So, it seems like Mike told the kids to stay away from Babylon and keep shopping at Lotties, probably because Babylon does not fit the mold of a core skate shop and seems like (to me, at least, after glancing at the website) it has its sights set on profits rather than community. The Babylon affiliates obviously took this as disrespect to what they're trying to do and view Mike as a gentrifier since he is a white man (with presumably a lot more money than other shop owners in the area?) who owns a skateshop that serves a minority community. Nak specifically feels like Mike is trying to suppress a (partially) black owned business by telling kids to avoid Babylon.
Babylon is co-owned and was founded by Spielman, a white man. So, not really sure how Mike is racist in this situation but maybe the multiple Babylon affiliate accounts here can shed more light. Also, still not sure how the gentrification part is possible since a small skateshop doesn't really seem to have the power to displace other shops by taking over the market, especially not Babylon with their popularity with people in and outside of skateboarding. Also, Babylon isn't a skate shop I don't think... seems like they only sell clothes? Mike was probably just trying to steer the kids from his shop away from something he thinks is lame and skate adjacent. Doesn't seem racist to me, just very CORE. Imo, no reason why these two couldn't exist in peace. Hopefully the beef can be squashed so the kids who visit Lotties can continue to support their shop AND learn to rip transition in that Babylon bowl without having to endure grown ups bickering at each other about "who was here first" or "who does more giveaways."
Edit: for shit i fucked up