Brah Ha Surf Shop getting harrassed

This stinks and it's discriminating to our youth. It wouldn't surprise me if the Sunday concerts fall by the wayside too. :angry:

Curious as to who "Gulf Place Resort" is. Did an actual person sign the letter? Is it the Homeowner Association, Merchant Association, developer, what/who? An entity with authority to tell you what to do, or not? If yes, is this even legal, to ban all members of a certain demographic group from a public place? I know certain developments have placed bans on individuals who've committed assault, vandalism, etc., from coming onto development property (specifically Seaside and Rosemary Beach are the ones I know about), but I've never heard of an entire demographic group being banned. Sounds kinda pre-civil-rights to me.

Surfing is such a marvelous way for people, especially kids, to connect with the power and magnificence of nature and their place in it. Good for you, raising such terrific kids.

maybe the Surfriders group can help you out with this one....it reminds me of the folks in various places who wanted to ban the skateboarders a while back...

Brah Ha Surf Shop recieved a disturbing letter from Gulf Place Resort.(our store is in Gulf Place) Gulf Place Resort does not want "local teens on the grounds or they will call the sheriff", local teens are part of our surf team and surf club. Gulf Place Home Assoc. thinks our shop is an eyesore. Gulf Place is instructing us to tell our customers to be courteous when on the grounds. What does all this mean? A lot of our customers are moms and dads and grandparents. Our surfboards have to come down off the balconies because they are distracting the charm of the townhomes. (the balcony is where my 4 kids keep thier boards) I don't get it. What is happening to the genuine spirit of this community? My kids don't do drugs, they make straight A's in school and love the sport of surfing. All thier friends live in this community and share the same love of surfing and are great kids. I'm just afraid that these kids will lose that positive energy and drive by all this negative feedback. Thank you for reading this. I'm Peggy Mall, owner of Brah Ha and a proud mom of four super kids!

Welcome to the unfortunate truth about mixed use properties. This stinks for you and I believe your business is exactly what the "youts" of this place need.
I hope you can find a place, maybe the Blue Orleans, if the furniture people next door don't mind and have a successful peaceful existence. Shaka!

How ridiculous. I agree that you should just let Gulf place have that space. Maybe a new Hover-round store can set up shop there. No wonder my kids (and many others I know) couldnt wait to get out of school and leave here. With the music problems and now folks targeting a sport that is enjoyed by young AND young at heart..... I always thought it was awesome that people worked hard and wanted to "retire" here, now I am wishing they would have just found some established retirement community to move instead of trying to make my home into one.

I remember when your shop was put in place and walk/bike past it on a very regular basis. I have yet to have a run in with a skateboard as I was almost certain was only a matter of time.

Some of us older folk are wary for no good reason, which may be the situation with your shop.

I think the kids have been commendable and should not be shuffled away into a corner somewhere. What else is that huge open courtyard there for....to grow grass.

What this community needs is more visibility of the young as a part of the local scene as this is exactly what will attract more families to visit. How many big rental communities use children playing as their big ticket to draw tourists.

I believe you should politely keep doing what has been working for you and let those who would try to police you come out into the light and be seen.

What a shame - The Blue Orleans location sounds like a great option!!

I hope t improves for you~~~~

Do we need to take out an ad in the SUN clarifying the difference between a "community" and a "retirement community"?

It seems to be a recurring issue all over 30-A and IMO it needs to be directly addressed!

Brah Ha Surf Shop recieved a disturbing letter from Gulf Place Resort.(our store is in Gulf Place) Gulf Place Resort does not want "local teens on the grounds or they will call the sheriff", local teens are part of our surf team and surf club. Gulf Place Home Assoc. thinks our shop is an eyesore. Gulf Place is instructing us to tell our customers to be courteous when on the grounds. What does all this mean? A lot of our customers are moms and dads and grandparents. Our surfboards have to come down off the balconies because they are distracting the charm of the townhomes. (the balcony is where my 4 kids keep thier boards) I don't get it. What is happening to the genuine spirit of this community? My kids don't do drugs, they make straight A's in school and love the sport of surfing. All thier friends live in this community and share the same love of surfing and are great kids. I'm just afraid that these kids will lose that positive energy and drive by all this negative feedback. Thank you for reading this. I'm Peggy Mall, owner of Brah Ha and a proud mom of four super kids!

Hey Peggy.....I hate you are having to go through this. Saw your eldest at Publix yesterday and she was telling me about some of the harrassment going on. I bet I know where the complaints are coming from!!!:roll: I'm sending you lots of and positive thoughts. Do you need to start a petition to take to Gulf Place Association???

I can remember when we walked our dogs together in GP and well, we know where that got me!!!! I miss living there, but not the GPA police. They should be happy to have that space rented and doing a good business that brings the local kids to a place that is safe for them.

Let us know what we can do to help.

Kat

If Brah Ha - a local surf shop - is not representative of the 30-A community, what is?

I'm not sure I want to know the answer to that. :angry:

My vote is for Brah Ha and the Mall family (p.s. see y'all next year during basketball season ;-))!

