PD’s Hot Shop and Skull Skates, Canada’s oldest skateboard shop, has closed its Vancouver location.
The Vancouver shop, named after owner Peter Ducommun, was located on West 10th Avenue near Alma Street.
The shop had a final blowout party last month that Daily Hive was told was “off the hook,” and the good news is the story isn’t over, despite the Vancouver landmark being shuttered permanently.
Skull Skates will continue its operations at its HQ on Qualicum Beach. There’s also a Skull Skates shop in Japan.
The brand Skull Skates is also Canada’s oldest skateboard brand, which was created by Ducommun and his brother Rick in Saskatchewan.
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“At the beginning of the 1980s, Skull Skates moved west and relocated in Vancouver, British Columbia. The first retail shop was opened near Stanley Park just in time to take part in the outdoor rollerskating craze. This was the spot to get the latest Skull Skates gear and replace the toestops of your girlfriend’s rollerskates,” a blurb on the Skull Skates website states.
Jeff Cole, a B.C.-based skateboarder, shared a post about the closure, which elicited a ton of comments of support from the skateboard community.
“Such a big part of my life in the ’90s growing up; for most of my friends too,” someone said.
“Pls tell me this is an April Fools’ joke,” someone else said.
Another follower said, “Damn! End of an era for sure. I still remember visiting PD’s Hot Shop for the first time back when it was on Pender Street downtown. One of the first skate shops I ever set foot inside!”
Daily Hive had a quick chat with the Vancouver skateboard shop, and we were told that one of the reasons for the closure is that Vancouver’s retail market is saturated with skateboard shops.
We also learned that alongside the operations continuing at the new Qualicum Beach HQ, supporters can also find Skull Skates gear at The Drive Skate Shop on Commercial Drive.