Dave White, The Original Owner and creator of L.A. Skate started roller skating in 1958, at Harry’s Roller Rink at 5110 San Fernando Road in Glendale, CA. Dave started skating competition in 1962 and was the Southwest Pacific Coast Champion and 5th Best in the USA in 1970. He accepted an Asst manager position and turned pro in 1974 and started teaching classes and private lessons in Reseda, CA at Sherman Square Roller Rink in Reseda, CA. Dave left Sherman Square roller rink in October 1978 and started selling Roller Skates out of an apartment. as Roller skating outdoors became possible in 1978 with the birth of the High rebound urethane wheels made by Kryptonics. The “Jogger” tennis shoe skate made by Sure-Grip skate co. was the rage for Outdoor roller skating. Business went so well out of the apartment that he decided to open a retail skateshop in Glendale on Colorado street near Adams Street in February 1979. After opening his 1st Skate Shop called hot Skates, he officially became a business on Feb 2nd 1979 when he got his seller’s permit from the State Board of Equalization.
The 130M Riedell Suede Hi Tops with Sure Grip Aluminum Jogger plates with Kryptonic wheels were better and safer than any other brand and were mostly carried at hot Skates for outdoor skating.
In 1980 kids in the neighborhood started asking for Skateboards and Dave knew the quality of Powell Peralta as the shop was selling Bones wheels and Reds Bearings, so they added The Beamer, Ray Bones Rodriguez (Skull & Sword), Mike Mc Gill (Jet Fighter) and Caballero (Dragon) skateboards to start with and there was a market for them at that time.
By 1984 skateboards were the main item and a new Company was started from within hot Skates called Los Angeles Skate Company. L.A. Skate Co. started manufacturing their own 9.25 inch truck under the name “Beamer” 161, and also produced high quality hdpe rails (3 styles), and Hi-End, high rebound urethane bushings. L.A. Skate became a distributor of Dogtown – Epic – Blockhead and Skull Skates decks – Thunder Trucks and ODI accesories back in the Mid 80’s.
In 1986 Dave wanted to have L.A. Skate Company in Los Angeles and found a property about 2 miles from hot Skates in Los Feliz. He sold his house in Glendale and moved L.A. Skate Co to 2409 Hyperion Ave L.A., CA 90027 – The property had 2 buildings on the lot and it was decided to remodel the back building for the retail store, but, there were tenants using the building for a record company distribution., The tenants stayed on for a couple more years, then remodeled. hot Skates and L.A. Skate co. moved into the new building on labor day weekend in 1990. The City of Los Angeles granted us a new address of 2411 Hyperion ave. The 1st couple of years business was slow, but skaters came for griptape & bolts and had brand new boards with them when they came in. It was decided to ask what store they buy the skateboards from and everyone was totally surprised by the answer. They bought their boards from Pro Skaters and not from a store. That’s why we were not selling many skateboards at that time. We connected with one of the pro skaters and purchased everything they were interested in selling. The news traveled fast and soon we met all the Major pro’s and Amateur skaters that were on the scene in Los Angeles.
In 2002 we sold the property and moved temporarily into a small Garage 2 doors away. We were there a year and moved across the street to 2420 Hyperion and were in that spaot until June 2012.
In May of 2012 we had maxed out the location we were in, so the hunt was on for a new location. I found my current location on the way to a commercial audition and the location was everything you could ask for. It was right next to the Hollywood 101 Freeway, easy on and off and one of the most trafficked streets in Los Angeles, Santa Monica Blvd which is also
Historic Route 66.
L.A. Skate has a better selection online and in-store anywhere.
The current phone number for L.A. Skate is (323)46-skate (323-467-5283) Our current location is adjacent to the Hollywood (101) freeway
and we are 1 blk east of western ave.
CLICK HERE for a Map & Directions
for more information about Los Angeles Skate LLC, send an e-mail
or give a phone call from 11am to 6 pm and let us know whazup
live to skate – skate to live
Los Angeles Skate
5401 Santa Monica blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90029
Phone: (323) 467-5283
e-mail: info@laskate.com