Ben Liska first opened Benjamin's in Corpus Christi, Tx in late 1975. However, It wasn't quite the hip establishment it is today. It began as a small surfboard factory where Liska and friends, Danny Lauer and Glenn Francis produced Benjamin Surfboards. Shortly there after Benjamin's moved to a larger location and began carrying more than just surfboards. The newly expanded inventory included t-shirts, boardshorts, wetsuits, sk8board hardware, surf accessories, and, of course, Benjamin Surfboards. After attending the first Surf Expo in 1977, Liska farmed out Benjamin surfboard production to Sunset Surfboards in Encinitas, California (and later to Southshore Manufacturing an Hobie) and began targeting a retail business on the way to the beach aimed at the exploding "surf culture'.
By 1981, with the success of the larger store, Benjamin's opened a second, then third retail location. Benjamin's was connecting surf lifestyle to casual clothing reflective of the broader music, art, and entertainment influences associated with the entire youth culture.
Liska and surfboard shaper, Shawn Stussy, developed a relationship based on a mutual interest in merging Southern California 'surf style' with cool global fashion influences. Through this period Benjamin's was carrying leading fashion lines along side the happening surf lines. The customer 'got it' way before the industry did. In the mid 1980's Caroline Thompson was hired at Benjamin's and for two decades has contributed her talents in visual merchandising, staff development, and buying for the growing women's department. Her many talents have become a foundation Benjamin's has been built on over the past 20 years.
In the past decade, Benjamin's surf and sk8board shop location has moved and expanded. Today, Benjamin's has two stores. One at the Padre Staples Mall, and one at the Crossroads Shopping Center on the corner of Airline and McArdle in Corpus Christi, TX. The original retail store was closed in 1990 due to a freeway bypass, and today it is used and Benjamin's offices.
Benjamin Surf has always been an innovator and never stayed "in the box" of stereotypicalsurf and skate shops. A pioneer and leader in every sense, the offering at Benjamins always includes lines and looks that are fresh off the 'drawing board' often developed and created by members of the staff.
For 3 decades, customers and suppliers alike have come to recognize Benjamin's as an industry leader and a one of a kind shopping institution in Corpus Christi, Texas. Today, with 2 stores, 2 blocks apart, Benjamin's continues to lead with the latest in creative, fun, classic, and innovative style, as well as serious selections of skateboard and surfing supplies. You'll find the newest from Volcom, Quiksilver, Roxy, Reef, Billabong, Hurley, Krew, and Element. Channel Islands Surfboards, Robert August Surfboards, JC Hawaii, Lost, Surftech, and Benjamin Surfboards are carried at Benjamin Surf located at the corner of Airline and McArdle. Al last count the skate shoe selection included over 140 different styles from Vans, Adio, Fallen, DVS, Lakia, Circa, Ipath, Osiris, and Globe. Benjamin's is also known for great blue jeans and accessories like Roxy luggage, Dragon sunglasses, Dakine backpacks and Paul Frank cruiser bikes.
No line has been carried at Benjamin's longer than Quiksilver. In August, 1976, while on a surf trip, Liska walked into the back of a small shop in Encinitas and accidentally found Bob McKnight and Jeff Hakman sitting on the floor putting the snaps in the first group of Quiksilver board shorts to be made in the USA. Since then, Benjamin's has carried Quiksilver every year and with the addition of its women's line (Roxy) Benjamin's continues to do a huge business with Quiksilver today.
