Skateboarding
Skateboarding
5 best skate shops in Phoenix
Cowtown is one of several shops where skateboarders can find the gear they need. Below we take a look at five Phoenix skate shops worth visiting, and what makes them unique.
Just 30 minutes east of Phoenix, Red Bull skateboarder Jagger Eaton got his start skating at his parents’ skate park in Mesa. “That’s where I realized I wanted to skate for the rest of my life," said Eaton. "I started getting good and I was having so much fun. My dad showed me everything about skateboarding.”
Jagger Eaton at Red Bull Performance camp in Lake Havasu, Arizona
© Anthony Acosta
He went on to become the youngest X Games competitor ever and an Olympic Bronze medalist, and helped bring attention to the area’s rich skating community.
Arizona’s capital city, Phoenix, is home to amazing skate parks like Hermoso Skatepark and Paradise Valley Skatepark. It’s also the setting for PHX AM, one of the most important amateur skateboarding contests in the world, which Eaton won in 2017. For over 20 years, this contest has been hosted by the legendary skateshop, Cowtown.
Cowtown is one of several shops where skateboarders can find the gear they need. Below we take a look at five Phoenix skate shops worth visiting, and what makes them unique.
The 5 Best Skate Shops in Phoenix
Red Bull Feel The Wheel in Benatky nad Jizerou, Czech Republic
© Jan Kasl
01
Cowtown
Cowtown skateboards was established in 1997, and has been skateboarder-owned and operated ever since. Over its decades in business, Cowtown has nurtured the Arizona scene, and is now a cornerstone of skateboarding culture throughout the southwest. The shop prides itself on its connection with the community, especially thorough events. It has maintained a regular schedule of local events, including PHX AM, which brings more than 200 skateboarders from around the globe to Phoenix every year. Cowtown has its own brand of skateboards, and they also sell complete decks in every shape including minis, longboards, and cruisers. They also sell shoes for men, women, youth and toddler, as well as vegan friendly shoes. In terms of apparel, they have almost everything you can think of, including protective gear and accessories.
Location and Hours: 5024 N Central Ave. The store is open from 11 am - 8 pm on Monday-Saturday and 11 am - 6 pm on Sunday.
02
Faces Skate Shop
The newest addition to the Phoenix skateboard scene, Faces Skate Shop was founded in 2022. To pay homage to their roots, as well as the young blood in the scene, the shop stocks both independent local heritage brands and new popular brands in skateboarding. They carry only standard skateboard decks, no longboards or cruisers. They also exclusively sell Spitfire wheels. For apparel, they carry a limited, curated selection of their own brand of t-shirts and hoodies, as well as a few pants and shorts from other brands. They do not carry protective gear. This shop is a Black and Latino-owned business.
Location and Hours: 655 W Warner Rd Suite 125. The Store is open from 11 am - 7 pm on Monday-Saturday and from 11 am - 3 pm on Sunday.
03
SRCHR
© Mahmut Cincu
SRCHR (Surf Ride Chop Rip) is a surf, skate, and beach lifestyle store based in Downtown Phoenix. The store is designed to reflect the unique experience of beach living. Despite being landlocked, they are inspired by all things coastal. SRCHR has a wide variety of skateboards for sale, including many different types of longboards, skateboards, trucks, and wheels. They have an extensive selection of both men and women's apparel ranging from skate shoes to bikinis and sunglasses.
Location and Hours: 610 E Roosevelt Suite 148. Monday-Thursday 11 am - 6 pm, Friday 11 am - 7 pm, Saturday 11 am - 5 pm.
04
Freedom Boardshop
Freedom Boardshop has been selling boards and accessories since 1999. They are passionate about the sport and aim to provide the best decks, skateboard parts, gear, and accessories. They sell a large selection of both skateboard and longboard parts as well as complete longboards. They have apparel and gear for all ages including kids sizes, dresses, water bottles, sandals, and bags. They also sell protective gear and have their own line of Freedom Boardshop apparel.
Location and Hours: Mesa South Shopping Center, 1316 S Gilbert Rd D-6, Mesa, AZ 85204. 10 am - 7 pm Monday-Saturday.
05
Sidewalk Surfer
One of the oldest skate shops, Sidewalk Surfer was started in 1977 by Sandie Hamilton. Sandie, considered “The Godmother of Skates,” saw that there weren’t any stores dedicated to selling skateboards. Instead, you could only buy a skateboard in Phoenix at a bicycle shop. She saw an opportunity to create a business as well as a community. Now some of her first customers are bringing their kids to get their first skateboards in her shop. Her store has long been a local hangout for young skaters to sit and skate out front. They have an online store dedicated to unique one of a kind or discontinued items– but in store they carry a full range of skateboards including cruisers. They also carry roller skates and GoPed parts.
Location and Hours: 2602 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85257. 10 am - 8 pm Monday-Saturday, 10 am - 6 pm Sunday.
Conclusion
The southwest is a hotbed of elite skateboarding talent and Phoenix is one of its capitals. Countless pros have explored its streets, including Red Bull skaters Ryan Sheckler, Torey Pudwill, and Ryan DeCenzo in Red Bull Perspective. The many professional and amateur events in both street and transition style make it an incubator for skateboarding talent in the United States and a destination for skateboarders internationally. While the events give different kinds of skateboarders the opportunity to take their skills to the next level, the skateshops give skaters their first taste of Phoenix’s unique skateboarding culture.
