My name is Richard Oates, I grew up online at the University of Minnesota, and I'm a
man named Richard Oates. I grew up on Long Island, and I've spent the past seven years living in Brooklyn.
And I guess my formative years coming up in the city were spent in kitchens.
I worked as a chef for several restaurants in Manhattan.
And I've been to Green Point with my family, and just opened up Skate Shop.
So we're on Green Point Avenue in Green Point. It's East River Skate Shop.
We are two blocks from the water. We're a short skate away from Bedford Avenue L.
We opened up with Pops, Shutt, Northern Company, Five Burrow.
Working with a company called Blue Couch, which is up and coming.
I'd love to get Canal, if you guys are watching this, hit me up.
So I spent the past almost a decade working in kitchens, and I definitely am taking hiatus from it.
We have a family, we just had a baby, and we have a three and a half year old.
So I really wanted to be available as a father.
My older son just started school, and I'd never get to see him.
So I was in between restaurants, and it was a time of some soul searching.
And ultimately we decided to double down on the city and do something for ourselves.
Skating has always been something that has been a passion of mine.
I have a lot of respect for the established shops in the New York Skate scene,
and stepping into that without really being kind of terrified about going up against the goliaths in the industry.
You know, it's not something that you can do. I mean, it's something that you think about every day.
And I think ultimately, as Green Point residents and, you know, living and working here,
we wanted something for our community.
And really, that's what this shop is about.
I mean, we're fully committed to Green Point and, you know, the people that live and work here.
And really excited to see the next generation coming up.
East River Skate Shop, 86 Green Point Avenue.
Check us out on Instagram at East River Skate Shop.
Twitter, East River Skate.
Facebook page slash East River Skate Shop.
And our hours are from 12 to 8.
Friday to Saturday, stay up until 9. Close on Mondays.
