Mc Kevlin's Surf Shop

Love this spot. One of the last fossils from Folly circa Hugo. They've always got my wax, and I'm in and out before the man can stick it to me for my parked car. The building holds so much history, and makes it incomprehensible to think of the ride down center street without this Folly icon. It would be like rolling down Savannah highway and not seeing Beesie. The building continues to strengthen the surfers mentality of reusing and sustaining our planet. Always a feel like home inside checking out the second chance boards, as well as the newest coolest styles of boards. Lots of threads if you forget something you needed, or looking for an upgrade. One thing they haven't sacrificed is quality. I went to one of those other surf shops, y'all know the ones, multi stories of endless consumarism. The kind of place that is crucifying a Lorax under their giant neon "CONSUME" sign. Those kinda of places are looking for that return sale, and were selling leashes with no metal components. You probably already guessed what happened, yep my leash popped on a big wave day leaving me stranded on the outer sets. Once I got my board back (half drowned) I figured I was done, with so many of those big beautiful waves just taunting me of my denied harvest. Then McKevlin's stepped up and sold me a winning leash, their house brand with their name on it, still with those critical metal components where we need it the most. Now with my confidence restored I harvested those big beautiful waves past the sunset. Thanks for a killer day y'all! Y'all keep it tight and do it right!

As a local surfer, it’s disappointing to leave this review, especially given this shop’s long history in the area. On several occasions—whether I was buying wax or investing in a new board and wetsuit—I’ve had underwhelming service. Some of the younger employees seemed distracted or uninterested, while one female staff member stood out for being attentive and helpful. I've also had better interactions with more experienced staff, though i have still never felt welcome by them. In contrast, I recently visited another surf shop nearby and immediately noticed a more welcoming vibe. While I respect the role of localism in surf culture, it’s disheartening to feel overlooked as a fellow island resident. Positive customer service makes a big difference—especially when deciding where to spend on big-ticket items like boards and returning business in general.

If I could give zero stars I would. This place sucks!!!!! They complained of our motorcycle parked up against the building next to it (Rita’s which is awesome btw) and we got a $60 ticket on my birthday. * We were not blocking the driveway (see pic below). Being “concerned about a bike being damaged” does not lead to a ticket, your complaint to the city’s parking authority did. Props to Folly’s parking authority and their knowledge of the law! 👏🏽👏🏽 The mendacious ticket was dismissed, based upon the same photo below.

This place is incredible. I have been here multiple times and the staff is always friendly and the products are top tier. I have also ordered their items online and you can see how important orders are too them. My package was out for shipping that day and arrived two days early. Lovely experience and a Folly Classic!🤙

Very clean store with plenty of clothing and accessories. They also offer new and used surfboards and longboards for sale, along with rentals! Highly recommend a stop in!

Awesome surf shop! The staff was super helpful. We went surfing and skate boarding, and they helped us pick a good mid-size surfboard and two cruiser skateboards. We’ll definitely be back

Horrible service. They were rude and I’ll never be coming back

UPDATE: To answer your question, I had a very sorted & bit scathing review-- but wanted to be somewhat gracious. So let's just leave this at one star...thanks! UPDATE UPDATE: I'm feeling not so gracious a year later so here's my original review... As a local guide for Google, I meant to add this in 2020 along with other fascist businesses that lost their mind when we tried to walked in & didn't have masks. I'm sure they'd still die on that hill now just out of pride... but I came here with my boyfriend at the time & they had a sign posted that if you came in without a mask they'd call the police & have you arrested. Staff eyed us down from the front door like junior gestapo. It was not only 1 of the craziest things I saw a business do, but very anti-American & anti-punk rock. The surf scene has always been counter-cultural but apparently these owners sold their soul to establishment media & left-wing religious doctrine (& no I'm not alt-right or affiliated with politics). Hope they wake up to their error with the spirit of their 'law' & realize what Michael Jordan did: 'Republicans buy sneakers, too...' lol

Came to buy a tote bag I saw on the website. The associate was helpful and knew exactly where it was and I love it. She had long black hair but I didn't get her name. Free stickers are a great bonus!

Killer surf shop. Folly Beach no doubt has a chill surfer vibe. It's a cultural thing that runs deep in the Folly community and throughout the Lowcountry. McKevlin's is at the heart of that culture. Located a half across the street from the Folly Beach Pier, this store is a celebration of a lifestyle. Offering everything from boards to accessories, this one-stop shop is the place to go for all things surf. The staff is fun, complimentary and so well educated on everything you need from beginner to advanced surfer. They are the heart of Folly.

