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Safe place for skaters Mail Tribune / Jim Craven The old Brown�s Ace Hardware store in downtown Central Point will become the Skate Asylum under the direction of Mack Lewis, left, and his son, Darryl Lewis. A second son, Dain Lewis, who is instrumental in planning a skate park for the city, is also joining in the new venture. Father and sons to open skate shop in Central Point By BUFFY POLLOCK CENTRAL POINT � After half a decade of serving as the town�s hardware store, the historic Brown�s Ace Hardware building will soon offer all things skateboard. The Skate Asylum, scheduled to open later this month, will offer merchandise from "every possible skate company for larger variety," said co-owner Darryl Lewis. Lewis, 20, is opening the store with his father, Mack Lewis, and 15-year-old brother, Dain Lewis. "I�ve always wanted to do a skate shop, but I guess every skater kind of does," Darryl said. "I just always figured it would take a couple years to get going. I had no idea my dad would help me in such a major way." Mack, who also helped Dain approach the city about building a skate park, said one process sparked another. "In the process of doing research for the park, we looked at the number of skaters in this community," Mack said. "It became pretty apparent that Central Point was a prime location for a skate shop so, when my son came to me and said he wanted to open one, I thought it was a great idea. Now was the time, so we jumped in with both feet." Skate Asylum will sell skateboards, parts, men�s and women�s clothing, shoes, backpacks, safety gear, videos, magazines, stickers "and all the other traditional skate shop stuff," Darryl said. In addition to retail sales, Darryl and his father agreed the store would provide a safe haven for local skaters and offer advice and product demos. "An asylum is a safe place. We want to create a safe place for skaters where, if kids are down here hanging out, their parents know they�re in a safe place. There are a lot of elements in the skate community that aren�t safe and we want to offer a family atmosphere," Mack said. Darryl said the opportunity to open a business and do something with his family made for a good combination. "This is definitely a good opportunity. Not many people my age get to do something like this," he said. "I was really surprised my dad was doing something this big for me. He provided all the business knowledge, and I provided all the skateboard knowledge and established relationships with all the suppliers." Mack said the opportunity to be supportive of his sons� interest and give them a business education persuaded him to take the risk. "It�s like going out there on a limb in terms of taking a risk," Mack said. "Sure you�re going out on a limb, but the fruit�s out there on the limb, too. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. This is an opportunity to do something with my kids and support their interest in a pretty significant way. "I want them to look back and know I was supportive. It was also a way for me to give them sort of a business education," he said. Darryl said he hoped the new business would also enable him to achieve goals that have little to do with skateboarding. "I want to go to college for architecture and I hope this will help me raise money for college," he said. "I was in architecture in Crater every semester and I drew the plans for the (proposed) skate park." The Lewises said the shop would support the park and encourage skaters to take care of it once it was built. The skate park committee, consisting of Dain and three teens from Crater, is currently trying to find a big enough location for a "street style" park. Skate Asylum, at 311 E. Pine St., is planning for a May grand opening. For more information, call 665-2168. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.