Longtime surfer and legendary surf shop owner Benjamin Liska died on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, leaving behind a legacy that shaped the Coastal Bend’s surf and skate culture for nearly five decades.
From Cotton Fields to Coastal WavesBen grew up as the son of a farmer in Robstown, Texas, where he was a standout football player for the Robstown Cotton Pickers. But it was the ocean’s call that would define his life’s work, leading him to establish what became Corpus Christi’s most beloved surf shop.
Building a Surf EmpireOn January 2, 1976, Benjamin founded Benjamin’s Surf and Skate, starting as a surf board-only shop where he personally shaped boards at his first location on Port Street. What began as a one-man operation evolved into a multi-generational institution that would outfit Coastal Bend surfers and skaters for 48 years.
The shop’s growth mirrored Corpus Christi’s own expansion, with Benjamin’s establishing locations throughout the area over the decades:
- Port Street (opened January 2, 1976)
- Flour Bluff (1970s-1990s)
- Austin/Barton Creek Mall (1983-2001)
- Padre Staples Mall (1990s-2000s)
- La Palmera Mall (opened 2011)
- Crossroads Shopping Village at McArdle and Airline (early 2000s to present)
More Than Just a ShopBenjamin’s Surf and Skate became known as “Corpus Christi’s go-to surf and skate shop for over 40 years,” building strong local loyalty and a multi-generational customer base. Many customers who grew up shopping there now bring their own children, creating a family tradition centered around the sport Ben loved…