Introducing The Skate Shop of Italy

While the bulk of skateboarding seems to be focused in the United States, skateboarding is gaining support around the world. I've personally seen skatings popularity in the East (Japan and Taiwan), but Europe has an exploding skateboarding culture as well! Take for example, The Skate Shop in Milan, which just had its grand opening. Founded by Joe Onorato, the most famous Italian skateboarder I know of, the Skate Shop is the first pure skateboarding shop in the area, and will feature common pro skateboarding brands, along with Milano Centrale.

Milano Centrale is a brand started several years ago by Joe Onorato, named after the famous Milano Centrale skateboarding spot in the square of the Central Station in Milan. "I decided to create a brand that had the same name as this spot," says Joe, "a name that everyone in the world of skateboarding knows and which can proudly represent the Italian skateboarding scene." MC skateboards are made in California, "But with an Italian soul." "I prefer to have my boards produced in California rather than countries where I would definitely spend less, but get an inferior result: to me quality is all." Quite the compliment to American-made skateboards, and encouraging to see that skaters all over the world understand the need for quality skateboards.

So, if you're in Milan, check out The Skate Shop at Via Grossich, 11, MM/FS Lambrate, 20133 Milano Italy. Otherwise, check out their MySpace at www.myspace.com/milanocentrale.