Dating back to California in the 1940s, skateboarding has fluidly transformed in image and popularity. Largely considered a niche sport and lifestyle, it’s gone through its fair share of highs and lows, but it recently made its debut at the Tokyo Summer Olympics in 2021. Earning recognition on the global scale shows just how far the sport has come, but the backbone of skateboarding has always been community. These five locally owned skate shops take that key ingredient very seriously.
35th North
Closely tied to the original 35th Avenue Skate Shop, Seattle’s 35th North was built on the sterling reputation of its Federal Way predecessor. When 35th Avenue’s Manager Matt Bennett decided to open up his own shop, Tony Croghan partnered with him under the pretense of opening a sister store. The owner of 35th Avenue, Kyle Finn, gave his blessing and was integral to the foundation of 35th North, providing inventory on consignment and general mentorship.
When 35th North took root in 2001, Croghan and Bennett rented a tiny room in the back of an all-ages club above a used record store. In the first three years, the small business scraped by financially. Croghan remembers not having a single day off, oscillating between his time at the shop and his hotel job. “You can’t open up a skate shop unless you really are driven [by] the idea of just owning a skate shop. If you’re driven by money, it’s not going to work. You’re going to quit because you’re not going to make any,” Croghan said.
In 2003, 35th North moved to Capitol Hill, where it remains a pillar of the skateboarding community. The shop hosts events, art shows, karaoke nights, and independent films screenings, and it incentivizes local skaters with various contests.
No-Comply Skate Shop
Proudly rooted in Austin, Texas, No-Comply Skate Shop is favorably situated right around the corner from House Park skate park. Originally opened on the south side of town in 2006, Owner Elias Bingham learned of construction plans for the park 15 minutes north and decided to move to that neighborhood. “When a skate shop like No-Comply is located a block from a skate park, it’s really rare and becomes a destination for the skate community on what could be considered a global level,” Bingham said.
Just a few years ago, No-Comply feared going out of business due to the imminent demolition of their building. Thankfully, Austin Community College—the building’s owner—heeded the skate community’s outcry, postponed the project, and partnered with the shop to secure a new storefront. No-Comply moved just a stone’s throw away down the hill and underwent a collaborative custom build-out by members of the skate community.
No-Comply not only supports local skaters, artists, and musicians, but also puts a lot of energy into fundraising. In addition to donating hundreds of skateboards to individuals in need, the small business has raised over $600,000 for the Central Texas Food Bank and over $50,000 for the mental health nonprofit Hi, How Are You Project.
You can’t open up a skate shop unless you really are driven [by] the idea of just owning a skate shop.
Tony Croghan, 35th North
Black Sheep Skate Shop
Instead of following his skater friends to California, Josh Frazier stayed in North Carolina to attend college and give the corporate world a try. “Skateboarding was always sort of a passion… I never thought it would be anything that I could pursue professionally or make any kind of livelihood from, so that’s what led me in the direction [of a more] traditional university route,” Frazier said. After a few different jobs, he returned to his hobby and opened Black Sheep Skate Shop in South End Charlotte.
Fast forward over a decade to 2016, and rapid redevelopment in the area drove Black Sheep to seek a new home base. The shop moved to Plaza Midwood, the new art and culture hub of the city, into a space more than twice the size of the original location. Though the move was bittersweet, much of the Black Sheep clientele lives in that area and the business needed more room to grow. “We’re kind of bursting at the seams, so I’m looking forward to being able to spread out a little bit,” Frazier said before the move.
Footwear and apparel are a big part of Black Sheep’s inventory, and the company carries all the name brands: Vans, Nike, Adidas. But what sets it apart from major retailers is the atmosphere. People hang out there, it carries a positive energy, and the store is community-focused.
Stratosphere Skateboards
From the ‘50s to the ‘70s, skateboarding was heavily influenced by surf culture. In the ‘80s, punk and new wave music paired with a new style of vertical skating gave the sport a more aggressive perception. Pressured by advertisers, SkateBoarder Magazine rebranded to Action Now in 1980 to incorporate other sports. Stratosphere Skateboards Owner Thomas Taylor recalled that skate parks in Atlanta were closed down and skate shops were going out of business. A serious skater at a young age, he was bored and isolated during the early ‘80s.
Pretty far removed from the skating scene at that point, Taylor was introduced to Thrasher Magazine and the new look and feel of the sport. His obsession had a resurgence and he picked up where he left off, learning the new tricks from his peers and kids his junior. Only 18 at the time, Taylor asked his mom if he could use his college fund to open a skate shop with a couple friends. He made a big impact in the community in his 56 years and is considered the godfather of the Atlanta skate scene.
Thomas Taylor passed away in 2023, but his son and professional skater Grant Taylor, daughter Mackenzie, and store manager Kurt Crocker have taken ownership of the store. In addition, the city has renamed the former Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark to Thomas Taylor Memorial Skatepark.
Sidewalk Surfer
Sandie Hamilton quit her job as a school bus driver in 1977 to open Sidewalk Surfer, the only shop in Scottsdale, Arizona, dedicated exclusively to skateboarding. Over the years, the shop relocated to larger and larger spaces—partly due to disgruntled neighboring tenants who didn’t appreciate skaters practicing around their businesses and partly due to booming sales. Hamilton began with $3,000 worth of merchandise and, by the early ‘90s, the small business was grossing about $1 million per year.
To maintain popularity, the store has incorporated rollerblades, roller skates, snowboards, and surf wear. Beyond the products, longtime employee Tim Dowds attributes Hamilton’s success to her ability to “deal with the kids” who hang out at the shop. “Everyone really respects her,” Dowds said.
Though she remains the owner, in 2005, Hamilton transferred daily operations to her tenured staff, Dave Carlson, Tim Dowds, and Keven Stern. The three have worked together almost as long as Sidewalk Surfer has been in business. Their promise: “As long as there is skateboarding, we’ll be here.”
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Published
Emily Iverson
