Update (8/15/2020): Chris Candy with Rip City Skates has confirmed with L.A. Taco that L.A.'s oldest skate shop will remain at 2709 Santa Monica Blvd for the foreseeable future. The developer who purchased the property last year is reportedly no longer seeking a demolition permit and is planning on putting the property back on the market. For now, Rip City lives on.
[dropcap size=big]R[/dropcap]ip City Skates, L.A.’s longest continuously operated skate shop is likely moving soon. The Santa Monica building that they’ve operated out of for more than 40 years is set to be demolished. The iconic skateboard shop has been around almost as long as skating has.
Earlier this month, Chris Candy, a former Rip City Skates employee began collecting signatures to make 2709 Santa Monica Blvd a historical landmark and potentially save Rip City. The Change.org petition has garnered over 12,000 signatures.
Jim McDowell, one of Rip City’s co-owners, and other staff tell L.A. Taco they appreciate the support but stress that they do not want to see the building become a landmark. They fear that it will only lead to a substantial rent increase and problems with their landlord. “We’ve had a really nice run here, 40 plus years. It’s good, you can’t look back, you look forward,” McDowell says. They’re planning on eventually moving to another location, hopefully somewhere else in Santa Monica.
At the end of the day, Candy says he’s looking out for McDowell and his business partner Bill’s best interest, “At this point, I care more about getting them settled,” Candy tells L.A. Taco. According to Candy, obtaining landmark status is complicated and wouldn’t necessarily protect Rip City. “It would be a different story if they owned the land,” he says.