Byline: Shane Scott
NEWPORT BEACH — West Marine’s Newport Beach Flagship location in Lido Village is about to open, with four jam-packed days of events scheduled Thursday, Oct. 3 to Sunday, Oct. 6. The store’s Grand Opening celebration is scheduled to begin each day at 8 a.m., with special in-store events, seminars with tips from the experts, a boating fashion show, stand-up paddleboard demonstrations, “door-buster” deals, giveaways and raffles. On Oct. 3, a special “Cruising for a Cause” charity night will support local marine-based nonprofit organizations.
The new “superstore” is located at 3433 Via Lido, on the site of a former Pavilions supermarket. It is just steps away from Lido Marina Village and the location of the annual fall Lido Boat Show and spring Newport Boat Show, near numerous other local marine businesses and services.
At 27,500 square feet, it is the biggest West Marine store on the West Coast — and it is over three times the size of the average store. The location will be stocked with more than 18,000 products.
“You want it; we’ve got it,” said sales manager Josh Williford. “West Marine surveyed Newport Beach area boaters and built the Newport store with their feedback in mind.”
Store features will include a wide selection of marine electronics, with more than 100 units available for hands-on testing. The store’s fully stocked fishing department for offshore and inshore saltwater anglers will include rods, reels, lures, terminal tackle, line winders and gear specifically selected for the area.
In addition, the store will offer an on-site rigging shop — offering expert advice and custom orders — and a huge selection of sailboat hardware. There will also be a comprehensive core engine parts department, and boaters can see the world’s first propane marine engine.
Along with all that, boaters will find marine plumbing and electrical supplies, inflatable boats, outboards, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards — plus, a wide selection of casual and technical apparel, foul-weather gear, footwear and accessories, with top brands including Roxy, Tommy Bahama, Pelagic, Quiksilver and Sperry Top-Sider.
The former Newport Beach West Marine store on Mariner’s Mile closed Sept. 26, in preparation for the new superstore’s opening.
The crew of 35 associates at the new store has a “boatload” of boating experience. In fact, West Marine computed that the associates have a total of more than 500 years of combined boating, sailing and fishing experience. And, when their time on the water is added together, they have collectively cruised over 250,000 nautical miles.
“We’re designing the Newport Beach store to better serve boaters, anglers, paddlers and sailors, as well as people who simply enjoy life on the water,” said the new store’s general manager, Chris Beckwith.
Beckwith grew up tubing, wakeboarding and fishing on the outskirts of Chicago. He was a member of a U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue team prior to joining West Marine.
An avid sailor, Beckwith was on the crew of the 1992 America’s Cup team and currently races a Beneteau 10r sailboat. During the Grand Opening, store visitors can enjoy free hot dogs, and can win T-shirts and door prizes, Williford said. Also, those who text the word BOAT to 23000 can enter to win a $1,000 shopping spree during the Grand Opening.
For more information on West Marine’s Newport Beach Flagship store Grand Opening events, call the store at (949) 645-1711.
Here is a schedule of events planned at press time:
Thursday, Oct. 3
10-11 a.m.: Inflatable Life Jacket Demonstration
5-9 p.m.: Special Appearance by “Below Deck” Reality Television Show Star Aleks Taldykin
6 p.m.: Store Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
6-9 p.m.: “Cruising for a Cause” — Attendees can enjoy food, beverages, entertainment, live music, an auction and a variety of activities at this West Marine-hosted fundraiser to support local nonprofit marine-oriented organizations. The ticket purchase price is $10, and 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to the participating charities — including Orange Coast College Professional Mariner Program, Aloha Kai Research Foundation, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (host of the Leukemia Cup Regatta), Newport Harbor Sailing Foundation, Surfrider Foundation-Newport Beach, Newport Aquatic Center, Balboa Yacht Club Junior Sailing, UCI Sailing, and Rollo Kids.
Friday, Oct. 4
All Day: West Marine will have Lehr Propane Motors and Torqueedo Electric Motors on display and functioning.
10 a.m.: Inflatable Life Jacket Demonstration
Noon: Electronics Seminar — Garmin will host an NMEA 2000 discussion and seminar.
2 p.m.: Fishing Seminar — Capt. Dave Hansen will talk about boat handling, electronics, fishing spots, rigging, knot-tying and bait selection.
2 p.m.: Topside Paint Seminar — Awlgrip representatives will give a professional application seminar to teach new techniques.
Saturday, Oct. 5
All Day: West Marine will have Lehr Propane Motors and Torqueedo Electric Motors on display and functioning.
10 a.m.: Fishing Seminar — Capt. Mike Pritchard from Pelagic Gear will discuss offshore tuna fishing.
Noon: Fishing Seminar — Capt. Brett McBride will discuss offshore adventures and OCEARCH shark research.
2 p.m.: Fashion Show — Check out the new fall selection of apparel, shoes and accessories.
2 p.m.: Safety Seminar — Life raft demonstration and offshore safety seminar.
2 p.m.: Electronics Seminar — Raymarine Visionality representatives will showcase CHIRP DownVision technology.
Sunday, Oct. 6
All Day: West Marine will have Lehr Propane Motors and Torqueedo Electric Motors on display and functioning.
10 a.m.: Fishing Seminar — Capt. Mike Pritchard from Pelagic Gear will discuss offshore tuna fishing.
Noon: Electronics Seminar — Simrad representatives will discuss new products for the season and GoFree wireless communication.
2 p.m.: Rigging Seminar — The Newport Beach Flagship store will be home to one of the few West Marine rigging shops on the West Coast. Join in a discussion of services and products that will be available locally in Newport Beach.
4 p.m.: Safety Seminar — Inflatable Life Jacket Demonstration
