Zero Tide Great Lakes Apparel lands ashore

SANDUSKY — When workers cleared Surf's Up earlier this year, an idea flowed through the minds of longtime friends Chris Parthemore and Chad Whaley.Both men enjoyed Sandusky's former wave-action pool and wanted to somehow honor its legacy. What better way, they thought, then to emblazon a vintage insignia onto a fresh T-shirt design?They recently unfolded their new clothing business, Zero Tide Great Lakes Apparel, to the public earlier this year.Whaley explained the company's origins."I told Chris my ideal job would be owning a surf shop. But we don't have the resources to do that, so we decided to do the second best thing: start a T-shirt business," Whaley said.About six months ago, they began designing a "Surf's Up Aquatic Center" T-shirt right when workers filled in the pool."We got a hold of the old Surf's Up logo, and we put it on an old school, vintage T-shirt," Whaley said. "With our business, we wanted to have a lot of stuff tie into Sandusky and positively represent the area."The first wave of T-shirts feature themes native to Sandusky, including roller coasters and Lake Erie.Cedar Point executives even asked the Perkins High School graduates to develop some designs specific for the amusement park. Those shirts are available for sale at Cedar Point gift shops."They have been super unbelievable in trying to help us out and get us started," Whaley said.The widespread demand has created a good problem often foreign to start-ups."We are just trying to keep up with demand," Whaley said. "We have progressed so quickly. We are trying to order more inventory because the shirts are going so fast. Vintage T-shirts are so big right now. Chris and I just like the look of it. It has character to it. And I think other people are seeing that as well."Both men, active in a community-wide effort in the city's rejuvenation efforts, believe their business can serve an important role in spotlighting Sandusky."Sandusky has gone through so much change in the past few years, and we wanted to be part of that renaissance," Parthemore said. "T-shirts have shown the ability to drive a brand in places like Cleveland, and we thought Zero Tide could be a driver for the North Coast in addition to just having great shirts." Want a T-shirt?All T-shirt designs by Zero Tide Great Lakes Apparel cost $25 and are:• 50 percent polyester• 25 percent cotton• 25 percent rayonVisit the company's Facebook page, facebook.com/ZeroTideApparel, or Twitter page, twitter.com/ZeroTideApparel to purchase a shirt or inquire about the products.T-shirts are also available at Cedar Point and at Hotel Kilbourne when it opens up. What's in a name?The inspiration for Zero Tide Great Lakes Apparel came from Surf's Up, Sandusky's former wave-action pool.But their names counter one another."In Lake Erie, there are no tides. Zero tides," business co-owner Chad Whaley said. "When you are surfing, you have to pay attention on the oceans. You have to pay attention because the tides affect how you surf. With our business, we wanted to create that surfing vibe to it." Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOurielChad Whaley shows off one of his vintage T-shirts from the business he and his friend Chris Parthemore created. Together they launched Zero Tide Great Lakes Apparel, which plays up Sandusky themes, such as roller coasters and Lake Erie.Vintage T-shirts designed by Zero Tide Great Lakes Apparel sit on a table.A vintage T-shirt designed by Zero Tide Great Lakes Apparel sits on a table.A vintage T-shirt designed by Zero Tide Great Lakes Apparel sits on a table.