If you are a surfer or aspire to be a surfer this is the only place for you to come especially on Folly beach. This place has stood through the decades and still has an assortment of surfboards which you can buy as well as surf clothing. It is not the least expensive place you will ever find but if you want flip flops and t-shirts of any variety or sunglasses also of any variety, this is the place to come, peruse and buy. The staff is nice and accommodating in this shop which is a bit narrow such that you have to step out of the way if you see someone coming up your aisle. There were two quite friendly dogs which were being brought around by folks which made the shopping trip even better here. No, I am not a surfer nor have I ever been one but the shop just has the kind of vibe that you want to wander through and enjoy like I did.

Great surf shop near the beach. Well stocked. Great fashion. Bought three new rash guards today. Worth the visit.

Great selection SUPER NICE people. I would want to work here just to hang out with the people that work here... and for the really cool gear.

The owner was very rude to the customers but the employees were great kinda recommend

McKelvin's Surf Shop on Folly Beach is my favorite surf shop. I really like their selection of gear, clothing, and other surf accessories that they have available. They are very knowledgeable and professional here and able to answer just about any question you have. I have been impressed with their quality and level of service throughout the years. This is a great place to shop and well worth a visit if you have been surfing for years or are interested in just getting started.

Cool spot carrying all the best brands and a large selection of awesome McKevlin gear to chose from. Great place to buy a board, some classic Birdwells and shades. Totally rad.

We stop in multiple times on our trips to Folly. They always have what we need, and their prices are super affordable. Avoid some of the junk stores and shop here for quality, name brand items and gear.

I love these guys! Best selection of bathing suits on Folly. A friend bought me one here when a bunch of ppl rented a house for a week on the beach, and he totally got me the wrong size lol but the bathing suit was so cute! They had superb customer service and actually let me exchange the bathing suit for another size, in the mail, from Raleigh, w/o any hassle. Forever grateful. Great selection of surfboards too! Shred the gnar, y'all.

Have visited surf shops up and down the east coast but this one stands out as the worst customer service I have ever experienced! For a business that has been serving with a local vibe you would think they would treat customers with respect. I watched a female worker literally accuse a man of vaping in the store. I was standing right next to him when they came and told him not to vape. He told the lady he didn't vape but was only holding it because it was leaking and didn't want to put it in his pocket while his family was shopping. Then she told him she didn't understand why he had the vape in his hands. Eventually the man got frustrated with the way he was treated and left. We left as well simply because the level of disrespect was awful. Stay true to the friendly vibe and don't let your status and money dictate how you treat people. We will never be back.

Great selection of clothes, hats, skateboards and surfboards... all quality and a lot of it custom branded. Plenty of what you need to enjoy a day on the waves. The staff is knowledgeable, super friendly and patient. No wonder they have been around for over 50 years. They know how to treat customers.

McKevlin's is the largest surf shop in the Charleston area. They have a huge selection of clothes, sunglasses, hats, flip flops, etc... Their board selection is pretty good, with a decent selection of different types, ie long, short, fun, etc... The owner, Tim, is a great guy and he remembers his regulars. A younger crowd usually goes here, so it kind of has the younger vibe to it. They also have a large assortment of rentals.

I went into McKelvins as a tourist.... from Texas of all places. I wanted to rent a board for a couple days and was getting prepared for the standard surf shop arrogant treatment. I was pleased to find the employees an McKelvins extremely nice, helpful, and willing to talk to me about surfing. The arrogance I've encountered as a tourist in all the California surf shops was non-existence. You don't need to be shy if you aren't a pro, if you're a tourist, or if you just want to buy a souvenir. The people at McKelvins are top-notch.

I'd say the best surf shop in town. The employees are established surfers who know the area. They are kind, courteous and very helpful. The have a pretty good selection of boards and wetsuits and are good at breaking down things for beginners.

Cute place but pricy. Stopped in while in town for a visit and not super impressed with customer service. Busy location.

This is the best surf shop in Charleston hands-down they have a great selection they have some good boards that they make here locally they always have good sales going on in the staff are all really good surfers to know the area well and love helping people out really cool spot as well as having a lot of history in the area

The guys who work there are amazing. So helpful and rented us surf supplies on the cheap. Highly recommend stopping in if you're ever in Folly.

