Luke Hurley is the co-owner of the Corolla Surf Shop in Corolla, NC.
Corolla Surf Shop has been in business since 1996. My brothers and I have been the owners since 2018.
Corolla Surf Shop aims to provide a fun and unique experience in the water with surf lessons. We love teaching people how to surf and sharing our passion, so that lies at the core of our business. We offer surfboard, paddleboard, bodyboard, skimboard, and bike rentals. We also sell merchandise, surfboards, and accessories from many major brands.
We did not open up the doors at the shop, but Phil, Jack, and I made the decision to incorporate surfing and Corolla into our lives a long time ago. It was a no-brainer to pursue the opportunity to buy the shop when the former owner Gary Smith approached us in 2018. The Corolla Surf Shop provided all of us our first jobs. Phil began working there in the summer of 2006. Jack and I followed suit when we reached high school.
We all love Corolla and the ocean. Jack and Phil guided me into my first waves in Corolla when I was 7. I still remember that day, and it changed the course of my life. All of our surf instructors remember the feeling of their first waves, and they enjoy sharing that excitement. It sounds simple, but I think we all do what do because we love surfing.
Currituck County offers a lot. The off-season comes with a decrease in population while the wind and waves increase in intensity. The summer brings long days in the sun and plenty of social interaction. The area offers a good balance of opposites. There is immense opportunity for new businesses as the area continues to grow. The local community is comprised of some amazing humans.
Housing for seasonal workers proves to be a challenge here. This has not been devastating for us because we have an amazing core group of employees that have solidified housing options. However, it is an issue for many other businesses in the area, and it most likely will be a challenge for us at some point in the future.
The ability to live on the Outer Banks with friends and family. The area has a lot to offer. Meeting and creating lasting memories for visitors is also rewarding. Some instructors in our surf school, like my brother Phil and Jason Brickhouse, have taught kids every summer for ten years in some cases. Watching kids develop as surfers and people is rewarding.
We offer things that are unique in the area. Our staff is 100% surfers. We understand our equipment and offerings because we surf daily. We have a couple of guys that will tell you more than you ever needed to know before purchasing your first board because we live and breathe this stuff.
I would advise them to reach out to the tourism and planning and development departments within Currituck County. They have a wealth of knowledge and resources that are instrumental in smoothly starting a business.
