Whenever you need a break from the beach, Cloud Nine is a great place for some creative renewal. This very cool shop was established here in 1988, and its since been a favorite for locals and visitors looking for unique creations from Outer Banks and regional artisans -- pottery, paintings, jewelry -- but especially to indulge one’s own creative yearnings by making earrings or a necklace, or who knows? There’s a vast selection -- the largest on the beach -- of the prettiest beads of all sizes and colors, including authentic trade and vintage beads, gorgeous seaglass and other jewelry-making supplies to choose from to fashion say, an ankle bracelet or headband.

And if you don't know how to start, owner Ginnie Flowers and her staff offer weekly classes and workshops, specializing in seaglass wire wrapping and beading. Along with sharing her talents and supporting over 50 local artists and designers, Ginnie gives back to the community in a number of other ways. She contributes to Dare County’s Arts Council, Animal Rescue, Surfrider Foundation and, to encourage children's literacy, she started a "Read for Beads" program.

You'll not want to miss Ginnie's treasure of a shop, tucked away near a corner in Pirate's Quay Shopping Center, just south of the YMCA. What better way to spend the day but by making something beautiful to wear or give as a gift? Cloud Nine offers the best kind of Outer Banks souvenir: one crafted with your own hands.

 

 

 

 

 


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Nags Head
252-441-2992
Hours
*Off-season hours may vary*
Call 252-441-2992 for current hours.
  • Monday10:00am-9:00pm
  • Tuesday10:00am-9:00pm
  • Wednesday10:00am-9:00pm
  • Thursday10:00am-9:00pm
  • Friday10:00am-9:00pm
  • Saturday10:00am-9:00pm
Categories
Activities Shopping
Windsurfing the Outer Banks

Windsurfing the Outer Banks

While several of the Outer Banks' most popular sports seemingly flew onto the scene in the past decade or two, like kiteboarding or stand up paddle boarding (SUP), windsurfing has been drawing water sports lovers to the North Carolina coast for nearly fifty years. In essence, windsurfing can pride itself as being the Outer Bank's oldest, and one of its most beloved sound-based sports, and everyone from seasoned riders to windsurfing newcomers can catch an exceptional ride.

Brew Thru

Brew Thru

No trip to the Outer Banks is complete without cruising through Brew Thru, the Outer Banks’ original drive thru convenience store. Whether you’re looking for a refreshing cold beverage of Coke, Pepsi and other soft drinks on the go, stocking up your cooler with refreshments to enjoy at the beach or piling up on beer and wine for a party, Brew Thru is a fun and unique experience all vacationers need to see for themselves.

Drive-Through Beer & Gear

Brew Thru is Your One-Stop Shop at the Beach

The year was 1977, and Dana and Becky Lawrentz were chatting with friends over brews in their hometown of Akron, Ohio. They got to talking about a gas station convenience store in the area that had built a makeshift drive-through. Everyone agreed it would be pretty great if you could actually drive through a convenience store and pick up everything you needed without getting out of the car. But what would you call a place like that?

Well, you’d call it a Brew Thru.

It was an idea they couldn’t shake, so the Lawrentzes moved to the Outer Banks and built the first Brew Thru with the help of a partner. The idea was that people could come buy everything they would need for their trip to the beach—beer, wine, soft drinks, snacks, ice—without getting out of the car. That same year, a t-shirt salesman visiting the store and talked them into adding t-shirts to their product line—and 44 years later there are now more than five million Brew Thru t-shirts out in the wild.

The Lawrentzes’ daughter Brandy and her husband Philip Foreman purchased the business from them in 2002, and they now operate five locations across the Outer Banks.“We love being the one-stop shop for folks on the way to their beach house,” Foreman says. “Our car tenders are the friendliest people at the beach. We’re here to greet you, get you everything you need for your trip, load it up in the trunk for you, and have you leaving with a smile on your face.”

The store is quite expansive, featuring more than 100 brands of beer, dozens of wines and even a vast selection of cigars—not to mention all the snacks, t-shirts and other gear. To make ordering a little easier, customers in line get a menu—fondly known as the Summer-y—that outlines everything available at the store. These Summer-ies are also available in many of the beach rentals, which allows vacationers to decide what they want before driving through.

For customers who would like to get out and stretch their legs, there’s the Brew Thru Shop in Kill Devil Hills, where you can find their world famous t-shirts and other gifts. New t-shirt designs are created each year, making a yearly Brew Thru t-shirt a favorite of locals and annual visitors to the Outer Banks.

The Foremans both grew up in the Outer Banks, and they love that Brandy’s parents’ vision for a friendly and convenient place for people to grab their brews and other beach stay essentials is continuing to flourish.

“Our family has been welcoming people to the Outer Banks since 1977,” Foreman says. “We love this beautiful place, and we want everybody to get to enjoy it.”

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