Featured photo by Matthew Olson
Story by Matthew Olson
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Shop Owner Phil Doran is hosting LRB Skate and Record Shop’s grand opening in conjunction with the celebration of his co-owner and son Gage Doran’s first pro model deck for Volatile Skateboards release on Feb. 24 and 25.
Gage Doran gets first-ever signature skate deck from Volatile
Gage Doran, 16, has been skateboarding for Volatile skateboards for nearly a year and they recently released his first-ever signature skate deck. The deck was designed by an illustrious artist who has done work for Powell Peralta, Bones Brigade Skateboards and for Jeese James from West Coast Choppers. Gage also has another smaller sponsor, JaxWax.
Gage Doran began skating in Charleston, South Carolina. He said he really found his passion for it when he stated skating at Fred Deadman Skate Park in Manchester, Tennessee. Phil Doran has been encouraging of his son’s passion for skateboarding and has been a collaborator in his son’s achievements.
“I would post a lot of videos, we’d go all day at different places: Nashville, Florida, South Carolina. Where ever we were I was shooting videos really to see how he was moving along in skating. A proud dad kind of thing”
Gage Doran finds a lot of enjoyment in what he does.
“Honestly just the opportunity and the amount of options and creativity you can do with it is what I love about it,” Gage Doran said.
About LRB Skate and Record Shop and what to expect
The shop is at 517 W Main St. and is neighboring Chrome Halo Tattoo and Piercing in the same building.
LRB Skate and Record shop distrubutes Volatile’s decks. It fits the store well seeing as it is also a record store because people buy Volatile decks with albums on them for bands to sign. The store buys, sell and trades records with quite a big collection. Bringing music brought more of the shop’s theme.
“It was going to be a skates shop in the beginning. But, because of the size and everything we decided ‘Let’s do music,'” Phil Doran said.
Chrome Halo hosts live music and entertainment in the venue that is set up in the back of the building called the Graveyard Gallery. Phil Doran was excited about this and saw that having his business next door would have mutual benefits.
“They have the Graveyard Gallery and they do a lot of shows there which is perfect. We were excited to be next to a tattoo place because we knew it would be cool. We knew they would be cool and cliental and stuff and Vice versa. We met them we were like, ‘Yeah this is great. Graveyard gallery we can do shows. Let’s do stuff together,’” Phil Doran said.
The venue will have live bands for the event, free giveaways and grilling food outside that people can purchase. The live bands will included in the lineup are: Lydias Castle ft. Jon Wysocki formally of the Staind, Valkyrie’s Fire, Blackwater Down, Honda Civic and Cluester. Lydias Castle will be doing a meet and greet following their performance on Feb. 24 at 8 p.m.
The promotional will include 10% off everything in the store and will have some $30 decks.
“We’re going to be doing build a deck if someone comes in and buys a deck wheels trucks and bearings well give them a free shop t-shirt and free hard ware,” Phil Doran said.
Phil Doran wants the skate shop to be a place for the youth of Murfreesboro to find interest.
“Trying to accommodate for any of the kids and give them a place to hang out. In the back room were going to try and set up so if some video games, stuff like that so if it’s raining or whatever we’ll have drinks: Gatorade, stuff like that. We want them to come in and chill if it’s hot, chill for a minute and skate on back down the trail. Go back to the park that we’re close too,” Phil Doran said.
According to the city, construction on the new skate park is supposed to begin this spring and be finished by Fall 2024.
Phil Doran didn’t have plans that involved the new skate park, but knows it will be positive for the shop.
“When we opened up the shop we weren’t even sure if the skate park was going to happen at that point because it was supposed to have happened last year. Everything was on hold until we got word recently that it was happening. We’ll definetly be involved as much as we can try to get in and see if we can do stuff with it,” he said.
The shop plans to try and organize contests at the park and is in the process of organizing a team. It has been apparent to this as well that there are a lot of skateboarders around the school. They have intentions to teach kids how to skate as well.
“We are hoping all the skater kids come out and we build a great relation. Try to give back to the skate community and the kids around here by supporting all of it. The best that we can,” said Phil Doran.
To contact Lifestyles Editor Destiny Mizell and Assistant Lifestyles Editor Shamani Salahuddin, email [email protected]. For more news, visit www.mtsusidelines.com, or follow us on Instagram at MTSUSidelines or on X at @MTSUSidelines.
