SkateLab to roll out new line
When Simi Valley skate park SkateLab opened in 1997, there were only four skate parks in California, co-owner Todd Huber said.
Now, he said, there are 400.
Tapping into the state’s growing market of skaters, Huber and former Los Angeles Dodger pitcher Scott Radinsky are about to ratchet up SkateLab’s revenues and visibility with the sale of its brand name clothing line. This spring, the edgy apparel will hit the racks of 3,000 Wal-Mart stores.
Previously, SkateLab T-shirts were sold in Macy’s and JCPenney, Huber said. The spring line is one of the biggest moves for Huber and Radinsky since they bought the 1,900-square-foot SkateLab building, 4726 Valley Fair St., Simi Valley, in 2001.
Since then, they have expanded it both indoors and outdoors to 31,000 square feet to house a skateboard hall of fame, museum and birthday party area. The skate park is open most days from mid-morning to midnight.
“Over 1,000 people come here every week,” Huber said. The museum is the main attraction for many foreign visitors, he said.
