Best skate shops in NYC

New York has lost a lot of skate shops over the years. Rents go up, online shopping takes a cut, and the margins on skate gear are thin to begin with. The shops that survive do so because they are more than retail. They are the place you go to find out where people are skating, to hear about the session last weekend, to get your trucks tightened by someone who knows what tight means for a beginner versus a vert skater.

I have been skating New York City for over 30 years. These are the shops I send my students to when they need their first board, and the ones I walk into myself when I need something.

Manhattan

Labor Skateboard Shop

Lower East Side

Labor is the shop most people think of when they think of NYC skateboarding. It has been on the Lower East Side since 2002 and it is a community institution at this point. The staff skates, the selection is curated, and they carry their own Labor decks alongside the major brands. If you are buying your first board and you are anywhere in Manhattan, this is where you go. It is right near the LES Coleman Skatepark, so you can buy a board and ride it the same afternoon.

Autumn Skateshop

East Village

Autumn has been in the East Village since 2015 and carries a solid range of decks, trucks, wheels, and shoes. The space is small but well-stocked, and the staff is helpful without being pushy. They carry a lot of independent and smaller brands alongside the standards, which is good for finding something different. A good option if you are on the east side of Manhattan.

Supreme

Lafayette Street

Supreme started as a skate shop in 1994, and the Lafayette Street location still sells real skate hardware alongside the hype clothing. You can buy a complete setup here, and the decks and wheels are legitimate quality. The scene is different from a traditional skate shop—there is usually a line out the door for the clothing drops—but the skate section is real. Worth knowing it exists if you are in SoHo.

Brooklyn

KCDC Skateshop

Williamsburg

KCDC has been in Williamsburg since 2001 and it is Brooklyn’s skate shop. Run by Amy Gunther, who has been involved in New York skateboarding for decades, the shop carries a wide range of completes and components across all the major brands plus locals. KCDC also runs events, video premieres, and community sessions. If you are in Brooklyn, this is the spot.

Homage Brooklyn

Bushwick

Homage is a newer addition to the Brooklyn skate shop landscape. Located in Bushwick, it combines skate hardware with streetwear and art in a way that feels specific to the neighborhood. Good selection of decks and completes, and the staff rides. A strong option if you are on the Bushwick side of Brooklyn.

Queens & the Bronx

5Boro NYC

Online + NYC events

5Boro is a New York skate brand, not a storefront, but their decks are some of the best NYC-specific boards you can buy. Each graphic references a New York neighborhood, landmark, or subway line. You can find 5Boro decks at Labor, KCDC, and online. If you want a board that is tied to the city, these are the ones.

Zumiez

Various locations

Zumiez is a chain, and I know that raises flags. But they carry real brands—Element, Baker, Real, Independent trucks, Spitfire wheels—and the completes they sell are legitimate skateboards, not department store toys. If you are in Queens, the Bronx, or Westchester and there is no independent shop nearby, Zumiez at a local mall is a reasonable fallback. Tell the staff you are a beginner, tell them your shoe size, and they will match you up.

Online options worth trusting

If you cannot get to a shop in person, these online retailers sell legitimate gear from real brands. They all ship completes ready to ride.

• Tactics— Based in Oregon. Wide selection of completes and components. Their sizing guides are solid.
• Skate Warehouse— One of the largest online skate retailers. Good prices, fast shipping, and they carry every major brand.
• CCS— Has been around since the ’80s, originally a catalog company. Still a reliable source for completes and beginner setups.

If you are not sure what to get, read my first skateboard buying guide or my sizing guide before you order. Or book a lesson and try different setups in person first.