A Brief History of The Beach Shop

Jackie Zorn and her husband Erroll moved to Vero Beach in 1945. The Beach had no shops, crude roadways and no bridge connecting to the mainland. The Driftwood Inn and Sunny cottages were the only businesses on the barrier island. In 1950 after the death of her husband, Jackie built a two store building (where Very Fitting is today). The central store became Jackie Zorn's Beach Shop. Jackie's Beach Shop was one of the original stores on the island and helped to establish the Ocean Drive shopping district into what it is today.

In 1959 Rich and Marti Bireley moved to Vero Beach to manage the Petite Shop which was owned by Rich's parents Dick and Evelyn Bireley. In 1961 Rich took a job with Burdines department store in Miami. During their stay In Vero Beach however, the Bireleys had become friendly with Jackie Zorn.

In 1966 Rich had become disenchanted with Burdines and was getting ready to move the family to Kansas City. He had accepted a management position with a department store there. Out of the blue, Rich received a call from Jackie. Jackie told Rich that she was thinking about downsizing, and selling The Beach Shop. Rich's initial reaction was "I don't have enough money to drive to Vero let alone buy a business." After a few trips to Vero Beach however an agreement was reached. After seeing how much paperwork was required for the SBA loan, Jackie offered to loan the Bireleys the money to buy the business herself.

In 1977 Rich and Marti purchased Greene's Sports and Specialties. This store is located directly across Ocean Drive from the original Beach Shop. (This is the Current location of The Beach Shop). They operated the store under the Sports and Specialties name and later as The Beach Shop.

In 1993 The Bireleys added a second floor to the Sports and Specialties Building. An office and stock room were added. The store got a significant increase in selling floor space as well as a beautiful face lift. In 2003 The Bireleys relocated The Beach Shop from its original location to the new building where it is today.

In 2004 Rich passed away while doing what he loved, Helping People. Rich was working on a habitat for Humanity Home when he suffered a heart attack. Rich was active in this business from the day he purchased it in 1966 until the day he died in 2004. Rich was an active member of the OBA for many years. He served as president of the OBA for several terms.

In 2008 Rich and Marti's 2 nd son Martin joined his Mother at the Beach Shop. Martin worked for Parisian Stores (located in Birmingham Alabama) for 20 years. At Parisian, Martin was a Buyer for many years and served as Director of Merchandise Planning at the time the company was sold in 2006. Parisian was 45 store chain and a division of Saks 5 th Ave.

In July of 2010 Bireleys opened a second location in Vero Beach on the mainland. The new store is located in the Modern One Plaza, site of the old Modern Age building. This location has more of a boutique feel and specializes in Brighton accessories as well as NYDJ and Fresh Produce.

Currently Marti and Martin are running the business with the help of some wonderful associates. The Beach Shop currently operates two stores, the Vero Beach store at 3328 Ocean Drive and 390 21 st St. Miracle Mile in the Modern One Plaza in Vero Beach.