New York City Inline Skating Guide

Blades was the city's best source for inline skate gear through the 1990s and until c. 2003. At its peak around 1998, the chain had at least eight stores in the city as well as few more out of town. But they 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-plus years, that was the second to last store. It closed in January 2016.

The big box sporting goods store chain 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.

Specialists in quad roller and especially roller derby gear.

Kinetic opened June 2020 and was for a few years NYC's only inline skate-specific store. At the start of 2026, they still probably have the best quality selection of inline goods in town, chiefly FR and Seba skate goods. Unfortunately, Kinetic is open by appointment only. But please say hello to Sonic for us if you visit the store.

Small shop that opened autumn 2025 just off the corner of Clinton and Delancey, across from the Manhattan end of the Williamsburg Bridge bikelane. As of the start of 2026, their website only displays soft goods (i.e., shirts) for sale, but the actual store has Rollerblade, Micro, and Them skates on the shelf. It's a mix of recreational, aggressive, and (oh, hey!) more than one model of kid's skates.

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. Since then they seem to have chiefly carried only Rollerblade inline skates, but have at times also had K2 models. Rollerhockey skates are no longer to be found.

Carries some low- and middle-priced models, chiefly Rollerblade but also some K2 models.

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.

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.

Apparently operates as a roving pop-up shop. They were selling skates (and coffee!) from a storefront on Essex St. on the Lower East Side in early 2025, then in September 2025 were open on the Bowery near Spring St. for a week. Where next? We have no idea.

As of 2025 seems to be an ice skating shop only, and chiefly ice hockey, but as recently as 2021 they apparently carried Marsblade rollerhockey frames.

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 Long Island City.

See comments above regarding the location in the city.

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

Apparently the descendant of a family-owned store that was located in White Plains for 80 years. Advertises as being the largest hockey dealer in Westchester, which means plenty of ice and roller hockey gear, but also carries some Rollerblade skates plus wheels and bearings.

See comments above regarding the location in the city.

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

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.