Williamsburg's Very Own Skate Shop for Roller Derby Girls

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In case you weren't aware, Five Stride Skate Shop in Williamsburg isn't just "New York's only full service skate shop," as their website boasts, but it's also a roller derby Mecca. And the owners know their stuff: Danielle Flowers and Nicole Williams are both in the Gotham Girls Roller Derby league. Williams tells the Times, "Roller derby has its own subculture in New York," and adds that "until now there hasn't been a specific place that supports it."

That place, formerly in Astoria, Queens, is now located on Graham Street. They're most likely seeing more foot traffic in Williamsburg, though people come from all over—"Apparently we're well known in Europe," says Flowers. But they still have to differentiate themselves from nearby bike shop, King Kog, by way of a handwritten note tacked to their door that reads "We are not the bike shop." In addition to eliminating the derby girl's struggle for proper skates, Five Stride seems like a cool place to hang out: There's a nice leather couch inside, flat screen TVs set up, and roller derbyists (like one named Brigette Barhot) popping in for some new wheels.
· A Skate Shop With a Focus: Roller Derby [NYT]
· FIve Stride Skate Shop [Official Site]