Today we’d like to introduce you to Terry Grimble.
Hi Terry, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I discovered skateboarding in 1978 at age seven. In 1986, I became a sponsored skateboarder who did skateboard demonstrations at schools, parades, fairs, festivals, etc. and traveled from New York to Florida to compete in skateboarding competitions. In 1988, I started working in skateboarding retail at age 17. In 1989, I started my first non-profit organization called the Skaters of Fayetteville to get a public skatepark built in Fayetteville, which eventually opened in 1993. In 1995, I opened my first skate shop in Fayetteville, NC at age 23.
I opened my first privately owned, indoor skatepark in 1999 with a partner. Had a partnership dispute in 2007 which forced the shop and park to close. Two years later, I started Daville Skate Shop in 2009 in Fayetteville, NC. In 2013, I started the Friends of the Skateparks Foundation, (FSF) a non-profit organization whose mission is to help communities with their skatepark projects so that they are designed, built, and run properly. In 2017, Daville Skate Shop expanded into Myrtle Beach opening up its 2nd location at 1263 38th Ave N.
In 2018-2019, FSF raised over $30,000 for the Matt Hughes Skatepark Rebuild project, developed the new design, and helped the City pick the right builder for the project. In October 2021, Daville Skate Shop and FSF partnered with the City of Fayetteville to do events and to open up Daville Skate Camp Center/Pro Shop and Concessions at Rowan Skatepark located at 725 W Rowan Street Fayetteville, NC 28303. A soft opening could happen by the end of November 2021, with a grand opening celebration in late December or early 2022.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been smooth. First, never have a partner, if you can’t do it on your own, it’s probably not worth it or you are not ready for it. Half of the 33 years in skateboarding retail has been great but the other half has been a complete struggle and I thought about giving up many times.
Skateboarding is my passion and it’s giving me reasons to hang on. There’s a lot of work to be done in the skateboarding industry and in our communities, especially for our youth. To share skateboarding with an entire community is a blessing and that’s what keeps me going.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Daville Skate Shop has three locations, two in Fayetteville, NC, and one in Myrtle Beach, SC. Daville is a high-end specialty retailer that’s 100% skateboarding. We sell Vans, Nike SB, Adidas, New Balance, DC, Lakai, E’S, FA, Hockey, Real, Spitfire, Bones, Powell Peralta, Polar, Creature, Santa Cruz, Baker, Deathwish, and many more brands geared toward skateboarding lifestyle and culture. Daville produces its own line of skateboards, wheels, grip tape, clothes, hats, and accessories. Daville sponsors a team of talented skateboarders who do demonstrations, make videos, compete in contests, and teach at skate camps. Daville also sponsors local and regional events.
Friends of the Skateparks Foundation (FSF) is a non-profit organization that the owner of the Daville Skate Shop, Terry Grimble founded in 2013 in order to help communities all throughout the region with their skatepark projects. Many cities and communities don’t know where to begin skatepark projects and unfortunately, there are a lot of skatepark building companies out there who take full advantage and build poorly designed and overpriced crappy skateparks that rob entire communities of the benefits a well designed, well built, well ran, and fair priced skatepark can bring.
FSF has done it all when it comes to skatepark projects such as fundraising projects, skatepark designs, skatepark builds, skatepark consulting, and skatepark events,
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Skateboarding is in the Olympics now so lots of skate camps, personal trainers, skate lessons, contests, more skateparks, and overall more participation. Lots of career opportunities are opening up.
Contact Info:
- Email: davilleskateshop@gmail.com
- Website: www.davilleskateshop.com www.friendsoftheskateparks.org
- Instagram: @davilleskateshop
- Facebook: @daville26
- Youtube: Daville Skate Shop
