salties or the local teenagers that work there will treat you with respect and help you get whatever you need. Gotta love their clothing sale rack too… I always raid that thing. Great advice for those of you looking to swing by and purchase a blank to shape your own board!

Was struggling finding the FCS bonzer set locally and was about to have to order it online. I stopped in Mitch’s and they had it. I was able to get in and out without even waking up my son and taking him out of the car.

Overpriced surfboards, made for people who care more about the brand of their board than actually surfing. Jerk staff that vibes paying customers. Will never return and will steer others the same way.

Big on local talent (read that Joel, Joel, Joel) and small on women’s gear, wetsuit models and other major California shapers, this is a small shop compared to the Wal-​Mart style Surf/​Ride megalopolis just up the street and caters to those looking to mimic… guess who? Joel, Joel, Joel. But, and here is a hint for you wanna-be’s, forking over $ 1300 for a Joel Tudor board will not make you surf like him. He is a freak and you are… what?

Mitch’s is such a bitchin surf shop. They have always been helpful and nice every time I’ve set foot in there. I recently needed a fin and a bag for my new 10’0″ Sal Rite nose rider. Mikey totally set me up with the perfect fin and was super patient with me, explaining what all the different options meant. They had the bag I needed and everything was priced reasonably. Loraine was also helping me and made my day extra rad. I left with my new stick ready to ride happily in a bag and proceeded to go rip, very happy with my purchases and how they treated me. I’ll be back any time I need any surf gear. Highly recommend this shop to surfers of any level.

I went to Mitch’s to get a board I bought on Craigslist fixed. I looked up the guy who shaped my board Brian McInerny without ever meeting him before, called him and he referred me to go to Mitch’s. Brian is an international surfer that has been shaping boards for 25 years, when I called him he was out of the country.
I went into the shop saying he referred me, and I get this tap on the shoulder and its Brian introducing himself because he heard me using his name. What’s the chance in that! Found out my board is about 20 years old and a mini gun, nice.
They did $ 100 worth of repairs which included a bunch of ding repairs and a remounted a fin. I believe it was probably about $ 150 worth of stuff, maybe more.
The people there treated me real well, and it was fun, and to say that when you are spending $ 100 on repairs to a Craigslist board says something…

LOVE this place! After shopping for wetsuits at 5 different surf shops and getting a lot of attitude at some of them, we stopped in at Mitch’s and had a great experience. They had some of the better quality suits at great prices. Trying on a lot of wetsuits was a pretty tough experience for my 10-​year– old son, but the staff helped him out finding the right fit and style.
Thanks Mitch, we’ll be back for the board!

Tony! Toni! Tone! has done it again. Okay, seriously Tony that works here is the man! He is helpful and really knowledgeable. I’ve gone into multiple surf shops where the staff is full of Spicoli types (I know it’s super cool to take bong rips and put a bagel in your pants but would you mind helping me?), but Mitch’s is far above the rest.
Now who wants to buy me a few boards from Mitch’s? Anyone? Anyone?

I say BOO to Mitch’s. While they do have a good selection of well shaped, candy colored surfboards, they pack ‘em into the display racks like sardines, making it nearly impossible to check them out. i have been to Mitch’s many times since moving here, but the last time was hammer that drove in the «i will never spend money there» nail:
I went in there ready to drop nice chunk of change on a new board, and when I went to pull one out that I wanted to take a look at, the 2 boards wedged in on either side of it popped out as well, one falling almost to the ground before I was able to soften the blow with my shin. No damage was done to the boards, but I was lucky enough to get a very snarky, «maybe you shouldn’t touch $ 900 surfboards if you don’t know how to handle them. [glare] Nice move.» and as I tried to apologize, I was belittled. BIG FAT JERK. That’s no way to treat a customer. I’m not new to surf shops. i know how to handle ridiculously expensive, well crafted surfboards.
Maybe they should put up more than one sign saying, «please ask for help». or better yet maybe they should learn how to display such expensive, fragile items so there is no risk of damage when a potential buyer wants to see one.
aside from their attitudes, their women’s surf gear selection is weak. if you need wetsuits, rash guards, clothes anything but a board, go to Surf Ride just down the street. If you want a board, go to Craigslist or make the trek up to Mollusk in Venice. Well worth the trip.