True East

True East's store front
Photography: Zander Taketomo

Words by Will Burstein

Located just up the hill from old city hall on Province Street, True East Skate Shop is in one of Bostons most historical areas. You wont find a shop more centrally located than this one. Youll know youre close when you hear the sounds of failed flip tricks and beeping taxis. Although small in size, True East has the biggest hard goods-to-clothing ratio of any shop Ive seen. If you want to support your local scene, True East has it all, RAW Skateboards and Apparel, Fastlife Wheels, and a lifetime supply of City People 2 videos.

Since October of 2004 when the shop opened, heads have come and gone. One thing will always remain, True East is a family that is not afraid to grow. The team began with only three members, Ryan Gallant, Richie Bonnevie, and Eli Reed. Now it has grown by a factor of three with Zeb Weisman, Danny Meatball Carvalho, John and Tommy Wisdom, Gavin MacMahon Nolan, and Waffle. Waffle? That doesnt sound like a name. How about Meatball? Cheeseburgers anyone? Whats with all these arbitrary nicknames related to food? I dont know myself. Come to True East and try to solve the puzzle.

Besides having an edible team and having good flat ground to skate, True East expands to Chinatown every season for their annual Fall Skatejam and multiple barbecues throughout the summer. These events are free of charge and usually involve some sort of product toss. Just dont try too hard to get that tee shirt. Nobody wants to fall on a hypodermic needle!

The only thing I must warn you about is that True East has such an inviting and non-judgmental attitude, that you will not want to leave. Leave your board there overnight, no problem. These guys have done their job to make Boston a better place. Do yours by supporting them and the local companies they carry. Now get off the bench and skate down to Aquarium.

True East
32 Province St.
Boston, MA 02108

A look inside True East
Photography: Zander Taketomo

12 Comments

Craig Martin says:
Good vibes at that shop! HOLLA

Vaughn Harrold says:
I've been lookin for a cool skate shop for a while. Could you tell me the part of the city the store is in?

Stijn Anthierens says:
i'm from belgium (europe) and i went there last year.. great shop, great people, great spots!!

zach russell says:
i am going to boston in a few days. i am going to go there. i hope they have lots of shirt.im bring back a souvineer? for my friend

zach russell says:
i go to corkys

LUKE says:
Quintessential Boston skate shop. fairly new to the scene but a central part of it anyway. True east is THE place to visit in downtown crossing. keepin the boston skate scene healthy!!!

Antoine allen says:
TRu east is my shop my boy domoniq works there

joe v says:
true east was a skatepark in my little town of millbury MA then the shop moved to boston in 04 im proud to rep it i had some of the funnest experiences of my life there it just sux that they put a gym for fat middle aged women where it was fuckin saveges in this town

helio says:
true 4 truth that was my first skateboard store where i bought my first board,i'm brazilian ,nice skboard store,i recomend it 4 all my friends who is sk8boarders,

holla says:
the shop is closed down and they are moving to woburn. It's gonna still be the same one but bigger size and so much more

Jenny Luu says:
is the store closed down now? :[ i went there today try and get the yellow quickstrikes but then it wasn't open. it was around 4:30 PM so i was sure it was open since its from 12 to 7 but it wasn't open today. so i'm really disappointed. i hope it re-opens because i really wanted those quickstrikes.

T'mari McFall says:
i can't believe they closed, i miss skating with those guys everyday and chilling in a packed shop