A mother's concern for other children's safety was a big factor in choosing the location of her new business, Joey's Skate Shack.

Christina Kaminski, 47, has a 13-year-old son named Joey who likes skateboarding and is the store's namesake. Kaminski knows that young skateboarders often make trips to skate shops. She wanted local kids to be able to ride their bikes or skateboards to her store without having to cross a busy road, so she picked a quaint space in Old Downtown Palm Harbor.

"I know as a parent, I wouldn't let my son take his bike on U.S. 19," said Kaminski.

Local kids have already discovered Joey's Skate Shack. On the day that Palm Harbor Patch visited, five teens were at the store. All had made the trip safely on their skateboards.

However, the convenience of having a skate shop just a few blocks away from Palm Harbor University High (PHUH) wasn't the only reason the boys stopped in. They say Joey's carries top-brand skateboarding supplies and the prices are very reasonable.

"It's very cheap and has a lot more variety than any other places," said Alec Boyette, 15, a sophomore at PHUH.

Boyette's buddies agree.

"It's close, has good prices and they have a lot of variety,"  said fellow PHUH student Bryce Leichtenschlag, age 15.

"This place is really close to where I live and prices are great," said PHUH student Ian Fergusson, 15, who bought bearings and hardware for his skateboard.

Kaminski says she made it a point to offer budget-friendly prices at Joey's.

"We try to keep the prices low. That's a big thing when you're dealing with kids," she said.

Kaminski's brother-in-law, Greg Kaminski, manages the store. He's proud that the skate shop has a large selection of popular skateboard brands including Sector 9, Penny Boards, Dregs, Lay Back and Santa Cruz. The store also carries BMX bike accessories, surfing and skim board supplies and Ipanema flip flops and Rider sandals.

Joey's Skate Shack is located at 1021 12th St., 727-253-4921

Hours-

• Mon through Fri.: 12 to 6 p.m.
• Sat.: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Sun.: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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