Notes from the counter at Brooklyn Beach Shop in Brooklyn, NY.
Shade is the thing people forget
Almost everyone remembers a towel and forgets shade. On an open beach the difference between an afternoon that lasts two hours and one that lasts six is usually an umbrella.
If you are carrying from the boardwalk rather than a car, weight and pack size matter more than diameter.
Mesh bags drain
A solid tote carries sand and water home. A mesh beach tote lets both fall out on the walk back and dries between visits, which stops the smell that develops in a damp bag.
Look for one with at least one zipped or lined pocket for a phone and keys.
Somewhere for wet things
Wet swimwear in the same compartment as a book ruins the book. A separate lined or waterproof pouch solves it and takes almost no space.
This is the single most useful thing to add to a beach bag that already exists.
Towel clips are not a gimmick
On a windy day at Coney Island a towel on a lounger will be on the sand within minutes. Silicone bands or clips that grip the chair frame keep it there.
They also stop the towel wrapping around whoever is sitting downwind.
Drinks and the sand problem
Cups do not stand up in sand. Spiked sand coasters or holders push in and hold a drink level, which sounds trivial until you have lost two.
They are also the cheapest item in most beach bags.
Getting sand off before the walk home
A sand removal mitt or a small amount of talc lifts sand off damp skin far better than brushing, which just grinds it in.
Doing this at the boardwalk edge rather than at home is what keeps sand out of the apartment.
Where this sits in the shop
Brooklyn Beach Shop groups its stock into 5 categories, so most of what is discussed above lives in one or two of them:
- Beach Accessories — 5 items
- Beach Bags and Organizers — 2 items
- Beach Blankets and Mats — 3 items
- Summer Jewelry — 12 items
- Sun Hats and Cover-Ups — 2 items
Browsing by category is usually quicker than searching, because the groups follow how the goods are actually used rather than how a supplier lists them.
The largest group at the moment is Beach Accessories with 5 items, and the smallest is Sun Hats and Cover-Ups with 2. Those counts move as stock comes in and goes out, so they are worth checking rather than assuming.
From our shelves
A few items currently in stock that relate to this article:
- Hsei 4 Pcs Beach Gifts Set for Women Summer Essential
- WEKAPO Beach Blanket Sandproof Waterproof, Extra Large Beach Mat, Oversized & Compact Sand Free, Quick Drying Beach Essentials for Vacation, Cruise, Picnic & Camping with Stakes
- BAGSMART Beach Bag for Women, Mesh Tote Bags with Zipper, Sandproof Vacation Essentials with Cooler for Swim Cruise Pool
- CHESKY 14K Gold Plated Waist Chain for Women, Layered Waist Beads | Silver Plated Gold Body Chains, Beach Summer, Waterproof Snake Belly Belt Chain, Festival Jewelry Accessories for Women
Across the whole catalogue prices currently run from $7.36 to $36.99, with most of the range clustered around the middle of that span. Stock and prices on the product pages are live, so they are the figures to trust rather than anything quoted in an article.
Ordering, delivery and returns
Free US shipping on orders over $39; a flat $5.95 below that. Orders are picked and packed at the Brooklyn store on business days, and a tracking number follows by email once the carrier scans the parcel.
If something is not right, there are 30 days from delivery to send it back unused and in its packaging. The full detail is on the Shipping Policy and Returns and Refunds pages, and the FAQ covers the questions that come up most.
How we decide what to stock
Brooklyn Beach Shop carries beach gear and summer accessories, and the range is deliberately narrower than a warehouse catalogue. A line earns its place by being asked for repeatedly at the counter in Brooklyn and by coming back without complaints — not by having the widest margin.
When something stops meeting that bar it comes off the shelf rather than being discounted until it moves. That is why the catalogue on this site changes slowly and why the specification tables on the product pages quote the maker rather than our own marketing.
Quick answers
Is the jewelry really OK in the sea?
The plated anklets, waist chains and studs we stock are sold as waterproof and non-tarnish. Rinse them in fresh water afterwards and they hold up through a season.
Do the blankets really keep sand off?
The sandproof blankets use a tight weave that sand shakes off rather than sinks into. They also pack down to about the size of a water bottle.
Related reading
Other notes from the same shelf that pick up where this one stops:
- Sandproof beach blankets: how the fabric actually works
- Waterproof plated jewelry: what survives salt water and what does not
- Sun protection that people actually keep wearing
Coming to the store
Brooklyn Beach Shop is at 1223 Riegelmann Boardwalk, Brooklyn, NY 11224. Opening hours are Mon-Sun 11:15-15:45, and it is worth calling ahead on +1 847-469-4615 if you are travelling specifically for one item, because stock on the shop floor and stock listed online are the same pool.
Anything discussed in this article can be looked at in person before buying. If you would rather order online, the same stock ships from this address — nothing is drop-shipped from a third party warehouse, which is why the despatch address on your parcel matches the shop.
Ask us directly
If this has not answered your question, the counter is open Mon-Sun 11:15-15:45. Call +1 847-469-4615 or use the contact page — a person reads it, and you will get an answer within a business day.
