The Black Cat, a store which specializes in custom made T-shirts, skateboards and skating gear, will open on the Corner this Saturday.
The store's owner, Andy Foster, who says he has been planning the store since last August, said his store fits into "a niche in Charlottesville that needed to be filled." He says he hopes the store will appeal to both University students and young Charlottesville residents.
While Foster says he is convinced that "skateboarders have been clamoring" for his store, employees working in neighboring businesses said they don't see many skateboarders in the area.
"I never see any [skateboarders] walking or riding around here and I'm in here five days a week," said Troy Jenkins, an employee at Arch's Frozen Yogurt.
However, according to Foster, the store's presence might be enough to spark interest in skateboarding. Foster said he noticed that people have been taking an interest in the new store front.
"People will stick their heads in and tell me how glad they are to see a store here," said Foster. He said he hopes that the store's opening may encourage people to use skateboarding as a means of getting around grounds.
"Longboarding is popular at other schools," said Foster referring to a type of elongated skate board commonly used for riding greater distances. "I hope it will catch on here."
College fourth-year Miles King, who is an employee at the neighboring restaurant Pita Pit, said he has noticed that in the area around the Black Cat there had been "more [skateboarders] than usual in the past two weeks."
Foster said if the store does well he hopes to increase his inventory to include more items.
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