Chris Blackway pulled out a couple new sets of wheels, as two young boys peered over the counter, anxious to see the decks they painted at camp earlier that day transformed into fully outfitted skateboards.
The brothers, 5 and 9 years old, stood with their mom inside Nomad Supply Company that afternoon, filling the downtown Doylestown shop with energy and curiosity.
It was the kind of moment Blackway lived for, watching the familiar excitement build in fellow skaters, knowing he was merely a stop on their way to whatever adventures they had planned that day.
And it was one of the reasons he opened Nomad almost five years ago, hoping to build a space centered around skateboarding, surfing, music and art — all in an effort to reinvigorate that very sense of adventure in everyone young and old.
“I want it to be inspirational,” Blackway said.
“I have huge pieces of art hanging in the store, the clothing, the shoes, the skateboards, the surfboards . . . I want you to walk in and feel like family, you’re a part of it, you’re inspired to go out there and do that stuff, take that road trip, call friends you haven’t seen in a while, go skate.”
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And just as he envisioned, Nomad has managed to embody a coastal vibe, despite its location, an hour and a half away from the nearest beach.
But keeping a small business thriving on Main Street, especially one centered around such a niche lifestyle, has presented many challenges along the way, some of which were to be expected.
“I’m a skate and surf shop in Pennsylvania, so everything I do is a total risk,” said Blackway, who wanted to work close to Doylestown, where he lives with his wife, Donna, and three daughters.
But there were other factors he hadn’t anticipated.
While many businesses suffered losses during the pandemic, the outdoor recreation industry experienced a significant upturn with an increase of nearly 19% in 2021, according to a U.S. Census report.
For Nomad, that boost in its first two years was encouraging, but then as people resumed their normal schedules, coupled with the rising cost of necessities, Blackway said his sales have continued to drop, bringing him to the brink of closing.
“In the skateboard industry, I’ve seen such a big downturn,” he said.
“I feel like people are spending what they need to spend on to sustain themselves, like groceries and gas. Eating out has gotten so expensive, going to a grocery store has obviously gotten really expensive. And I feel like Main Street is taking the hit right now because it’s not a priority.”
And as his revenue decreased, the bills quickly piled up, leaving him with a tough choice — make a bold move or close his business for good.
“As a retail store, you’re either thinking outside the box . . . or calling it quits,” he said.
It was a Hail Mary of sorts to save the business he poured everything into.
Over a single weekend, sending an S.O.S. out across social media, he advertised a 50% off storewide sale, as a last ditch effort to clear out his inventory, and along with it, his past due invoices, so he could start fresh.
“It was one of those things where your tail is between your legs and that feels terrible. But it allowed me to empty (the store) and clear out the bigger brands,” Blackway said.
“And now the goal is more local products and brands that are doing something unique that you’re not going to be able to find all over the internet.”
He also plans to increase the live shows he puts on in the shop, supporting local musicians and young emerging artists along the way. In addition, he hopes to keep it a place where kids can safely hang out with their friends, and anyone can find their own piece of adventure.
“It’s not a regular retail experience,” Blackway said. “It’s home for a lot of people. The high school kids, the middle school kids come and hang out here. It’s kind of like their safe space. I feel like the town needs it.”
And while this second chance has made him hopeful for the future, he has this message for anyone wondering how to best support their local shops.
“Yeah, it’s not as easy as Target or Amazon where it shows up the next day, but they also aren’t sending you thank you emails or giving you discounts and asking how your kids are doing,” he said.
“People don’t realize how far their small purchases go. All it takes is some consistency and a little bit of thought . . . Reconsider time and what you value. It doesn’t take that long to just walk through town and ask yourself if your local store has something before going online.”
Details: 137 S. Main St., Doylestown; 267-742-3518; shopnomadsupply.com
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Reporter Michele Haddon covers local news, small business, food and drink, economic revitalization, art and culture for The Intelligencer and Bucks County Courier Times at PhillyBurbs.com. Please consider supporting local journalism with a subscription.
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