After 24 years introducing Jacksonville to kayaking, windsurfing and paddleboarding, All Wet Sports is closing its Beach Boulevard store, owner Andy Fraden confirmed. The shop at 8550 Beach Blvd. will be torn down to make room for parking for the planned Pottsburg Creek Fish Camp, Fraden said, and everything in the store, from kayaks to shelving, is being sold as he winds down operations. Fraden plans to keep renting watercraft until the location shuts, but said the U-Haul rentals on the property will end with the store.
Built in 1957 on roughly 2.8 acres, the 5,375-square-foot building was bought by AB Modern LLC in January 2020 for $630,000, according to Jacksonville Daily Record. Fraden, 68, told the paper he estimates clearing out inventory in one to three months and that "I'm not a professional closer upperer." The store has operated for 24 years, the last 21 at this location, and currently employs one person, the Daily Record reports.
Why It Is Closing And What Comes Next
Fraden said rising construction costs and pandemic delays made rebuilding impractical, a point that local station News4JAX reported. The property is slated to serve as the parking lot for a Fish Camp restaurant tied to Ben Groshell's Southern Table Hospitality, the group behind Marker 32 and several Fish Camp locations along the First Coast. Permitting for a Pottsburg Creek restaurant has been underway for more than a year, local filings show.
What The Move Means For Paddlers
All Wet Sports has long been a launch point for paddlers on Big Pottsburg Creek, offering lessons and rentals that many local paddlers depend on. The City of Jacksonville has scheduled nearby improvements for the Beach Boulevard boat ramp at Pottsburg Creek, which could affect access during construction, according to City of Jacksonville. Local paddling directories also list All Wet Sports at the Beach Boulevard launch, underscoring how the closure will change recreational options in the area, see Explore the St. Johns.
Timeline And Community Questions
Fraden said the current structure is expected to come down in about six months as part of site preparations, and he is selling gear and fixtures at 25% off while he works through inventory, per Jacksonville Daily Record. He said he would like to keep teaching lessons even after the shop closes but will discontinue the U-Haul rentals tied to the business. The restaurant developer could not be reached for comment and the plan still faces permitting and construction hurdles before anything is built.
Customers can expect the shop's regular hours and discounted stock while Fraden figures out his next steps. The closure is another reminder of how riverside businesses and small operators are being reshaped as creekside properties change hands.
