As he cruised along Toronto’s streets in 2008 on his longboard, strangers kept asking Ryan Rubin, Longboard Living’s owner, the same question: where did he buy it?
Back then, longboards — which are like skateboards only bigger and better suited for commuting than tricks — weren’t so easy to come by. “I realized that most longboards come from the back of a skate shop,” says Ryan. “I wanted to create an environment and atmosphere for this unique style of skateboard to thrive.”
A bright and intimate Kensington Market boutique that opened in 2010 is Ryan’s execution of that vision. From the stark 200-square-foot space, he sells virtually anything a skater could want: longboards, parts and accessories ranging from helmets to graphic tees.