Previous PostLocal entrepreneurs Morgan Blittner and Juan Pavan have owned and operated the iconic TKS shop for nearly 13 years. The two met through the Miami watersports scene and together recognized the large need for a kitesurf shop in Miami.
They opened their first TKS – The Kite Shop – in Key Biscayne in 2004 and have been growing their local empire gradually ever since. Today, TKS operates watersports concessions across South Florida and retail locations in Miami Beach and Coconut Grove. Step into a store and you’ll find everything from surf gear and paddle boards, to swimwear and kite surfing equipment.
Co-owner Morgan Blittner attributes the store’s success to the fact that he and Juan surf the same breaks and paddle the same waters that their clients do. We caught up with Morgan to discuss his business journey and inspirations.
How did you get into watersports growing up in New York?
Everyone is surprised to learn that there’s surfing just 40 minutes outside Manhattan. In fact, there are tons of opportunities to get involved in watersports in New York. Growing up in Rockaway Beach, I was raised near the water. Since then, I’ve lifeguarded, surfed up and down the coast of Long Island, and even paddle boarded around Manhattan four times to raise awareness for autism.
How did you get into the surf shop business?
I met my business partner Juan after moving to Miami through the local surf scene. I had been kitesurfing and paddle boarding since the two sports were invented, just as Juan had been, so it was a natural fit and we quickly hit it off.
We both saw a big need for a kitesurfing store, so we combined forces and opened up our first location in Key Biscayne.
What’s the industry like down here?
At both our Miami Beach and Coconut Grove retail locations, the majority of our clients are locals, but people come in from all over the world. Surfing is of course a big draw, but stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking are also popular. We’re seeing more and more people become active through watersports each day, and it’s a great thing for the community.
When not surfing what do you do in spare time?
Glass art has been a passion of mine for a long time. I had been doing pottery since I was 12 years old, and got into glass art when I was studying at the University of Miami. The glass art facility was in the same building as one of my psychology classes and it really caught my interest – it’s actually the reason I stayed in Miami. I went all over the world to study, and for a while I even had a storefront in Wynwood before it was ‘Wynwood.’
What’s next for the water sports business?
Non-motorized water activities have been gaining popularity. Right now TKS operates the only non-motorized concession on Miami Beach and we’ve seen more and more people gravitate towards kitesurfing and paddle boarding over motorized activities like jet skiing. There’s growing demand for activities that get people out on the water and promote wellness, so it’s a matter of finding locations where we can connect with customers.
For example, we’re teaming up with the Marina PARC group with the goal of opening a non-motorized watersports concession at the new Rickenbacker Marina. This would be a huge win for the community, as it will grant the public expanded access to Biscayne Bay and Virginia Key.