Meet Ben Sproul; Purveyor of Happy Happy and Community Leader

- 7/15/2009 By: Jean Wiley

Benjamin Sproul is a breath of fresh air. In a society where it is typical to quickly label someone in an easily identifiable yet confining manner, Sproul transgresses those norms motivating you to dig deeper in order to learn more about this man who is a public servant, bar and retail store owner, husband and father.

 

When Friday Isn’t Payday and were working 90 to 100 hours per week.” a lot of training on that.”

The seed of his community involvement was planted with Teen Night which Sproul started in 1997. It was in response to a perceived need that kids with turntables wanted and needed a place to express themselves and congregate with other teenagers. Teen Night continues as an important part of the Pit’s weekly lineup with over 100 kids showing up each night. Some of those teens started their careers here, and Sproul beams with pride when he talks about his regulars who have gone on to become world-traveling DJ’s.

Upstairs from the music venue is Boardriders Grill. According to Sproul being a co-owner of a bar harbors its own unique brand of labels, yet he comes across as a conflict resolver--compassionate of the human experience and interpersonally attuned. Sproul says, “Bars are a peek hole into an individual. When people are drinking they become liberated from their commonsense. As a constant host of a party that involves alcohol you find that you develop a skill set that you did not know you wanted or needed. You see how conflicts evolve over and over until the patterns emerge and then you figure out ways to avoid conflicts.”

Sproul’s educational approach when training his employees on conflict resolution utilizes an awareness of body language and vocal tone. “We’re about the posture, keep your hands at your side, don’t sit down and set the tone. We are communicating the room’s vibe. If you look worried – then you’ll get something to worry about. I don’t hire people who want to prove themselves; they need to learn to collect intel and data. We do

 Sproul learned to surf in college, fell in love with the Outer Banks and wondered what he could possibly do to earn a living on the beach.

After graduating from James Madison with a BS in Art with a concentration in graphic design, three dimensional design and print making, Ben and college friend, Steve Pauls, were reunited at a wedding and couldn’t stop talking about how great it would be to live on the Outer Banks.

“You have to make your own space here at the beach,” he says. “It’s an entrepreneur’s world.” He and Pauls came in 1990, waited tables, went to Costa Rica, came back and Sproul then lived with his parents for awhile. In 1994 they opened the doors on a shack in Nags Head, called it the Pit, hung out and tried to make a go of it.

Their endeavor paid off and has evolved into The Pit Surf Shop and Boardriders Grill. “Steve and I spent more time together than married people--it was challenging” Sproul says. “We both read this book called

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