Do we need to take out an ad in the SUN clarifying the difference between a "community" and a "retirement community"?

It seems to be a recurring issue all over 30-A and IMO it needs to be directly addressed!

I totally agree. I wish the folks that want to retire themselves and every bit of character this area has could have been here years ago when 30A / Grayton were known as party central. If they only knew they way most folks around here behaved before they made it to where you couldnt actually do the speed limit on 30A........

I can understand making skating or biking on the sidewalk in front of businesses illegal, as people are very likely to get injured opening a door onto a skater, or a skater or bicycle clipping a customer exiting a store. However, a surfer isn't going to have that problem on the sidewalk.

I'd tell Gulf Place to go get a life and open their minds. Obviously, some people would rather judge on looks rather than the person. I know many people who don't appear to "blend in" to society, but who are some of our most upstanding citizens. I could understand if these kids are harassing people, stealing, or spray painting walls, but I have not heard of such about these kids, or acts like that in that area. A normal person would think that Gulf Place would like to have people in general, "hanging out," making Gulf Place looking like a cool place to be.

Maybe we big people (I say big because some of us never grow up) should come hang out in front of Brah-ha and act rude to everyone, so that they beg the kids to come back. Most kids I know (and I know many) around here, are some of the best-behaved kids I have ever known. Praise to their caring parents.

I just don't understand these attitudes. The other weekend, when I went to Pier Park( along with thousands of people) for the Jazz Festival, I kept thinking how sad it is that Walton County let such a great event get away from us. Not only the revenue loss, but the loss of such positive energy.

I know they said it was a space issue--but, I have to think that the complaining about the noise was part of the reason for moving...now, Gulf Place is complaining about a Surf Shop and the young people who are into surfing...That is unbelievable!

We are living on the beach--surfers are some of the most friendly, helpful, and capable people to have around! I just don't get it.

You know, there are some retirement communities down in Central Florida that are very quiet and do not have any surfers....

good point, goodwitch! Surfers are some of the people who are often the chosen ones who end up rescuing people who are in trouble in the water. I know several local surfers who have rescued many people.

good point, goodwitch! Surfers are some of the people who are often the chosen ones who end up rescuing people who are in trouble in the water. I know several local surfers who have rescued many people.

Exactly!

an exert from a high school graduation speech, supposedly given by author, Tom Robbins:

"...When I hear the word maturity spoken with such solemn awe, I don't know whether to laugh or to get sick. There circulates a common myth that once one becomes an adult, one suddenly and magically gets it altogether and if I may use the vernacular, discovers where it's at.

ha ha. The sad funny truth is adults are nothing but tall children who have forgotten how to play.

When people tell you to "grow up" they mean approximately the same thing as when they say "shut up." By "shut up" they mean stop talking. By "grow up" they mean stop growing.

Because as long as you keep growing, you keep changing- and a person who is changing is unpredictable, impossible to pigeon hole, and difficult to control. The growing person is not an easy target for those guys in slick suits who want you to turn over your soul over to Christ, your heart to America, your butt to Seattle first National Bank and your armpits to extra crispy Right Guard.

No, the growing person is not an ideal consumer, which means in more realistic terms, he or she is not an easy slave. Worse yet, if he or she continues to grow, grows far enough or long enough, he or she may get too close to the universal mysteries, the nature of which the Navy and the Dutch reform Church do not encourage us to ponder.
The growing person is an uncomfortable reminder of the greater human potential that each of us might realize if we had the guts.

So society wants you to grow up. To reach a safe, predictable plateau and root there. To muzzle your throb, to lower the volume on the singing in your blood. Capers all cut, sky finally larked, surprises known, SETTLE DOWN- settle, like the sand in the bottom of an hour glass, like a coffin six months into the ground. ACT YOUR AGE, which means act their age, and that has from the moment they stopped growing, always been old.

Growing up is a trap...."

SJ, this is grayt-- especially this part:

"Because as long as you keep growing, you keep changing- and a person who is changing is unpredictable, impossible to pigeon hole, and difficult to control. The growing person is not an easy target for those guys in slick suits who want you to turn over your soul over to Christ, your heart to America, your butt to Seattle first National Bank and your armpits to extra crispy Right Guard."

Life is much too short to worry and to fail to enjoy the wonder of our world, especially in South Walton. I feel sad for people who do not continue to grow...and, the saddest of all for those who are not even aware that they are stuck!

And, people around here who do not appreciate our children; well, that is the saddest of all. Because as you said before, we have grayt kids in our little part of the world--many adults would do well to model their behavior after the kids' behavior IMO.

That's a shame. One of things that attracted us to buy near Gulf Place was the colorful, eclectic mix of shops and eateries there. I enjoyed seeing bicycles and kayaks, the people walking around peering into windows, kids running the grass in the amphitheater section, the string lights on at night at The Smiling Fish Cafe. I would much rather see brightly colored surf boards and teenagers/surfers grouping together--all reminders that we are at THE BEACH--vs. signs for real estate, copier services and the like. All necessary services, but not unique.
Gulf Place could be biting off their nose to spite their face since teenagers get hungry and thirsty and buy pizza and ice cream, etc. If they get scooted off, the other businesses there will take a decrease in revenue. I'm sure they will not be happy about it.

