Tips for opening a skate shop?

I live in a town with a pretty decent skatepark but the nearest skate shop is one town over and then after that there aren't any for a good ten miles. There's a lot of kids in my town who skate and many who come here via bus to skate at the skatepark. I think there is an under served market there that is ripe for the picking.

I skated pretty seriously from around age 10 to age 16 then picked it up for a couple years in my early 20's to get around at college. Cut to ten years later and I started taking my kids (preschool and toddler aged) to the skate park to watch the skaters and I got the skating bug again. I'm older so I'm not really in to doing much more on my skateboard than some basic tricks and cruising around but I want to put the passion and dedication that I put in to skating way back when in to opening up a skate shop.

I've begun to do some research and found some good high level business plans but I'm curious about the little things that skate shop owners run in to that no one ever mentions - the bits of knowledge you pick up along the way.

For me, my biggest obstacle is that I've been away from skating for so long that I'm not as knowledgeable about what brands are the best or even who the best skaters are now. Also, I'm rusty as hell when it comes to tricks so I don't want to look like an idiot if someone asks me how to do a certain trick. I'm lucky that the town I live in has pretty affordable retail space within a mile of the skatepark. I also am a professional graphic and web designer so I have all of those bases covered.

Below given steps will help you.

1. Choose your location. Pick a spot that is near the local skate park, so skaters can get to your store easily. Find an area with plenty of foot traffic, ideally one that's located near other stores that appeal to teens. Finally, make sure there is at least some parking available for shoppers who are driving to your store.
2. Buy or rent your store. Once you've settled on a location, look for a small building that you can renovate to sell your skate products. Start small, as skateboard shops don't require a lot of floor space. You can always expand later if your business grows.
3. Purchase merchandise. Look for local skate supply companies or contact your favorite skateboard manufacturers and set up merchant accounts. You'll need a good variety of boards, from cheap beginner options to more advanced boards for the expert skater.
4. Add a small selection of skater shoes and apparel. These items are commonly found in skate shops, and your customers will expect to see them in your store. You can purchase these goods wholesale from your favorite street clothing manufacturers or skateboard companies.
5. Advertise your shop. Get stickers printed up that can be given out as freebies. Skateboarders often cover their boards with stickers, and this will help spread the word about your shop. Consider setting up a skateboard demonstration on opening day to draw the crowds.
6. Get a business license from your state, and consider incorporating or forming an LLC to separate your personal assets from the business. A list of business offices for each state can be found in the Resources.