Calling all longboard riders out there. A custom longboard shop has opened on Hertel Avenue, and the owners are looking to team up with riders who are into the recreational and extreme sport. I spoke to JB Purcell who told me that he and his brother Craig recently moved to Buffalo from Boston Massachusetts, and it didn’t take long for the two to realize a dream of being business owners – something that they never even considered when living in Boston. “It would have been too expensive where we were living,” JB told me. “So we’re doing something that we always wanted to do… open a custom longboard shop.”
While the shop has limited hours at this point, the brothers are busy building up the shop’s inventory in preparation for a grand opening come spring. “That’s when we’ll be fully stocked with custom and stock boards, trucks, wheels, clothing and accessories… we’re also going to be featuring a different artist each month, with artwork that revolves around a custom longboard. As for the custom longboards, it’s like getting a tattoo on your arm – riders can come in and bring a design and we will hook them up with a custom board. The shop will probably stock some regular skateboard decks and trucks,etc., but our focus is on longboards. Where I come from longboard riding culture is big, and it’s growing here. The shop will promote hill rides, and meet-ups, and the riders will get to enjoy our custom artwork and builds. I’m coming from working at Burton Snowboards, so I’ve got experience in the industry… we will be featuring some custom completes from a few of the progressive board builders in the industry.”
The Contact Longboards website states, “We aim to help nurture and grow the activity of longboarding in Western New York. With its many disciplines including downhill, paddle boarding, carving, and commuting, longboarding is a rising star in extreme sports and earth friendly commuting options. With a grass roots humble beginning we venture into the unknown to bring a longboard specific shop to Buffalo and Westerm New York.”
Limited hours at this time 12-5pm on weekends and 5-9pm on weekdays
Grand opening this spring – Follow on Facebook
1201 Hertel Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14216
Phone (temporary for the holidays): 716-474-7140
Shop number soon to be hooked up: 716-768-2546
Artwork: JB Purcell