Brah Ha Surf Shop recieved a disturbing letter from Gulf Place Resort.(our store is in Gulf Place) Gulf Place Resort does not want "local teens on the grounds or they will call the sheriff", local teens are part of our surf team and surf club.

My response to them would be-
Go ahead- call the sheriff. I do not believe there is anything enforcable that prohibits people (yes, Gulf Place- local teens are people) from being on the grounds. Let me know if I am missing something...

Gulf Place Home Assoc. thinks our shop is an eyesore.

These fuddy duddys can think what they want. I presonally believe that beautiful developments that are empty with for sale/for lease signs are an eyesore and scream- we are struggling in this down economy. I also personally think that they are lucky to have you there and should be reminded of this as well as the fact that you are operating a SURF SHOP in a beach community. Hello???!!! Surf shops belong in beach communities!!!

Gulf Place is instructing us to tell our customers to be courteous when on the grounds.

Again, let them think what they want. You can instruct your customers (or not) as you see fit. Are the other business being asked to instruct their customers to be courteous? "Hi, welcome to The Artists at Gulf Place. Hi, welcome to Miss Lucille's Gossip Parlor. Hi, welcome to SoHo. We're glad you are here patronizing our businesses but may I instruct you to please be courteous".

What does all this mean?

It means someone is focusing on the wrong things and doing a disservice to the ownership that pays them to manage, market and make profitable a retail development. I would be more understanding if Gulf Place was thriving and they could pick and choose which businesses are there. But GP does NOT appear at all to be thriving to the casual observer. So again- THEY ARE LUCKY TO HAVE YOU THERE!


Keep doing what you do. We are glad you are part of the community and SHAME on the moron(s) who sent you this letter!

G

welcome to what is quickly becoming a Police State

What a shame that Gulf Place is acting this way toward you and our local teens. Our teens, at least the ones that surf and come to your shop are good kids. Profiling is what they have to say about what is going on around here. Just because they are young people, doesn't mean that they are trouble. Courteous should start with the adults, you treat someone with respect and respect is what you will get in return for these young people. If Gulf Place really doesn't want our locals on site, then does that also mean that they don't need our support? Everyone that goes to Gulf Place end up in several of the businesses there--spending our money---making recommendations to the tourist that come to our area--- and that can change. We've had our run in with the GPS, just for walking thru the area. I shouldn't have to explain what I'm doing there to someone that is just way to controlling. You need to ease up, go with the flow, respect what you have in the locals. We help to keep you alive when the tourist go home. Maybe GP should take care of their personnel problems, before trying to point the finger at others. They say that when you point a finger at someone, there are always 3 pointing back at you.Thank you for the positive atmosphere that you have provided for our surfers and skaters. They young people do belong! They serve our food, clean-up after us, carry our chairs, clean our beaches, help people, very active with our tourist, used in a lot in the advertisement and some may become the next group of business people for the area. I do hope that they are not run off because of a sad few.
I think your shop is as cute as can be and makes a huge draw for Gulf Place, to bad they don't realize it. I'm sure there are a number of people that would love to have your business in their complex.

Welcome to the unfortunate truth about mixed use properties. This stinks for you and I believe your business is exactly what the "youts" of this place need.
I hope you can find a place, maybe the Blue Orleans, if the furniture people next door don't mind and have a successful peaceful existence. Shaka!

I respectfully suggest that the problem is not with the mixed-use development, but with the attitudes of people who have become accustomed to monoculture developments and have forgotten what true community looks and feels and sounds like.

Just to be clear, I don't blame the people with these attitudes -- seems their distorted views are the product of distorted environments (sprawl and all its concommitant ills). I strongly believe that the monoculture-sprawl pattern of development that has dominated in America for at least the last half century has created a whole host of unintended consequences, yielding great damage to our communities, our health, our environment, and our economy. Nobody meant for that to happen, but it has, and so we have healing pains, perhaps, as we learn again as a culture to live in healthier mixed-use environments.

this is almost too silly!

when i was a teenager(long ago), we hung out at places our friends worked...the mall, pizza joints and so on. i would rather see them there instead of going off doing who knows what. you have to remember we were all teenagers once and now we are bringing up our own. i would rather see my kids there, as long as they weren't disturbing others.

Brah Ha Surf Shops customers happen to also be local business people, doctors, lawyers, psychologists, real-estate agents, artists, ext.... I am proud to shop at this local surf shop, I am even more proud to Surf with these Great Teens. Some of hese teens I used to teach at Bay Elem.

Someone mentioned the old Blue Orleans location for you. As I have said before, I would love to have you in our neighborhood. What an asset to the health of the youth of this community.

Hang in there or come our way, either way, Brah Ha will have my business and support.

Ed Berry
Owner
For The Health Of IT