FTC Barcelona Opening Video

[Bubblegum Tate]

The first FTC store in Europe opened this week on Wednesday April 7. It’s in Barcelona right around the corner from MACBA. Behind the scenes is ex-pro skater Lee Smith and his partner Julio Arnau. They have both been working on the project for the past two years and all their hard work has paid off, the store looks sick and the Barcelona skate scene is psyched. This interview was filmed three weeks before the store opened: Lee talks about their reasons behind opening the store in Barcelona, the opening night, what they have planned for the future, and if there will be an FTC Barcelona skate team.
Directed by Suziie Wang
Photos by Aimee Cocker & Anna Martinez
Archival footage from FTC video A Fine Line Between Love and Haight.

http://skateboarding.transworld.net/1000106555/features/ftc-barcelona-opening-video/

[The Ghost of Lenny Kirk]

aren't there already 3 shops around that area?

[Bubblegum Tate]

aren't there already 3 shops around that area?

yup

http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&rls=en&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=barcelona+skate+shops&fb=1&gl=us&hq=skate+shops&hnear=barcelona&view=text&ei=EYi_S_3WPMS6ngfegq2vCg&sa=X&oi=local_group&ct=more-results&resnum=1&ved=0CBYQtQMwAA

[Adair]

"Trust Nobody" sell a few boards too, and they're like a street away.
There was a skateshop that opened pretty much on the Macba site a while ago, I remember it being there like two summers ago. Last summer it was gone. Seems like there's some heavy competition in that area--interested to see how FTC work this one.

[professional]

Damn, Rufus is right around the corner and there are a few Free shops in BCN too. Can't imagine they're too stoked.

[lampshade]

I've always been stoked on FTC, but it is weird to roll up on foreign soil and try to take sales away from the OGs. 

[krewkruxklan]

all hail globalization

[420]

Damn, Rufus is right around the corner and there are a few Free shops in BCN too. Can't imagine they're too stoked.

Yeah, like 100 meters from macba
Rufus is tight, cool dudes who work there. Seems likes Rufus is represented pretty hard in barca skatescene.

[RRRRRAD]

FUUUUUUUUUUUUCK FTC

[The Mess]

FUCK YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[The Mess]

I've always been stoked on FTC, but it is weird to roll up on foreign soil and try to take sales away from the OGs. 

no. it's not.

[lampshade]

Expand Quote

I've always been stoked on FTC, but it is weird to roll up on foreign soil and try to take sales away from the OGs. 

[close]

no. it's not.

So if your local shop spent years building up a huge international skate scene, then a well known Spanish shop with amazing videos and team rolled into town, you'd be cool with that?  Lee Smith has always seemed cool and I hope it works out for him, but I feel bad for the local shops. 

[shredorbread]

does anyone know how much decks cost in barcelona? Is it worth bringing boards from the states?

[Smurph]

does anyone know how much decks cost in barcelona? Is it worth bringing boards back from the states?

Assuming you mean back to the states from Barcelona, then I would reckon it wouldn't be worth the extra baggage costs or the hassle...From the last time I was there the prices weren't anything special, 65€ for most boards I think.

And as rad as I think Lee Smith is for knocking out some guy I sort of know, he came across a bit disrespectful in terms of stating that Barcelona is lacking a core shop.

[RightCoastBiased]

FTC is legendary and I've got respect for that. But I am not into their shop on Haight. Too boutiquey for my tastes. They seem like good dudes though. And if I were a dude who opened a legit shop in barca, which I am sure took a lot of hardwork, I wouldn't be to hyped on a really connected skate shop opening up near me. FTC barca is likely to have a large advantage over the other shops in the area in terms of getting product.

[The Mess]

Expand Quote

I've always been stoked on FTC, but it is weird to roll up on foreign soil and try to take sales away from the OGs. 

[close]

no. it's not.

some of the dudes that run the other shops are kooks/non-skaters. also, a grip of them aren't from barca either.
lee is more barca OG than most of them. also trust nobody can suck a dick.

lee is not the type of dude to muscle something.
if he was able to open the shop it's because the locals wanted him there.

[Fongstarr.]

