Cruz Skate Shop

RIP Cruz.
You will be missed in the roller derby community.

I love roller derby, but nothing makes me more self-​conscious about my lack of visible tattoos, my inadvertent Mary Tyler Moore hairdo, and my small stature than badass roller derby ladies. Cruz Skate Shop is responsible for getting me over this hurdle!
The staff here is wonderful! I finally decided to take my derby game to the next level by purchasing some real gear and the second I walked in, the ladies here made me feel like I was in good hands. They took their time finding the best skates, pads and helmet for me (which I know is tricky since I’m a fairly tiny lady). I was getting a skate and gear starter pack, and they were great about letting me know if any of my selections were more expensive than the standard pack items.
They were so genuinely excited for me to get started and I left eager to get rollin’. Thank you Cruz Skate Shop for liberating me from my $ 30 Sports Authority skates and my extreme intimidation of roller derby cool kids.

When I was fifteen years old Sandy Cruz saved me from a burning building. She brings that same attitude to her shop.

My first time visiting Cruz’s skate shop was an awesome experience. The employee working there really took the time to make sure I had the right size of everything. She also helped me adjust my skateboard wheels so they weren’t too loose. Super friendly and patient, this is an excellent example of what a skate shop should be. I also left my receipt behind and she was nice enough to bring it out to me as I was walking out of the store and down the street.

great customer service as soon as I stepped in the door. I wasnt sure if the shop would be able to bring my old artistic skates back to life since they are mostly a derby shop, but the lady working knew exactly how to help me. She was also helping a guy who was acting like an entitled jerk all the while she kept her cool and was very professional. While i was there I even picked up some cool retro knee pads on sale:) Glad to know this shop is here!

Awesome place to get tons of info, skates and gear.
Come here and get setup and rock the derby! Great customer service. The shop is small, but they have what you need.
One cool thing is that they have a loaner wheel program. You can rent wheels for a week at a time. With cheap wheels at $ 30 for four and average around $ 60 for four, renting to find the ones that work for you is very cost effective.

I’m in charge of a roller derby club at UC Berkeley, and I go to Cruz pretty often to get equipment for the club or to bring new girls getting their equipment for the first time. Cruz was also awesome enough to hold a workshop for us last year. It’s the staff that makes this place; everyone is super welcoming and friendly, not condescending or pretentious at all, and knowledgable. They’re derby girls themselves, so you know it’s legit.
My only gripe is about their inventory, which can be pretty hit or miss, so make sure you call before you go if you’re looking to buy something specific. One of my friends ordered wheels three weeks ago and when we went last week they still hadn’t been ordered yet, so be aware that it may take a while to get something if they don’t already have it in stock.
But the staff is great, and it’s locally and derby-​owned, so I know I’ll be going there for my derby needs from now on. Even if they don’t have what you’re looking for, it’s just a blast staring at all the wheels and shiny tools and accessories (pink bearings!). When I’m at Cruz I feel like a kid in a candy shop.

I really wish ALL retail service was this professional and knowledgeable about their product. I came in on a Saturday and the one counter person there, effortlessly waited on us, educated us, assisted us, while simultaneously serving the in and outters who had quicker purchases and less questions than I. She was all over it and knew the sport and gear inside and out. She even took the time to show us how to put bearings in the wheels and make sure they are in their effectively even if you don’t have a press on hand. I want to say her name was Spiller or Spillher-​it was her derby name and she rocked it. Thank you

My boyfriend and I went here to browse and ended up getting new wheels/​breaks for our skates. We’re skating novices, so we had several questions for the very knowledgable lady behind the counter, all of which she answered with a smile. This place is great, what more is there to say. Also, I’m always asking nagging questions to them on their FB page, and they respond!

