Roark Opened A Shop On La Brea And It’s So Choice

Between Rodeo Drive, Fairfax, Abbot Kinney, and the seemingly endless list of flea markets and specialty shops, Los Angeles is a shopper’s paradise.

So it makes sense that Roark, an adventure/surf/motor-enthusiastic brand, decided to open up their second retail joint on S La Brea Ave last Saturday. Planted on an up-and-coming street in L.A., Roark’s nestled amongst heavy hitters in retail. With brands like Champion and Stussy just blocks away, and Carhartt moving in across the street, they’re poised to, hopefully, make a name for themselves in a city that’s known to chew you up and spit you out. 

Roark’s recent team trip to the Isles of Scotland inspired intricate, serpent laden pull-overs, utilitarian waxed canvas jackets, and pub-centric prints. Pulling from culture to create is cool, but at their shop opening–between margaritas courtesy of Los Sundays Tequila and live music by Matt Costa–their garb had me picking up and awkwardly refolding more than I probably should’ve during a party (sorry Mikey)! But Roark’s point of difference is their passion for action. Nothing is contrived, they love this shit, and it’s that Authenticity buzz word that separates them on the rack. 

The store is spacious and adorable. Inside you’ll find their seasonal collection along with the full gambit of basics. The tees are soft, cozy and cut right. The denim is built for rough trails, long trips, big nights out, but are also more than welcome for a day spent on the sofa flipping through Netflix. They’ve turned the space into a sort of one-stop-shop, integrating toiletries from Journeymen, socks from Stance, and a neat rack of fishes and bonzers from Album and Channel Islands. Dj Javier painted both the outside mural and an inside wall.

But what really gets us jazzed about Roark’s new space is there’s a bar in the back that operates at all hours. Flip through the gallery above for scenes from Roark’s opening night in L.A. 

And, if you’re in the neighborhood, need some new pieces, or just want to talk shop over a chilled beverage, check out Roark at 149 S La Brea Ave.