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 very few places 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 for a decent selection will be to buy on-line from somewhere such as Inline Warehouse or Thuro. Also, possibly on Amazon, but do some pricechecking before you order from there.
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 over 20 years, that was the second to last store and closed in January 2016.
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-o brands, but store availability looks sketchy on the better models.
Kinetic Expression
Sunnyside, Queens
keskate.com
Possibly NYC's only inline skate specific store. (If not, then see Roller Dynamic below.) Opened June 2020 and open only by appointment. Carries FR and Seba skate products. Please say hello to Sonic for us if you vist the store.
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 pretty damning of everyone else.
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. For a while they were only offering a mix of Rollerblade models, but as of late 2024, the store website indicates they also carry some K2 skates. Rollerhockey skates are no longer to be found.
Panda Sport
9217 5th Ave. at 92nd St., Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
www.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 ice skating and then inline skating institution for 60 years (although as part of the Blades chain for the final decade) before closing in late 2003.
Roller Dynamic
Queens
rollerdynamic.com
Queens-based online inline skating shop, we believe in East Elmhurst. Although not indicated on their website, they are supposedly open for in-store sales but by appointment only. You can reach them by e-mail by clicking the Contact link on their site.
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. As of late 2024, they are only open by appointment only for any sales more than serious than accessories, and it's not clear whether they still carry any rollerhockey gear.
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 near 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
One of the oldest area skate shops we know of. Last we heard they were carrying (roller)hockey skates and gear, and some lower-end Rollerblade skates.