Coming up on seven years in business, a family-owned and operated Lompoc shop for extreme sports wear is thriving.

The Shack co-owner Cindy Dial said the anniversary - Nov. 21 - marks a meaningful milestone for the venture between her and her son, David Dial.

"(It means) That we made it," she said. "We're still here."

Located near the 99 Cents Only store on North H Street, The Shack has been at its current location for about two years. In that time, business has doubled, she said, from when the shop was located in the old Lompoc Theater building in the 100 block of North H Street.

David Dial said the store has evolved from its initial origins as a "surf and dirt" store catering to surfers and motocross riders. In fact, the shop no longer carries surf or motocross apparel. There is also no skateboarding attire. The store carries brands such as Skin Industries, So-Cal and Famous Stars and Straps. Its shelves also stock

JanSport backpacks and Levi's jeans.

He said his goal for the store was to bring popular clothing brands and styles into Lompoc that can't be found elsewhere in the city and to keep customers from going outside the city to find them.

"Not everyone can travel out of town," he said.

Over the years, valuable relationships with regular customers have developed, David Dial said. There are some who pick up an item or two after each paycheck and others who just stop by to say "hello" and chat for a while. From that, their feedback has helped steer what brands reach the sales floor.

The store has spawned another business - a paintball field off of Highway 246 at the entrance to River Park that opened in summer 2006. Cindy Dial said the paintball park was a reaction to customers looking for compressed air for their paintball guns. The Shack Paintball Field, she said, is proof "there is something to do in Lompoc."

Cindy Dial said the paintball business draws more out-of-town players - Atascadero, Santa Ynez, Santa Barbara, Goleta - than locals . Attracting Lompoc paintball players is a challenge, David Dial said, and he is unsure how to attract those players.

There are two types of fields - speedball and scenario - on the acre and a half property. Speedball is played on a grass surface with blowup bunkers, Cindy Dial said. The scenario field has a rough terrain and permanent obstacles such as wooden bunkers, an old truck and a shed. The Shack also provides referees.

Paintball accessories and related items account for more than a third of business at the store, David Dial said, and it is growing.

The fields are also available for all kinds of parties - birthdays, bachelors or corporate. During the week, the field can be made available for groups of 20 or more.

November 3, 2009