Skate shop reopening in new Downtown location 

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Two months after a break-in resulted in stolen merchandise, a local skate shop is nearly finished with its transition to a new location.  

Devil’s Island Skateboard Co. is opening for the first time at its 114 S. 8th St. location on April 5 to coincide with the Downtown Wine & Beer Walk event. 

“I definitely wanted to get things ready for all that traffic and everything,” owner Dylan Hay said. “Kind of let people know that we are no longer up there (at 725 Francis St.) and we’re down here.” 

The new location gives Hay more space to work with, and he is excited to hear feedback from his customers about how he can continue furnishing the shop. 

“I'm just excited to just see people's reactions and kind of hear the difference of opinions between the old place and the new place, kind of get some research, and see what I can do better for the business and whatnot,” he said. 

Building management allowed Hay to move in around the middle of March to get acclimated to the new space, but Hay did not start moving merchandise in until a couple of days ago. 

“It’s just so much more space with more opportunity for just more merchandise,” he said.  

The skateboard shop is serving as more than an outlet to buy skating supplies, it’s building a community between Hay and his customers. 

“I’ve met some really cool people,” Hay said. “People that I talk to on a daily basis now just through the shop that were patrons before and now, you know, they’re like friends.” 

Excitement is building within the skating community and Devil’s Island Skate Co. for the new skate park at 1942 Mapleleaf Boulevard that is on track to open in May or June.  

“Everybody is super excited,” he said. “When we were talking about the park, everyone’s got their ideas like what they’re going to do on this obstacle, and it’s just so fun.”