“When the Forks offered us the space last fall, we took it right away,” says SK8 owner Genico Aiello, who bought the business in 2002. “The shop is a way to have more of a voice for the skateboarding community,” says Aiello, who hangs on to the grassroots ethic at the heart of skateboarding culture.

“It’s a huge industry again, sometimes influenced too much by people who see it as a way to just make money and not as a way to develop community. Skateboarding shoes used to be about function. Now they’re a fashion accessory,” he says, waving at a wall of chunky, multi-coloured shoes under the big-screen television.

“We try and make this a place where kids can come and just hang out—maybe watch a skateboarding video or just talk about skateboarding.”

For now, the shop seems like an anomaly, but Aiello expects to blend in easily as The Forks evolves. “Definitely some people are wary of this younger demographic,” he says, “but we’re here to have a positive impact on this place.” SK8 Skates is found at The Forks Market, 452.4802, www.sk8skates.com .