Mollusk Surf Shop

Mollusk surf shop– the company, not just the Venice location– is pretty terrible with customer service. I ordered something online and was sent the completely wrong items. I called Venice to see if they would let me come in and exchange it in store. Instead of being apologetic for the inconvenience, the incredibly apathetic salesperson tried to simply refer me to their online sales person in SF (apparently there’s only one person in the whole company to deal with online sales). I asked if he really wasn’t going to let me exchange in store, and he said they could only exchange if they carried the wrong item they sent me in that store. He was impatient and rude throughout the exchange, and it seemed like his main concern was making sure to get out the door right at closing time. Didn’t seem like I would get much help from them so I called the SF store where they handle online sales. Also super unhelpful. I’m over it. I’ll take my business for overpriced surf gear elsewhere.

These guys are great. Ordered something custom through them, they made it easy, were helpful, etc… I have always liked the vibe here and what they are all about. They feel like a throwback to how shops used to feel back when I was a kid in the late 80’s.

I stop in regularly to browse the boards when I’m in the area, getting coffee at Menotti’s, or vegan lunch next door at SEED, or feeling abused after waiting tooooo long for service at B/​A across the street… I always feel better after a visit to this unique surf shop. The guys don’t hassle, but if you need help they are there.
I just got hooked up with the new longboard love of my life, at a good price.
Mucho mahalo!

I grew up surfing but took a long hiatus in my 20’s, so I pretty much consider myself a beginner again. Despite my inherent kookdom, I have never been treated with anything but respect from the guys at this shop. Everyone here has a genuine stoke for surfing and it shows. They’re not going to kiss your feet just because you walk in the door, but if they see you have the same stoke, you’re going to get more than adequate advice and knowledge dropped on you.
If you show interest in a particular shaper, they’ll ask you which breaks you surf regularly and what style of surfer you are in order to guide you in the right direction. Granted, every shaper that they carry is of the absolute highest quality, so it’s pretty hard to go wrong here. You’re going to pay a premium for a board, but if you custom ordered a similarly spec’d board from any of these guys it would cost you even more. You just can’t find boards like Mitsvens or Fowlers anywhere else around here and these are some of the most remarkable shapers in the business. The fact that they steer so wide from the normal range sold at surf giants, but with clear and concise focus, is what keeps me going back to this place. I have purchased two Fowlers from them and will be a repeat customer in the future.
It’s obvious that the dudes who own this shop are probably some of the best surfers in town, so if you want to up your game and more importantly, your fun, do yourself a favor and check this place out.
Only four stars merely because the parking here is more aggro than the parolees at Topanga.

Well, we have been going to Mollusk since it opened. I already had plenty of gear but when my son started surfing we rented boards for him there, I’ve bought swimsuits, etc. Ok, yes I see they are laid back, they are surfers, not business men and obviously not wonks from Sports Chalet — who, by the way — give the worst service in town every time I go there.
I have had nothing but genuine and helpful experiences here at Mollusk. For a time there was a contest-​winning long board they let us rent out every week, a very special board to the owner which was his own personal board, and he did us that favor. It was a GREAT ride at San Onofre! When I run in there alone and something needs to get up on my car they will pop it on my racks if I need help. I love this neighborhood place and go there any time I can make my way down to Venice to try and support the place. If you want someone to treat you like Paris Hilton it may not be the place for you. If you’re a surfer used to dealing with surfers, you’ll love it. My only caveat if beware of the vulture parking cops down there. I have gotten 2 hefty tickets while getting my stuff at Mollusk — just park legit! And put plenty of coins in!

The customer service is terrible. I got in the store on a Wednesday afternoon, it was empty, I was the only customer there and the one guy working there just wouldnt help me at all. I wanted to get some fixing products for my board and whenever I asked him about the ones they were selling he would barely give me some unhelpful answer and return to his computer. I’m a real surfer, and that store clear only sell products for people who wanna show off some «cool» surfboard styles and crazy looking clothes. Not a surf shop.

I was at Mollusk a few weeks ago with my heart set on purchasing a new wetsuit at a reasonable price. As a novice surfer, I almost expected employees at various surf shops to be a bit cocky, but this was not the case. Great customer service, great line of products, they even threw in a stick of wax on the way out. Definitely worth the stop.

So sick

Yeah, it’s laid back and I guess sometimes the ‘tude comes off like flies on your cheesecake but I like the vibe. It’s not a place full of glass, glitz and glamor but caters to the down-​low side of local surfers (or wannabes), especially the ones with cash in hand. This is not «upper crust» Beverly Hills or fashionably trendy Melrose, this is Venice Beach. So stoners, bums and winos rub elbows with aggro BMW-​driving yuppies in Armanis and it all makes for a glorious clash of culture. This is what this place is all about. Their schtick is cultural cool but if you come here looking for the standard «surfer discount» or bum-​town price, you won’t find it. Those Patagonia wetsuits are killer as are the Liddle custom surfboards but you’ll pay, baby. Oh yes, you’ll pay.
But the friendly feel of the place, the surf movies playing on the flat-​screens and the kicked-​back clothing collection make for a comfortable and close experience that might have you believing that localism is just a fantasy of the past and «Mi ola es su ola» pervades the mindset. It does not. The big fish always eats the little fish.
Like the piles of pre-​shrunk hemp T’s folded oh-​so-​neatly, looks are deceiving and marketing is the hook. That’s what a business is all about. So if they don’t welcome you with a fragrant flower lei and a huge splif, don’t be upset. It’s just their MO and anyway a good pot dispensary is right around the corner… within earshot of those tasty waves.(
)
Heaven is in your mind.

