The Bentivoglio clan in Santa Monica consists of three brothers who have taken their love of the culture to the next level, operating Bay Street Boards at 3216 Santa Monica Blvd. Approaching its 10-year anniversary, Bay Street is a local love letter to the athletic endeavors and the places that brothers Galeazzo, Sante and Francesco grew up in.
Moving around a lot as kids, Galeazzo and Sante eventually resided in Santa Monica across the street from Douglas Park, back when the park’s duck pond was for skaters instead of quackers. As Sante said, seeing everyone from athletes to "random lawyers to some random cop" knowing how to skate emphasized how ingrained the lifestyle was during the sport’s boom period.
"That’s partly why we opened, [to] keep skateboarding culture here alive and thrive in the way that we [want to] see," Sante said.
Prior to opening, Galeazzo was working in the corporate world while Sante was plying his trade in another local surf shop, but both were growing tired of the squeeze that big-name brands were putting on surf and skate stores across Los Angeles. Entire sections of stores would be bought out by these brands, relegating local vendors to fight for scraps. Bay Street came out of fighting for these locals’ voices, while reminding visitors of past stalwarts of skate and surf society like Horizons West.
"Every couple years, more of the stores seem to get sold and corporatized somehow, and [we] started getting frustrated with it, a lot of people started leaving," Galeazzo said. "And at some point, we were just like, well, we could just do our own [thing]."
The duo founded Bay Street 10 years ago, with Galeazzo taking on a multitude of roles, while Sante focused on board crafting and artistic projects, including board repair and in-house Bay Street designs on apparel like shirts and hats. The two eventually brought on younger brother Francesco as shop master, as well as Henry Power as shop manager, world-class skater Kevin Hairston as a web designer and Emerald Benjamin for social media.
"I don’t think anyone really told us like, hey, we need another shop, but we just kind of felt like we did," Galeazzo said. "For whatever reason we opened up and then, I think a lot of people [shared] that sentiment … I think a compliment we get a lot … [is that] we are similar to [an] old shop … that [was] around back in the day."
Keeping a throwback vibe means Bay Street is a true do-it-yourself outfit, relying on repair efforts and rentals for surfboards and wetsuits as a big bulk of the business. The location is one of the few shops in the entire region that does repairs, with Galeazzo noting that "most people are not really willing to get that dirty" dealing with materials and the dust that comes with sanding and other repairs.
Bay Street also opens its doors to sell used boards, which has become a "huge market" for the brothers.
"We [were] kind of hoping the community would take a gamble on us, so I’ve always felt like [helping] the small local brands … we’ve always been open, [had] open arms where they’re taking a gamble," Sante said.
To celebrate the 10-year anniversary, the location is in the process of scheduling several events, such as a beach demonstration for surf equipment, taking place at Tower 20 on the Santa Monica Beach at 8am Saturday. The team is also committed to taking part in art gallery releases, as the artistic world goes hand in hand with skate and surf culture.
"Skateboards are [art], our surfboards are functional art," Sante said. [It’s] a lot of working with your hands, so I think there’s a lot of creatives in [this] world … it [can be] an artistic expression rather than a sport, so I think there are a lot of creative minds [here]."
The brothers always had some sort of confidence in their ability to stick around for the decade, not wanting to be caught in the daily gloom and doom of how long they could last. Sante said there have "been a lot of ups and downs," but their DIY attitude and work ethic have made them a local staple.
"I really truly think that we took every opportunity we could, especially in those first [few] years," Sante added. "We worked here every day from 10am to 8pm, grinding, doing insane amounts of shows … just being there present … this was super hard work to do, but I’m glad we did it right, because I think it was worth it. The hard work pays off. It is a testament to everything that not just me, but everyone [that] shares all [our] views that have come on over the years."
Bay Street Boards is open from 10am to 6pm, Monday through Saturday, and open from 11am to 4pm on Sundays. For more information and to visit the online shop, go to baystreetboards.com
