South Florida Local News
Island Water Sports makes a triumphant return to Pompano Beach with a new location in the vibrant Fishing Village
Pompano Beach, Florida – City leaders, local surfers, and longtime customers gathered recently to celebrate a moment many in the community have been anticipating for decades: the return of Island Water Sports to Pompano Beach. The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked more than the opening of a new store—it symbolized a homecoming for a business that helped shape the region’s surf culture and inspired generations of wave riders across South Florida.
Island Water Sports, a family-owned company with deep roots in the community, opened its newest location in Pompano Beach’s lively Fishing Village earlier this year. The move represents a significant chapter in the company’s long story, bringing it back to the city where everything began in the late 1970s. Founded by surf enthusiast and entrepreneur Kirk Cottrell, the business quickly became a cultural anchor for beachgoers and young athletes looking to immerse themselves in the surf and skate lifestyle.
The company’s return to its original home was supported in part by a small grant from the Pompano Beach Community Redevelopment Agency. Through the Minor Commercial Exterior Improvement Program, Island Water Sports secured funding to update the building’s signage. The assistance helped the owners make a smooth transition into their new space, giving the shop a fresh look without losing the authenticity that customers recognize and love.
For the Cottrell family, coming back to Pompano Beach has been an emotional and energizing experience. “This is a full circle moment for us,” said Linsey Cottrell Bone, who now runs the company alongside her siblings, Karly Cottrell and Cheyene Cottrell. She explained that the decision to return was influenced not only by the area’s growth but also by a renewed enthusiasm for active outdoor living. “We’ve watched the incredible growth taking place in Pompano Beach and knew we had to be a part of it again. The Fishing Village presented the perfect opportunity—the energy here is palpable, with so many young families eager to embrace the beach, surf, skate lifestyle my dad championed.”
The history of the shop stretches back to 1977, when Kirk Cottrell purchased a small surf store in Pompano Beach. Just a year later, the business moved to Deerfield Beach as part of a broader expansion. There, Kirk and his wife, Lucinda, developed a community hub that offered more than retail goods. Island Water Sports became a gathering place for surfers to exchange stories, learn new skills, and find mentorship from others who shared the same enthusiasm for the ocean.
When Kirk passed away in 2001, the future of the business was uncertain. But in 2006, his children—Cheyne, Karly, and Linsey—made the decision to recommit themselves to the company and continue their father’s mission. Over the years, they introduced new programs, updated merchandise lines, and expanded community events, all while maintaining the core values their father established decades earlier.
With the new Pompano Beach location, the Cottrell siblings hope to reach even more families, especially those who are discovering the active coastal lifestyle for the first time. The Fishing Village, known for its beachfront access, restaurants, and fresh foot traffic, offered an ideal environment for growth. Linsey emphasized this community connection, saying, “Pompano Beach is an up-and-coming community filled with families that want to have an active, healthy lifestyle, and we are excited to be part of it.”
The return of Island Water Sports is already creating excitement among locals who remember the early days of the shop and new customers eager to see what it offers. With its blend of history, family legacy, and a renewed focus on community engagement, the company’s latest move feels both nostalgic and forward-looking. And for the Cottrell family, settling back into Pompano Beach is not just a business decision—it’s a continuation of a story that began on these shores nearly 50 years ago, carried forward by the next generation, and now ready to inspire many more.
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