Cheka-Looka Surf Shop

Cheka Looka Surf Shop was first opened the Fourth of July 1998 by best friends Jeff Abandonato and Jason Richardson. The two thought it would be fun and took a chance opening up a surf shop in Seattle - of all places - just 8 blocks from where they were neighbors in an apartment complex. They were both familiar with surfing - Jeff surfed during his early years in Huntington beach and both Jeff and Jay surfed in the Northwest. In the beginning Jeff delivered milk full time for Darigold. Jay was a lighting designer for major concert venues. Both Jeff and Jay worked their jobs for the first three years without drawing a salary from the shop, but instead putting every penny into inventory. They alternated schedules; Jay worked the morning and early afternoons while Jeff delivered milk, then Jeff came in for the second shift so Jay could do his work that took him into the evenings. It was a lot of work but they had fun and made some really good friends. They also made sure that they got out for plenty of Northwest surf.
After three years Jeff worked less at Darigold and more at the shop, finally drawing a small salary. A year later Jeff finally quit delivering milk and dedicated himself full time at the shop. Jay remained in his job and excelled big time, which took him to Maui, Hawaii where he currently resides with his young son, Kai, putting Jeff as sole owner of Cheka Looka. When Jay moved out of his apartment next to Jeff's, Ina moved in and later married her surfer boy neighbor (Jeff) in September 2002 at Hobuck Beach. In October 2003 Jeff and Ina had their daughter, Lea. At two years old Lea got into her first wetsuit and stood on a board for the first time (with assistance from daddy). Spring 2007 Cheka Looka moved to a new and bigger location in Fremont due to the growing popularity of surfing and because we just didn't have enough space for all the products available. The move was a tough one however, with all the help from our surfing friends and family the new location started comming together perfectly like a early bird glassy dawn patrol session.