It could be any number of reasons for my decision to leave the wonderful world of retail after some18 odd years…the last 12 of which have been spent in a grubby little shop called MBC in Glasgow a place most of you have never heard of, so you’ll have to take my word for the remainder of this retrospective.
MBC was scraped together in an attempt to continue the many friendships (and earn a crust) forged in the years of Quarterback or QB as it became…a 200 deck store from the days when the likes of Steve Cab, Matt Hensley, Chris Miller and the affable Ron Allan to name a few came to Glasgow to commence video tours before heading south…the late 80’s before fashion sank it’s fangs into the rebellious beast leaving the emaciated apology we see today…a little over the top...No believe me skating was truly massive then…without the debatable assistance of Playstation games or the annoying but strangely attractive Avril Lavigne…skating needs the individual now more than ever…
MBC was never more important than the people who used it…whether to work in or buy from…each hopefully getting what they wanted or needed at that particular time in their lives…I am staggered and humbled at the number who chose to stay for so long making me and the place a part of their formative years…to mention names would be impossible and I would dread to miss a single one so collectively I publicly declare my heartfelt thanks to all...My apologies if required to some…and my regrets to none…
MBC will cease to be by design…12 years to the day it began…secure in the knowledge that every supplier has been paid every invoice settled and where humanly possible every promise honoured…to finish in any other way would be an insult to all concerned and stain the memory of MBC and it’s friends past and present…
Which brings me neatly to the reason…the future…In a little under two years I will be 50…not all that old I grant you…but I now need to consider my future and that of my wonderful wife Maggie who has let me play at skate shop owner for all these years…in the cold light of retirement when it arrives I won’t have a pot to piss in if I stay in the wonderful world of retail…reality bites! (A good lesson in life…Always Jump…don’t wait to be pushed…)
I intend to continue with Local Skateboards and to keep skating in my own limited way…in fact I’m hoping to have more time to skate with my sons than before…and lastly for the current crop of caffeine addicted customers (bloody red bull..!) thanks guys you really are a credit to your skate generation…see you down the park…