Red Bull Skate teamed up with Chris Pastras, Ryan Sheckler, Jagger Eaton and Kingswell's Patrick Melcher for a quick conversation about the importance of the local shop in the sphere of today’s skateboard scene.
Had I not spent the better part of my teenage years serving wood and urethane to the skate-addicted youth of my community, I probably wouldn’t have such an untempered obsession with skate retail. So when I found out my buddy DJ Chavez had opened up a shop of his own in the heart of LA’s Los Feliz neighborhood, it was a story I simply couldn’t resist.
My litmus test for a good shop has always been that initial feeling you get when you first walk in—and the Kingswell test strip instantly tested positive for, well, positive. The shop’s facade and interior is trimmed with birch veneers giving it a very clean, modern feel. Its buildouts are all impressive, custom pieces complete with sliding doors and movable, modular racks that house a very well-curated assortment of young brands—many of which represent an exciting new wave of skateboarding that’s just beginning to crest. And, most importantly, there were skaters there with welcoming smiles. After a notable first visit, my second stop was for an interview with DJ himself. Below is some of what he had to say about his new shop, skateboard retailing, and his plans for what’s to come.
