Skate Shops


Unfortunately, there are few skate shops of any quality in New York City these days, especially compared to the glory days of the mid and late 1990s. There are just a few shops that cater specifically to skaters, whether they be inline, roller derby, or ice/roller hockey. Even worse, the sporting goods store chains have progressively gone bankrupt and liquidated, leaving almost no place to try on and buy even the most basic pair of skates.

So unfortunately, much of what follows below is a sad litany about skate shops that have closed.

If you are looking for parts such as wheels and bearings, your best bet will be to buy on-line from somewhere such as Inline Warehouse.

The City

Blades Board & Skate

Blades was the city's best source for inline skate gear from about c. 1990 until c. 2003. At its peak around 1998, the chain had at least eight stores in the city as well as few more elsewhere. But Blades faded away. In early 2016 they were down to just a single store that didn't even sell inline gear, and that last store closed in January 2020. For those wondering about Blades West, the West 72nd St. store that was a hub of inline activity for 20 years or more, that was the second to last store that closed in January 2016.

Central Park Sightseeing
56 West 56th St., Midtown, Manhattan
centralparksightseeing.com

Offers 24-hour inline skate rentals. Protective gear is included.

Dick's Sporting Goods
73-25 Woodhaven Boulevard, Glendale, Queens
www.dickssportinggoods.com

The big chain sporting goods store has just one location within the city, in central Queens. The company website indicates they carry Rollerblade, Roces and Tour inlines, as well as a couple cheap brands, but store availability looks sketchy on the better models.

Five Stride Skate Shop
178 Bushwick Ave, East Williamsburg, Brooklyn
www.fivestrideskateshop.com

Specialists in quad roller and especially roller derby gear.

Kinetic Expression
Sunnyside, Queens
keskate.com

NYC's only inline skate specific store. Opened June 2020 and open only by appointment. Carries FR and Seba skate products.

Modell's

The big regional sporting goods chain, and one of the last of the sporting goods chain with a big presence in the city and that carried some inline skates, even if their selection wasn't that great. However, they declared bankruptcy in spring 2020 and commenced going-out-of-business sales at all their stores a couple months later.

Paragon Sporting Goods
867 Broadway at 18th St., Manhattan
www.paragonsports.com

Large, non-chain sporting goods store that for many years carried the best inline skate selection in the city — which in a way was damning (of everyone else) with faint praise.

Unfortunately, Paragon also seems to have almost given up on the inline skating market. In summer 2018, the skates were hidden away in the back room of the basement level, where formerly they were only relegated in fall and winter. Furthermore, the selection was limited to a mix of Rollerblades. K2 skates were no longer available, and although there is hockey gear available, rollerhockey skates were not to be found.

Panda Sport
9217 5th Ave. at 92nd St., Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
pandasportdirect.com

As of 2019, carried some low- and middle-priced Rollerblade models.

Peck & Goodie

No longer exists. A small store that was located on Eighth Ave. in the mid 50s, Peck was a New York institution for 60 years (although as part of the Blades chain for the final decade) before closing in late 2003.

RollerJam USA
236 Richmond Valley Road, Tottenville, Staten Island
www.rollerjamusa.com

Roller rink. Does not seem to have a pro shop where you can buy any rollergear or parts.

Skater's Edge
Pier 61, Chelsea Piers, 22nd St at West Side Hwy, Manhattan
chelseapiers.com

The current iteration of a skate shop at the Chelsea Piers sports complex. It's basically the pro shop at Sky Rink, and is thoroughly ice-oriented. Probably of little interest unless you are looking for (roller) hockey gear.

Westside Skate & Stick
City Ice Pavilion, 47-32 32nd Place, Long Island City, Queens
www.westsideskate.com, Instagram

Primarily an ice hockey and figure skating shop, but as of early 2019 they also carried Mission rollerhockey skates. Westside originally opened in 2004 selling ice gear and services. In 2006, they expanded into inline and opened a shop across from the Flatiron Building in Manhattan, but in March 2019 they moved to the City Ice Pavilion in Long Island City.

Westchester County

Bob Peck's Skate & Sport
31 Lake St., White Plains
Facebook

Family-owned store that's been around 80+ years. Advertises as being the largest hockey dealer in Westchester, which means plenty of ice and inline hockey gear, but also carries some recreational/fitness inline, aggressive inline, and ice figure skating gear.

Dick's Sporting Goods
45 Fitzgerald St., Yonkers
Maple Ave. at Bloomingdale Road, White Plains
www.dickssportinggoods.com

See comments above regarding the location in the city.

Hudson Valley Hockey Company
250 Mahopac Ave., Yorktown Heights
www.hudsonvalleyhockey.com

Big hockey shop close to the Westchester-Putnam county line, including rollerhockey skates and gear.

Long Island

Dick's Sporting Goods
Green Acres Commons, Valley Stream
630 Old Country Road, Garden City
Sunrise Mall, Massapequa
Melville Mall, Melville
www.dickssportinggoods.com

See comments above regarding the location in the city.

Jesse Halpern Skate and Tennis
99 Cuttermill Road at Chelsea Place, Great Neck

Skate Safe America
182 Bethpage-Sweet Hollow Rd, Old Bethpage
www.skatesafeamerica.pointstreaksites.com

Sports complex with a pro shop. Carries gear that would be of interest to rollerhockey and roller derby players.

Valley Stream Bicycle / Hockey Shop
476 E. Merrick Road, Valley Stream
www.valleystreambicycle.com

Caters to (roller)hockey players but also advertises recreational inline gear.

Wheelen Willys Skate Shop
3049 Merrick Road, Wantagh