<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.1



                   SECOND AMENDMENT TO BUSINESS LOAN AGREEMENT

               This Second Amendment to Business Loan Agreement (the
"Amendment") is made as of August 1, 2001, between Bank of America, N.A.
("Bank"), and Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc., a California corporation (the
"Borrower").

                                    RECITALS

        A. Borrower and Bank entered into that certain Business Loan Agreement
dated as of April 3, 2001, as previously amended (the "Agreement").

        B. Borrower and Bank desire to further amend certain terms and
provisions of the Agreement.

                                    AGREEMENT

        1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Amendment
shall have the meaning given to them in the Agreement.

        2. Amendments. The Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

           2.1    The table appearing in Section 9.5 of the Agreement is amended
                  in its entirety to read as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
           PERIOD                                                AMOUNT
           <S>                                                 <C>
           At the second fiscal quarter ending on or about     $70,000,000
           July 31, 2001 through the third fiscal quarter
           ending on or about October 31, 2002.

           At the fourth fiscal quarter ending on or about     $85,000,000
           January 31, 2003 and thereafter.
</TABLE>

           2.2    Section 9.9 of the Agreement is amended in its entirety to
                  read as follows:

           "Capital Expenditures. Not to spend more than the amounts specified
           below during any fiscal year to acquire fixed assets, as determined
           by the amount of EBITDA maintained on a rolling four quarters basis.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
           -----------------------------------------------------------------
                             MAXIMUM CAPITAL
                             EXPENDITURES IF       MAXIMUM CAPITAL
                             ROLLING 4Q EBITDA     EXPENDITURES IF ROLLING
              Fiscal Year    <$100,000,000         4Q EBITDA >$100,000,000
           -----------------------------------------------------------------
           <S>               <C>                   <C>
           2001              $90,000,000           $90,000,000
           -----------------------------------------------------------------
           2002              $40,000,000           $62,500,000
           -----------------------------------------------------------------
           2003              $45,000,000           $72,500,000
           -----------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

           2.3    Exhibit B to the Agreement is deleted and replaced by a new
                  Exhibit B in the form attached hereto.

<PAGE>

        3. Representations and Warranties. Each Borrower hereby represents and
warrants to Bank that: (i) no default specified in the Agreement and no event
which with notice or lapse of time or both would become such a default has
occurred and is continuing and has not been previously waived (ii) the
representations and warranties of Borrower pursuant to the Agreement are true on
and as of the date hereof as if made on and as of said date, (iii) the making
and performance by Borrower of this Amendment have been duly authorized by all
necessary action, and (iv) no consent, approval, authorization, permit or
license is required in connection with the making or performance of the
Agreement as amended hereby.

        4. Conditions. This Amendment will be effective when the Bank receives
the following items, in form and content acceptable to the Bank:

           4.1    This Amendment duly executed by all parties hereto.

           4.2    Payment of all out-of-pocket expenses, including attorneys'
                  fees, incurred by the Bank in connection with the preparation
                  of this Amendment.

           4.3    Payment of an amendment fee in the amount of Ten Thousand
                  Dollars ($10,000.00).

        5. Effect of Amendment. Except as provided in this Amendment, the
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall be performed by the
parties hereto according to its terms and provisions.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment has been executed by the parties
hereto as of the date first above written.


                                             BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.


                                             By:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Title:
                                                   -----------------------------


                                             PACIFIC SUNWEAR OF CALIFORNIA, INC.


                                             By:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Title:
                                                   -----------------------------


                                             By:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Title:
                                                   -----------------------------