303 Boards shared that it will be closing its Boulder location after seven years in the city.
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The shop said the decision did not come lightly and pointed to increasing corporate pressure and a tougher economic environment that has made it harder for independent businesses to stay steady.
In their message, 303 Boards explained that they do not often make public statements on Instagram, but felt this moment called for one. The Boulder store has been part of the local skate community for a long time, and its closure marks the end of that chapter in that specific location.
The post also spoke about how larger corporate influence and changing retail conditions are affecting small shops across many industries. The team encouraged people to think more about where they spend their money and to consider supporting local businesses when they can. That includes local restaurants, small grocery stores, and independent boutiques that rely heavily on community support to stay open.
For skateboarding in Colorado, 303 Boards encouraged people to continue backing local skate shops that are still operating. They mentioned Satellite in Boulder, Emage in Denver, and their own remaining 303 locations on Colfax and at the Annex.
They also listed other shops across the state including Market in Fort Collins, Bluecar in Lakewood, Promise in Colorado Springs, Loco in Longmont, and Skate Ratz in Loveland.
They added that for people outside these areas, their online store is still available through 303Boards.com, which continues to serve customers across Colorado and beyond.
The message closed with appreciation for the community and a reminder that local skateboarding scenes rely heavily on consistent support from the people who are part of them.
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303 Boards Posted:
"Hi everyone. I don't make public statements or say too much on Instagram very often. That being said, I feel like there are some things that needed to be said. We are unfortunately closing our Boulder location after 7 great years. As corporate America takes over and the economy gets harder and harder to navigate, we all need to try and support local and small businesses before they all disappear. Go eat at your local restaurants more often instead of a big chain. Shop at a local boutique or grocery store when you can.
As far as Colorado skateboarding goes, please try and support locally. If you are in Boulder, stop by Satellite. If you are in Denver, swing by Emage or come say hi to us at one of the 303 locations — either 303 Colfax or 303 the Annex. If you are in Fort Collins, Market. Lakewood, Bluecar. Colorado Springs, Promise. Longmont, Loco. Loveland, Skate Ratz.
If you are somewhere else in Colorado that doesn't have a local shop nearby, we have you covered at 303Boards.com. And remember, we are all out here really trying to do the most for Colorado skateboarding as a whole and keeping the local scene thriving and relevant.
If you made it this far, thanks for hearing me out.
— Sam Schuman, 303 Boards"