THE DNR LIST: RIPPIN' RETAIL.

Daily News Record, April, 2005

Specialty shops are where action sports brands make or break their reputations. Whether they're core stores that also sell hard goods, or mall-based apparel majors like PacSun, these are the merchants to whom kids look first for boardsports labels. Here are the nation's largest surf and skate chains.

1 PacSun

Number of locations: 828

Publicly traded PacSun is the account for boardsports labels. The Anaheim, Calif.-based chain is far and away the segment's biggest, with regular and outlet stores throughout the country and Puerto Rico. Yearend comps were up 7.5 percent at PacSun stores, and net sales for 2004, including sister division d.e.m.o., exceeded $1.2 billion.

2 Zumiez

Number of locations: 140

Everett,...