outerlimitsOriginally uploaded by andynoise

Skate shop packs ‘em in for deals
BY STEVEN MAYER, Californian staff writer
e-mail: smayer@bakersfield.com | Friday, Nov 23 2007 8:20 PM
Last Updated: Friday, Nov 23 2007 8:25 PM

Let’s face it. There’s nothing remarkable about finding holiday shoppers standing in line in front of retail malls and big box stores the morning after Thanksgiving.

Photos:
Photo by Casey Christie
A line of shoppers waits at the downtown Outer Limits skate shop and clothing retailer Friday morning.
In fact, the annual Black Friday pilgrimage to Target, Mervyns and “the mall” has become as assuringly predictable as Scrooge’s annual visit by the ghost of Christmas past.

But when lines of shoppers stretched down the sidewalk and around the corner in downtown Bakersfield — with no Target store in sight — inquiring minds wanted to know where they were going and why.

“I saw this flier in the newspaper,” said 13-year-old Tomas Angulo as he unfolded an edgy black-and-white ad for Outer Limits, an independent skateboard and clothing shop on Chester Avenue.

At around 11 a.m. Friday, Tomas was standing in line with his 13-year-old cousin Justin Vasquez, his mom, Alicia Angulo, and about 75 other eager shoppers.

“We already tried Target,” Alicia said. “Forget it. We got in, but we couldn’t get out.”

The lines in Target were so long, she said, she and the boys decided to leave their merchandise on the shelf and make their escape.

After a stop by Linens ‘n Things, Mom and the boys landed at Outer Limits, where edgy footwear brands like Vox, Osiris, Emerica and Fallen were on sale at two pairs for $50.

Rather than allowing an unmanageable crowd to jam-pack the storefront-sized shop, Dennis Harrison worked the door, letting shoppers in as others left the store carrying bags.

“Everyone is being very respectful,” he said. “There’s no stomping, trampling or pushing.”

Most customers had to wait between 40 and 50 minutes to get through the door.

But once inside, mellow, reggae-esque tunes by Sublime and a no-stress attitude among the pro skateboarders working the narrow aisles established a relaxed, unhurried vibe.

Store owner Joey Witt said marking down his merchandise to at or near cost is his way of repaying the community for its support during the rest of the year.

“It’ll be this way till 6 p.m.,” he said as he helped bag merchandise behind the counter. “After we close the doors people will still be knocking.”

Sales associate and skater Jackson Lee said the store attracts people who aren’t interested in the buttoned-down look.

“It’s all about the edge,” he said.

Cole and Christina Gorman of Pismo Beach were there shopping for some of that edge. So was 22-year-old Bakersfield resident Matt Riley, who said he’d never been to Outer Limits before, but had heard “good things.”

By 4 p.m., the store was still working at customer capacity, but the line out front had shrunk considerably.

What kind of day did Witt expect in sales?

“Record-breaking,” he said.

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