FTC is legendary and I've got respect for that. But I am not into their shop on Haight. Too boutiquey for my tastes. They seem like good dudes though. And if I were a dude who opened a legit shop in barca, which I am sure took a lot of hardwork, I wouldn't be to hyped on a really connected skate shop opening up near me. FTC barca is likely to have a large advantage over the other shops in the area in terms of getting product.

Can you explain how they are too boutiquey? They literally carry nothing but skate stuff from their shoes to their clothing. If anything, the only thing they don't carry is a large quantity of stuff. Seems like they are more reserve then ever when it comes to what they want to sell. I like FTC but I like DLX better cause they have so much more stuff to choose from. Seems like FTC caters to what the locals buy....which s a good thing and bad thing.

[Zurg]

It seems a little weird turf wise, but Trust Nobody is basically a shoe shop and Free also kinda had a mall-ish vibe to it. Hey Ho Let's Go seemed cool, but they really didnt have a lot of shit when i went

[HBeezy561]

Lee Smith has spent some time in barcelona the past years tho, so its not like they just up and moved in on some other shop turf. He just been down with for FTC forever so im sure those all go hand and hand.

[spare change]

Expand Quote

FTC is legendary and I've got respect for that. But I am not into their shop on Haight. Too boutiquey for my tastes. They seem like good dudes though. And if I were a dude who opened a legit shop in barca, which I am sure took a lot of hardwork, I wouldn't be to hyped on a really connected skate shop opening up near me. FTC barca is likely to have a large advantage over the other shops in the area in terms of getting product.

[close]

Can you explain how they are too boutiquey? They literally carry nothing but skate stuff from their shoes to their clothing. If anything, the only thing they don't carry is a large quantity of stuff. Seems like they are more reserve then ever when it comes to what they want to sell. I like FTC but I like DLX better cause they have so much more stuff to choose from. Seems like FTC caters to what the locals buy....which s a good thing and bad thing.

I won't speak for rcb but ftc is a really clean minimal shop and I can see how people can get the boutique feel.
FTC has been around for a long time, it's not like they're franchising it out like crazy and losing the original feel of the store.Lee smith is a true og for ftc.
Just based on traveling skaters/pro's alone they could make it.I have a few friends who journeyed over there and found the local shops none too friendly.I understand why as people have blown out all the spots but I just think it's lame to vibe anyone who isn't a local, especially when they might frequent your establishment.

[truthislie]

I understand why as people have blown out all the spots but I just think it's lame to vibe anyone who isn't a local, especially when they might frequent your establishment.

I have been to some of the established shops in bcn as a travelling skater and they all were pretty cool with me. Not one bad experience.

[RightCoastBiased]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

FTC is legendary and I've got respect for that. But I am not into their shop on Haight. Too boutiquey for my tastes. They seem like good dudes though. And if I were a dude who opened a legit shop in barca, which I am sure took a lot of hardwork, I wouldn't be to hyped on a really connected skate shop opening up near me. FTC barca is likely to have a large advantage over the other shops in the area in terms of getting product.

[close]

Can you explain how they are too boutiquey? They literally carry nothing but skate stuff from their shoes to their clothing. If anything, the only thing they don't carry is a large quantity of stuff. Seems like they are more reserve then ever when it comes to what they want to sell. I like FTC but I like DLX better cause they have so much more stuff to choose from. Seems like FTC caters to what the locals buy....which s a good thing and bad thing.

[close]

I won't speak for rcb but ftc is a really clean minimal shop and I can see how people can get the boutique feel.
FTC has been around for a long time, it's not like they're franchising it out like crazy and losing the original feel of the store.Lee smith is a true og for ftc.
Just based on traveling skaters/pro's alone they could make it.I have a few friends who journeyed over there and found the local shops none too friendly.I understand why as people have blown out all the spots but I just think it's lame to vibe anyone who isn't a local, especially when they might frequent your establishment.

Fongstarr, pretty much what spare change said. I've just grown up with a skate shop where I've always felt comfortable hanging out drinking beers, watching some skate videos and talking shit on any given day. And the times I went into FTC I never had that feel. As I said before, I've got no hate towards FTC and their shops, just not my personal taste for a skate shop.