Ground Floor Skateboards owner says he can step away knowing ‘the scene is in good hands’
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Ground Floor Skateboards, a downtown shop that aimed to cultivate the local skate scene and inspire creativity, will close next month after eight years in business.
Owner Eric Neubauer, who is also a third grade bilingual teacher in Rockford Public Schools, announced on Ground Floor’s Facebook page on Saturday that the last day would be Sunday, Feb. 4.
“I can leave it behind knowing my vision of skateboarding helped Rockford, not just the skaters, but all the people. I helped sprout some cool local brands and fostered a new creative outlet for people,” Neubauer said in a message to the Rock River Current. “I can proudly say I had a part in some of those, so it’s satisfying to know as I step back that the scene is in good hands.”
The shop is located at 333 E. State St. between the future Ripe Life Juice Co. and Weekdays Social Club. It’s one door down from the former Capri.
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Neubauer said that since opening the shop in March 2016, he’s spent his days teaching and nights running the shop. He said any profit went right back into the shop, but now there isn’t enough profit to keep it open.
Neubauer ran the shop with his late wife, Alicia, an architect and activist who died from breast cancer in April 2020. They have two sons together.
“The shop has taken up most of my time for the last 8 years. I’ve been away from family so much that I feel like I missed a good chunk of my kids youth,” Neubauer said. “Now I have a new family, and I don’t want that to happen again. I want to be there. It’s that simple.”
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Neubauer said he has received an outpouring of support from friends and the local skateboard community after making the announcement.
“I am humbled and honored by the response to the post,” he said. “I truthfully felt like most people had forgotten about us, so this outpouring has been amazing.”
About | Ground Floor Skateboards
Where: 333 E. State St., suite 50, Rockford
Shop online: groundfloorskateboards.com
Opened: March 2016
Closing: Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