I want to give this place a better review because we like the Mollusk in SF so much. However, I have to say that they are not the most welcoming to female surfers. The vibe is «too cool» to talk to you unless you’re a dude. They have a small inventory of artisan boards that are quite expensive, but they do have some cool shirts.

The last time I was this excited about a shop was the Santa Cruz Boardroom. Mollusk carries some very fun and off the regular market clothing brands. I was introduced to Mollusk through Peter at Crap Eyewear — another company that I fully recommend checking out. The service at mollusk was very relaxed and «do it yourself», but the guy at the counter seemed down to earth and knowledgable of the products when I asked him about them.
Don’t expect to come in here and be pampered by the employees, but if you come in here and present yourself as a cool and friendly person you will realize the treasures that reside within the store.

Best selection of fish boards in LA, period. And they surf on the stuff they sell so they can really inform you about how each board is gonna work in local conditions. If you’re looking for an alternative board to ride besides your thruster, go visit these guys and they’ll set you up right.

With a little negotiating I get the BEST deals. I use to buy down in Huntington, but I learned that I can do better up here. Especially since there’s no surf there. Ha…

These guys represent. I went in on a whim while on vacation without my board and got to talking with some of the guys there about egg shaped boards and how all the rentals I get when on vacation are usually pretty crappy softtop boards.
They showed me a really nice 6′ 8″ egg by Fine Line but it was only for sale… seeing my disappointment they made a few phone calls and actually got one of their friends to bring down a Fine Line board for me the next morning and barely charged me anything extra for it.
I basically got ten times the board, ten times the fun, and really personal service. I’m not suggesting they’ll always be so amenable but they’re super nice, know what they’re talking about, and are well worth supporting.
The shop itself is nicely stocked with great films by my favorites, Woodshed Films, as well as cooler apparel and vibe than most surf stores… it’s a bit more grown up and less surf rat. The boards there were quality and I’m definitely considering the Fine Line for a new go to board!
Thanks a lot guys for making my Venice surf experience a great one.

I totally agree with Moon D’s review below it’s a cool shop and they have some great stuff but if the dudes working there don’t think you are the total Jeff Spicoli surfer dude, they treat ya like a total douche bag. I would rather take my business to any other whole in the wall shop then step foot in this store again! There just a bunch of arrogant pricks!

I love this place!
affordable boards, great conversations, and i’m pretty sure you can get a lesson from them if you want.
they also have a sweet selection of t-​shirts and other retail

we parked the car in Venice to check out the beach and mollusk just appeared in front of us. we entered in the store to confirm what we read here in Unilocal.and everything occurred just like everybody describe in the review: nice service, very good quality surf shirt and very beautiful t-​shirt arts.
I bought one black surf shirt and the book «california surf project». They gave me sticker as a gift.
i would like t-​shirts for US$ 15,00, but ok. we cant have it all.

So my initial impression of them wasn’t great. Reason, the two guys that were working at the time (or maybe the one sitting on the bike next to the cashier might’ve just been a friend keeping the other company) seemed a bit ‘too’ chill & laid back. What’s that mean you ask? When we asked them if they had any pointers or tips for surf newbs like us, they just kinda shrugged us off and said, «just watch what everyone else does.» They didn’t give us any price range or when the time from rental would start or anything like that… Didn’t come off too friendly or helpful.
When we got back from my new found love for surfing, they asked if we had a good time & when we asked how much for the 3 or so hours we were out, he shrugged his shoulders & said, «$ 20 is cool». Coo! Surfing in the Bay anybody?

I’ve been surfing since the early 70’s so I probably have more time in the water than most of the children working there have been alive.
I walked into the shop one day and thought that I had somehow become invisible. No one greeted me or asked me if I needed anything.
Anyway, I figure that they’re typical customer is probably a yuppie-​newbie looking for a $ 1000+ longboard to hang on a wall in their house. It’s funny how a lot of «surfers» buy boards based on the fact that they really just want to be seen with a certain type of board.
The place is great museum but a lousy store.

Sleek surf shop with unusual, smaller brand boards. Best thing about it though, are the Gato Hroi (sp?) wetsuits. No cheesey megacorp logos, just slick neoprene suits in flat black and various toned-​down colorblocks. Very fresh, especially since surf fashion/​culture/​merch is supersaturated with giant megamoney brands with boring aesthetics.
Oh and they make original Mollusk t-​shirts that are very original. The treehouse made me feel very happy and like I was six and at the beach with my family. Good vibes all around.