She froze, starstruck.
Zorina Amen, 29, of Virginia Beach, watched as her friend stepped toward Pharrell Williams, leaned in and posed for a picture. But Amen hesitated.
She’d waited all Friday afternoon for this chance. He was right there. But she didn’t know what to say — until she just blurted: “Can I also take a photo?!”
The volume of her ask carried over the house music and above the clamor of other circling fans. The famous hip-hop star and Virginia Beach native obliged and motioned Amen in for a quick pic.
The mogul came to his hometown to promote his Virginia brand at a weekend pop-up gift shop in Atlantic Park. Merchandise included items commonly found at Oceanfront souvenir shops: T-shirts, jigsaw puzzles, keychains.
Pharrell Williams takes a photo with Zorina Amen, right, while greeting attendees at his Virginia brand pop-up in Virginia Beach, Virginia, on Oct. 10, 2025. The pop-up gift shop is open to the public 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot)
Williams’ Adidas shoes, the Adistar Jellyfish, and the launch of two new color combinations — green and gray with a white base — attracted a line of hopeful buyers long before the store opened its doors at 11 a.m.
“Yep,” Jake Brinn said. “They actually camped out overnight.”
Brinn, 30, of Virginia Beach, is one of the head surf instructors at the surf park located next door to the pop-up shop. When he arrived at work, he witnessed the snaking line of sneakerheads stretching about the length of one city block.
“They had camping chairs. I saw some sleeping bags out there,” he said.
Adidas Adistar Jellyfish shoes on display at Pharrell William’s Virginia brand pop-up in Virginia Beach, Virginia, on Oct. 10, 2025. The pop-up gift shop is open to the public 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot)
He and his wife, Christy Stevens, stopped by the store to purchase some swag in support of Williams, who backed the surf park development.
“I don’t listen to any of Pharrell’s music,” Brinn said. “We’re a fan of what he’s doing for the area.”
Customers also came in the hopes of meeting the celebrity producer and fashionista.
Kyle Molitor, 26, who works nearby at The Dome music venue, stopped by to try and buy some Adidas, but they had sold out. He stuck around anyway, hoping to land an autograph.
“I’ve been a fan as long as I can remember, even when I was a little kid,” Molitor said. “I’ve even listened to his stuff with Clipse and him with The Neptunes, his own individual stuff, stuff that he produced for Illumination, the “Despicable Me” movies: one, two and three.”
Pharrell arrived at 5:30 p.m. People smiled and crowded around as he slowly walked through. Some fans wanted to shake his hand. Most wanted pictures.
Tony Camarillo got close to Williams and lifted up his electric guitar. He held his black-and-white Fender Stratocaster in both hands as Williams signed it:
“To Tony C.
P.W.”
Tony Camarillo shows off Pharrell William’s autograph on his Fender Stratocaster electric guitar after getting it signed at the celebrity’s Virginia brand pop-up shop on Friday. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot)Colin Warren-Hicks, 919-818-8139, colin.warrenhicks@virginiamedia.com
https://www.pilotonline.com/2025/10/11/pharrell-virginia-beach-visit/