Not trying to be a hater, but if they’re going to be a derby supply store, they really need to have more derby skaters as employees and less skate boarders. First time I bought skates 3 years ago one of the guys sold me skates based on my shoe size and I didn’t know better. I suffered through for a year and then went back in and bought new skates. Again, I was sold a size too big. They fit better, so I didn’t know they weren’t perfect. These guys do not know how to properly fit skates.
I’m so greatful for all the skate companies at RollerCon who got me fitted properly. If you need basic derby stuff and know what you need, then go here. If you want your skates to fit properly, I suggest
or Sin City Skates. Those guys are all derby skaters and know what they’re talking about.
I like the owner, but the rest of the shop really needs to step it up.

I haven’t skated since I was a kid, hanging out with my friends at the roller rink or going to skating birthday parties. (And the record should state that I was never very good.)
Of course, this didn’t stop me from joining my local start-​up roller derby team. Once I’d met the grrrls and decided I was going derby, I needed skates and gear — now! Moxie spent a lot of time helping me pick out the right skates and gear, and was very patient and supportive. I was able to get everything I needed for required gear, plus a few extras like stripey socks and a wheel upgrade in one fell swoop.
Now, come watch me bout in 2012!

Since the first derby bout I saw in person (first bout of the 2009 season) I have fallen head over heals in love with this sport. It has taken me this long to get up the courage to even *think* about joining. Now that there’s a recreational league in the Bay – I’m all about getting back on skates.
Keeping in mind that I have not been on quad skates since I was, oh… 12… 13? I knew I would need some help. I went in with no expectations (even though I had heard nothing but amazing things about this place) – I honestly thought I would just go and get some information and sit on it some more. (i.e.: chicken out.) To my surprise, I left 25 minutes later with skates in hand. Hmm. The dude working the counter that day, while not a derby person himself, was extremely knowledgable and more than willing to answer my super-​nervous newbie questions. He helped me pick out a set of indoor wheels, and even switched my wheels for me right there and then – all the while giving me pointers on how to do it myself.
I still need to go back and get the full suite of protective gear – but at least I know where I can go for super-​sweet and super-​helpful service!

I dragged my boyfriend, dad, and dad’s girlfriend here on a recent trip to San Francisco. I am a derby girl hopeful and wanted to talk to someone about upgrading the wheels that came with my skates. The counter girl was super knowledgeable and helpful — she knew loads about the various wheel widths, diameters, and durometers. I ended up walking out with a set of Atom G-​Rods.
I also asked her a few questions I had about upgrading my plates in the near future, and she had some helpful suggestions for that as well.
I wanted to pick up a new set of elbow pads too, but unfortunately they didn’t have my size. She was great about letting me try on the size above and below so I knew that out-​of-​stock size was exactly what I needed.
I would definitely recommend this place to any derby hopefuls in the Bay area.

Some dieting women say they’ve got a thin person inside them waiting to get out. Eff that. I’ve got a derby girl inside me waiting to skate out. And from everything I heard from B.A.D. girls, Cruz is the ONLY place in the Bay Area to gear up.
It’s not that you can’t get skates or pads or a mouth guard at another store, it’s just that you wouldn’t want to. Why face the blank stares of the guys behind the counter at your average skate shop when you mention roller derby? Why put yourself through the torture of driving from sports store to store trying to find derby-​worthy skates or a proper helmet? Just cruise over to Cruz and repeat after me: «I’m just starting roller derby, and I need everything.» The rest is completely painless.
The fella who helped me obviously wasn’t a derby guy himself, but he’d obviously been well educated, and knew exactly what I needed. I was in and out within 15 minutes, and that was counting a few minutes where he went off to help someone else while I mucked around in the skates to make sure they still felt good with weight on them. And while cash wasn’t a concern for me on this trip, he did offer to work with my budget, should I have one.
As other reviewers said, I didn’t feel any judgment about being a total noob, so don’t sweat that if it’s worrying you. But then, if you’re worried about falling on your ass or looking stupid, you’re probably in the wrong sport.

Hello Unilocalers,
i just wanted to add that after i put up this review, the owner herself messaged me to rectify the situation. which is a great business practice. I feel like she really heard what my issues where and instead of blaming me, she agreed to make it right. MISTAKES happen, but as long as something is done about it, i am OK. I will now return to get the rest of the things i have wanted to buy, yet could not get myself to go back in.
Thanks sandy.

