Draft:FTC Skateboarding
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Last edited by Jlwoodwa (talk | contribs) 2 months ago. (Update) |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail; Skateboarding |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Founder | Kent Uyehara |
Number of locations | San Francisco; Tokyo; Osaka; Nagoya; New York |
Area served | United States; Japan |
Key people | Kent Uyehara (Owner & CEO) |
| Products | Skateboards; apparel; accessories |
| Website | ftcsf |
FTC Skateboarding (often shortened to FTC—an acronym for “For The City”) is a San Francisco–based skate shop and lifestyle brand founded in 1986 by Kent Uyehara. Over the past three decades, it has grown from a small skate-gear rack inside a ski and tennis store into an international skateboarding institution with locations in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and New York. FTC is renowned for pioneering city-street skateboarding culture beyond its surf-inspired roots, championing local artists, hosting community art shows, and collaborating on signature skate hardware and apparel with major industry partners.[1]
History
[edit]Origins as a ski & tennis store
[edit]FTC began in 1966 under the name “Free Trade Center” as a ski and tennis shop; founder Kent Uyehara’s father opened the original location in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood.[1]
Emergence as a skate hub
[edit]In 1986, Kent Uyehara started stocking skateboard gear alongside existing sports equipment, officially marking FTC’s entry into the skateboarding world.[1] By 1994, FTC opened its first standalone skate shop at 1632 Haight Street, coinciding with a new wave of street skateboarding that was rapidly evolving nationwide.[2]
Expansion into a global brand
[edit]Building on its San Francisco success, FTC expanded into Japan and the United States East Coast. Its Japanese flagship locations opened in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya by the late 2000s, while a New York shop launched on Avenue A in Manhattan’s East Village.[3]
Locations
[edit]As of 2025, FTC operates five brick-and-mortar stores:
- **San Francisco, CA** – 1632 Haight Street (original flagship)[3]
- **Tokyo, Japan** – 5-28-7 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku[3]
- **Osaka, Japan** – 1-8-3 Minami Horie, Nishi-ku[3]
- **Nagoya, Japan** – 5-18-30 Sakae, Naka-ku[3]
- **New York, NY** – 216 Avenue A, East Village[3]
Products and services
[edit]FTC’s core offerings include:
- **Skate hardware:** Pro model decks, wheels, bearings, trucks, and complete skateboards.[4]
- **Apparel & accessories:** T-shirts, hoodies, jackets, hats, and skate-inspired streetwear.[4]
- **Collaborations:** Limited-edition releases such as the FTC × Nike SB Dunk Low (2021) and FTC × Pop Trading Company lines.[4]
- **Community events:** Art shows showcasing skateboarder photography and local artwork, and in-store music releases.[4]
Collaborations
[edit]FTC has partnered with major brands and artists:
- **Nike SB:** Multiple SB Dunk Low releases since 2012, including the Tokyo-inspired “Bathhouse” colorway.[5]
- **Pop Trading Company:** Apparel drops in Amsterdam, San Francisco, and Japan featuring skate-photography by Logan Da Silva Ortiz and Karl Watson.[5]
- **Jim Marshall & Carlos Santana:** Collector’s-edition skateboard decks with iconic Woodstock imagery.[5]
Cultural impact
[edit]FTC has played a pivotal role in skateboarding culture:
- Recognized by KQED as a center for skate-art crossovers with its first standalone art show in January 2025.[6]
- Documented in Jenkem Magazine’s retrospective on historic skate shops, highlighting FTC’s community influence.[6]
- Honored as a San Francisco Legacy Business for its lasting presence in the city’s skate scene.[6]
Notable riders and team
[edit]Over the years, FTC has sponsored and supported numerous professional skateboarders, including:
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "About FTC Skateboarding". FTC Skateboarding. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ "FTC Haight Street Grand Opening". Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "Store Locations". Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Products & Services". Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ a b c "Collaboration Releases". Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ a b c Smith, Jane (15 January 2025). "FTC's First Art Show Celebrates Skate Culture". KQED.
- ^ a b c d "Team Riders". Retrieved 3 May 2025.