Couple devoted to area’s children, adults

COAST CITIES — Many parents know the City Kids/Beach Kids stores because they were the go-to place for swimsuits, sweatshirts and more, once youngsters were signed up for a junior lifeguard or Little Turtle program.
And while the rest of us are heading for the beach, owners Phil and Lynn Ryan are already working out the details for their upcoming back-to-school stock and specials for their stores in the Del Mar Highlands Town Centre, 3435 Del Mar Heights Road, and at 282-D N. El Camino Real in Encinitas. The stores are even open seven days a week for your shopping convenience,
The Ryan’s became dedicated North County residents after graduating from UCSD, and have had children’s clothing stores in the area for almost 30 years. Lynn opened their first store just after her second child was born. With the help of other mom’s from her playgroup, she shared store shifts and childcare, providing a unique and wonderful experience for everyone.
When the time came to expand and open another location, Phil decided to leave the banking industry and join the growing operation. There are multiple generations shopping and working at the stores today. The wonderful longtime employees know their customers and their children by name and shopping is always a fun, stress-free event.
The Ryans are longtime residents of Solana Beach and manage to spend time working at both stores. Their three children, Kate, 28, Tim, 27 and Reid, 25, graduated from Torrey Pines High School and “have always been an integral part of the stores, from sorting hangers, counting pennies and modeling to helping buy for and build out the stores, do merchandising, produce advertising and help get the website up and running,” Lynn said. “They have a true understanding of what it means to be self employed.”
The Ryans very first store was 365 square feet in La Jolla. The two current shops in North County total almost 7,000 square feet. City Kids/Beach Kids is a surf shop for groms of all ages up to size 16. The stores carry all the top surf brands including Quiksilver, Roxy, Billabong, Billie Girls, O’Neill, Volcom, DC and Reef.
“We specialize in great customer service and a large selection of quality, fun, and popular clothing and accessories for children through pre-teen,” Phil said. “We make it our business to know what is hot with the kids, throwing in popular giveaways like Quiksilver and Volcom stickers. We also make sure to stock what parents want and need, like the best-priced navy board shorts at only $15.”
Kids can get outfitted for both Del Mar Junior Lifeguards and Encinitas Junior Lifeguards. City Kids Beach Kids proudly supports both programs. This summer both programs decided to sell their own uniforms in hopes of making money to support the city-sponsored programs. The City Kids /Beach Kids staff know all about the programs. And they even offer a generous refund and exchange policy. The topper is, shoppers never have to pay to park.
The Del Mar Heights Road store carries everything needed for the Del Mar Junior Lifeguards (ages 9 to 16) and Little Turtle (ages 7 and 8). The Encinitas location has everything you need for your Encinitas Junior Lifeguards.
Parents can also find fetching and sturdy rain gear, the perfect dress to impress grandma or fashionable, durable playwear for every season.
Along with the selection of children’s clothing, shoppers return regularly to find the perfect baby shower gift and birthday gifts. These are made especially easy with gorgeous, complimentary gift-wrapping the stores offer.
Be sure to visit the City Kids /Beach Kids website at citykidsbeachkids.com, where shoppers can see what‘s new and sign up for coupons, sales and free giveaways. You can even Friend them on Facebook. For more information, call (760) 436-6815 or (858) 792-8781.