Even products without a price tag attracted attention from a handful of customers early Thursday afternoon at Freestyle of Duluth.
They tried to buy the store's graffiti-covered benches, floor mats and brand-name banners. Owner Taylor Leege jotted down names and numbers, promising dibs on the items of interest.
The 22-year-old downtown skate and snowboard shop is closing on Dec. 31, according to Leege, who cites two years of bad snow-sports conditions, the economy and the shift toward online shopping and chain stores for slowing the local business he bought from his father, Larry, five years ago.
Still, Leege doesn't blame customers who wrangle for deals.
"You want people to buy local," he said. "But you want to save money."
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Leege works full time at the shop at 28 N. Third Ave. W. and has four part-time employees.
The shop carries snowboards, skateboards, apparel, equipment such as wheels and accessories like decorative stickers. They have skateboard decks that were designed specifically for the store, including boards marked "FOD" and another starring the Aerial Lift Bridge. The store has a casual atmosphere where videos play on a small TV featuring skilled boarders who skid along downtown rails and embankments.
Leege sat on a barstool behind the counter Thursday in a stocking cap and flannel shirt. He says he just can't compete with the online stores.
Customer Tyler Rygh, interested in a piece of wood carved with the DC Shoes logo, said he's been coming to Freestyle of Duluth for 10 years and already has taken advantage of closeout sales to buy $300 worth of apparel.
Rygh said he has been trying to buy his gear locally since he got into snowboarding and longboarding.
"It's a little more expensive, but I always try to support local shops," Rygh said. He will probably shop at Damage Boardshop when Freestyle of Duluth closes, he said.
Damage Boardshop, in Lincoln Park, is the local competition with a similar line of skateboarding and snowboarding gear. Owners Jack Boyd and Ben Olson worked at Freestyle of Duluth for about three years, Boyd said, before they opened their shop almost six years ago.
"It's a big piece of Duluth skate history," Boyd said of Freestyle of Duluth.
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Freestyle has been both a shop and a meet-up destination for skaters. Both shops sponsor contests and events and were instrumental in getting the skate park built.
Business is fine at Damage, Boyd said, although they also lose customers to chains and online shopping. And while they might benefit from the lack of local competition in 2011, Boyd said it is better for skaters if both shops exist.
"They are a local business, contributing to the community," Boyd said.