Walking into a surf shop can be kind of intimidating if you're not Kelly Slater, but at McKevlin's everyone is really cool and approachable. One day I talked to a guy for 30 minutes about longboards, and even though it was obvious I wasn't buying, he answered my questions and gave me some great advice about beginner boards. You can rent boards there by the hour, and it's $10 which is cheap because most places I know of only rent by the day. There's also a surf report you can call to find out what the conditions are- 843-588-2261.

McKevlin's is the best surf shop in the Charleston area. They have an amazing selection of beachwear, sunglasses, skimboards, and surfboards. The staff are all really friendly and happy to help shoebies and Mick Fannings alike. This is a great local business and you will not be disappointed if you stop by this shop.

They are very helpful and have a great selection. We've been visiting Folly for years and always visit McKelvin's for some need - or just to shop for the good quality and selection.

McKevlins has been around a long time, because they take care of their customers. Excellent location, good brands and quality stuff. Easy to find and convenient.

I just came in from out of town to Folly beach and wanted to rent a board. McKevlin's board selection is top notch. I came in as a novice just having learned to surf and the staff was really nice about answering all my questions. They helped me get a board that was a right fit for me and were super nice when I dropped it off too. These guys are awesome.

McKevlin's is one of my favorite surf shops. There is a wide selection of surfboards from brands like Roberts, Super, RC, Channel Islands and more! No matter what kind of surfboard you are looking for, you will surely find something at McKevlin's. They also sell lots of clothes for women, men, and children. They have good quality wetsuits and bathing suits from the best surf brands such as Hurley, Oneill, Ripcurl, Roxy, and more. The people that work here are very nice and helpful to their customers. Most of the employees are surfers and can help you pick out a surfboard that will work for the conditions in Folly. This shop is great and I definitely recommend coming here.

Rolled into town early August and Folly had waves! But me with no board... wasn't crazy about going the rental route, but I had no other choice if I wanted to take advantage of the swell (aside from asking a local to borrow a board... nah). Ran into McKevlins and grabbed a 7'2" from a dude who was super nice and helpful. Checked out with a girl who wasn't as nice and helpful (but not terrible). Ran over to the Washout and had a fun session then ran the board back to the shop. After having paid for the 1st hour of rental only and having had it for almost 2 the nice dude at the counter said "let's just call it even" and thanked me. That's how you get repeat customers! Thanks guys!

While McKevlins surf shop is a staple in the folly beach area, the level of service from these folks is not so up to par. On my last few visits to this shop, I have walked in and began to browse the store while not getting greeted by any of the several staff employees, and literally being ignored by these folks. On my last visit, while inquiring about a surf tournament that the shop was a sponsor of, I had a more than inappropriate answer by an employee, in which my inquiry to the employee was treated very poorly. I certainly hope that this establishment understands that it is not proper nor appropriate to treat others careless and with unkindness. I am not one to bash businesses, however, I am a person that believes that the honest truth about a situation should be revealed and owned by the parties involved. As for me, I will not be visiting this shop anytime in the near future.

Can't say enough about this shop! Just moved to the area about 5 months ago, and have already been there a few times. Anyway. Decided to bring in my board today for repair. Had a crack along the rail. Anyway, the guy behind the counter looked over the whole thing, and told me I could save myself some time and money by using a sub cure kit instead of having it fixed. Totally loved the honesty and courtesy. When I'm finally ready for another board, no question, taking my money to McKevlin's.

They are a very "beachy" store. Yes, shoes and shirt are required but it is very casual. They sell surfboards, long boards, wax, keychains, go pros , swim gear, and casual clothing. I very well recommend that shop if you intend to go surfing of long boarding.

Great selection of shirts, flops, glasses and boards. Everyone was super friendly and helpful too. no pop-outs. Shop local!!!

The real deal! McKelvins has the goods, knows surf, loves the Aloha and is a real anchor spot on the east coast. I live in Hermosa Beach CA and was in Charleston for business and had a couple hours to burn before the flight left. Everyone I asked in town pointed me to Folly Beach and McKelvins and I wasn't disappointed. The owner Ted set me up with a board and lent me some board shorts and his personal towel from his truck he used that morning just so I could squeeze a couple rides and get some salt in the veins before getting jammed on a center seat on the plane back to LA. He knew many of the spots in my hometown, had surfed there and knew many of the same old-school shapers. A brother from another mother on the other coast! The shop has absolutely every and anything you need to get wet. The folks there know their stuff, are eager to help and they make you feel like family. They were super cool to customers who were new to surfing - helpful, encouraging and not 'territorial'. That's why they call it a 'tribe' and McKelvins is a Chief among Indians! Go there and get you summm you won't forget it! Be kind, share the waves - Aloha!