New York City in the mid-late 1990s was a more innocent time, and one of great excitement for a downtown subculture made up of Lower Manhattan’s skateboarders, musicians, artists, actors, designers, store owners and hustlers. Supreme was a skate rat clubhouse, and the crew who worked there ran the place by their own set of non-conventional rules. The staff took pride in the store as if it was an art gallery; with meticulous detail given to the folding of the merchandise on display, they enforced a strict “no touching” policy which would lead to a severe berating or dismissal from the store if violated. The music was club-level volume and incense was used to cover up the smell of weed in the stockroom. Non-skaters were often treated with disregard or maybe a welcome at best. To many it was intimidating and unapproachable, which led to the cult skate store building up a fiercely loyal underground following.
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