By Mary O’KEEFE

Billy’s Board Shop is changing hands. The board shop has been in Montrose since 1976 and will continue to maintain its loyalty to all things skater while expanding its reach to appeal to everyone in the family … skaters and beyond.

Former owner Tim Shepard sold Billy’s Board Shop to Christian and Jackie Cuesta and, although there is butcher-block paper lining the windows at present, it won’t be there for long.

“We will have our soft opening this Saturday,” Christian said.

Christian said the purchase of Billy’s seemed like the right thing to do at the right time. He is a general contractor and was looking into flipping houses when he and Jackie noticed that Billy’s had a “Business for Sale” sign in its window. The couple lives in Montrose and knows the business well. Jackie had worked at a retail company and felt that the sign was a real sign of what they should do.

The store is closed briefly while they redesign the business. The skate equipment will stay but is being moved to the back of the main room. New additions include large screen televisions the Cuestas have brought in.

“The [skaters] will be able to bring in their skate [films] and we will download them and put them on the screen,” Christian said. Instead of just skater movies from production companies, the store will highlight local filmmakers.

Local artists will also be highlighted at the store and, in fact, skaters can bring in a design that can be scanned and placed onto the deck. This will make Billy’s one of the only board shops able to print onto a skateboard.

Beyond skaters, the new owners want to expand to be more of a family store where, skater or not, a shopper can find what they are looking for. They are bringing in clothing from companies like Tommy Bahama and Articles of Society. There will be candles and other home décor as well.

“But with a beach feel,” he added.

The new owners are excited about the business but have realized how much work starting a small business takes.

“[We] have been working day and night,” he said.

One main impression made when speaking to Christian is his excitement for the new business. Not only is he looking forward to expanding the business with more clothing and other items but he is also excited about being on Honolulu Avenue as part of the community.

“We are going to [also] honor local artists,” he said as he continued to think of more and more things his new business will offer.

Billy’s Board Shop is located at 2227 Honolulu Ave. in Montrose.

  Mary Okeefe