Shop supplies beach gear

Your day at the beach may begin or end with a visit to Linda Magia, and that's just fine with the cashier at Folly Beach's largest gift shop.

Magia has been on the job at Treasure Island Beachwear on Folly Road since it opened in March.

She has been with the company that owns the store for four years and, before taking the job, worked at the company's gift shop in a Myrtle Beach mall.

A James Island resident and sister-in-law to store owner Moti Magia, Linda Magia lives near the store. She said she works every day of the week. In her little spare time, she likes to relax at her condo's swimming pool.

Magia said the pace at the brightly colored, 30-foot-tall Treasure Island building on Folly Road is faster than it was at the "little, little, little shop in the mall," as a co-worker described the Myrtle Beach outlet. With 9,300 square feet of retail space, the interior of Treasure Island is a whirlwind of colors and is packed with huge quantities of merchandise.

"It's everything you need to go to the beach," Magia explained.

Inside the store, you'll find bathing suits and boogie boards, plus chairs, umbrellas, beach towels, sunglasses, hats, ladies' fashions, beach balls, baby clothes, toys and flotation devices. There are hundreds of T-shirts and sweat shirts, most of which were printed in the store by Magia.

Located just before Folly Island, the store also has everything you might need after visiting the beach, except maybe a shower.

The shop sells postcards, wind chimes and refrigerator magnets. In case you didn't find the seashell you were looking for on the shore, the store can provide that, and if you still have some energy after your beach outing, the store has a box of fresh ping-pong balls.

The best part of her job is "meeting different people," Magia said.

"I can't think of anything I don't like about (the job)," she said.

Magia said motorists sometimes stop at Treasure Island to ask directions to the beach. It's an easy inquiry to fulfill: "Straight down the road," she said.

Magia said she'd like to move into management, and she's sad to see the approaching end of summer, which means fewer visitors to the beach and the store.

"Just tell everyone about us, so they'll come by and see us and it won't be so boring," she said.