KCDC Skateshop

Profile

Though it didn't join the neighbors until 2001, KCDC Skateshop has found a comfortable, utilitarian concrete-and-brick space at home among fellow neighborhood institutions Beacon's Closet and the Brooklyn Brewery. Die-hard skaters already know KCDC (and can often be seen streaming in and out to check out the newest shoe designs), but if you're a beginner, the staff can walk you through your first board's construction and can outfit you in DC shoes, Emerica T-shirts, and Altamont hoodies as desirable for their street appeal as for their skate utility. The walls of shoes, decks, trucks, and wheels represent the obligatory national brands, but extra space is also made for local standouts like Acapulco Gold and 5Boro. If you lack the confidence to roll out on your own, you can sign up for a lesson on the mini ramp in-store; once you've finished, you can nurse your scrapes at one of the many regular skate shows, video premieres, or block parties. — Andrew Cleary