Brooklyn’s best skaters have a new place to practice awesome kick flips, ollies and nosegrinds under the auspices of the best team of skate professionals money can buy.
The House of Vans officially threw open the doors of its Franklin Street warehouse on Saturday night as the global skate company firmly planted its flag deep in East Coast soil.
More than 900 people streamed into the 25,000-square-foot former beverage distribution warehouse as Mos Def and Public Enemy rocked out and Vans-sponsored skaters shredded a new indoor concrete bowl and outdoor skate plaza with steps and railings.
The event featured DJ sets from John Cardiel and Tony Alva as street artist Mike Giant went to work spray-painting the back wall by the bowl.
The skating lab will serve as Vans’ East Coast marketing headquarters with two full-time employees, though it will remain off limits to the public except occasional skating events.