When I bought my derby/​speed skates 5 years ago, there was no brick-​and-​mortar store for me to go into. There wasn’t a place to sit down and try on different skates, get my feet properly sized and ask all the questions I wanted to ask. I didn’t have someone spending time with me to suggest knee pads I might like, or the helmet that would fit me best.
To make a long story short, five years ago, I spent $ 500 on skates (over the internet) that were too big and that I couldn’t return. My helmet was too large and made it hard to see, and my knee pads kept slipping down.
Now, I can cruise into Cruz any day of the week and chat about different toe stops, find out which insoles might help my (too-​big) skates fit better, and, on bout day, watch live streaming footage of awesome derbs around the country (via Derby News Network)! Not to mention I love hanging out with Motley Cruz, proprietress extraordinaire… she is HELLARAD!!!

Buying my very first pair of skates and derby gear at Cruz Skate Shop was outstanding for the following reasons:
1. Gordon and Sandy are the owners and happened to be in the shop that day. Their product knowledge and experience is incredible.
2. Gordon helped me pick out my purchases for the most part and even though he claimed not to know much about roller skates, was super helpful, friendly and he really did know his stuff.
3. They will do their best to help you find the things you need at a price you can afford. Gordon said that he never wants someone to walk out of his shop feeling upset that they blew their budget.
4. Sandy, even though she was extremely busy with other things, stopped to help me pick out wheels and even offered to show me how to change and tighten them correctly.
5. At no point did I feel like they looked down on me for being a dumb n00b (which I am). They both seem to really enjoy helping new folks get into a sport that Sandy is really passionate about
So go there. I love my new skates and I feel confident that when I inevitably eat it, I will not become concussed or further destroy my bad knee — very important for a prospective derby player.

I have not had good luck with transportation of the four-​wheeled kind. When I was 6, I fell and broke my arm rollerskating. I got home, told my mom I broke my arm (my little brother was laughing maniacally at me), but she told me to sit down and watch Sesame Street. It wasn’t until I went into shock that she took me seriously. She is also a nurse.
When I was 10, I broke my front right tooth skateboarding the day before a big field trip. I had to go to the dentist at the crack of dawn so I wouldn’t missed out getting sprayed by a fire hose.
When I was 26, I drove into a tree. That’s a story for another day, but suffice it to say I broke the same arm, both bones again, and have some neat scars.
As of late, I have gotten it in my head that I want roller skates to be able to enjoy the new reconstruction around Lake Merritt (or at least the half is done). The fact that I’m going to make it part of my Halloween costume further made me want them. So after consulting Unilocal (and Diana G), I came to Cruz.
And this is where I wish Unilocal allowed us to give 4.5 stars. I called Saturday morning to inquire if they had what I wanted (as I wasn’t entirely clear from the website), and while friendly, the guy clearly isn’t a phone person. I then grabbed my favorite princess, and we made our way in. From there, everything was great. The guy who helped me was nice albeit quiet (shy? annoyed by us? I don’t know), and I was on my way with my new fancy skates with pink wheels rather quickly.
Why the star reduction? For someone a little less determined, a little less obnoxious and forward, that customer service, while not horrible, might deter someone from making a purchase here.
Sometimes we need a little coddling. Kind of like the elbow and knee pads I need.

It is with deep regret that I write this review…
As much as I’d like to support a skater owned shop, it’s a little hard to. Because we live about and hour and some change away, its a little far and weekends are our only time to shop there. Twice that I’ve been there personally on a Saturday, there was no one there to ask roller derby questions (just a guy who only knew skate boarding). Yes, we could call or shop online, but sometimes you just need that one on one connection. And like the other reviewer mentioned, their «inventory is spotty».
I’m sure this won’t be the last time that we go there, but it is a disappointment. Especially after they advertised a roller derby sale for this weekend.

Seriously.
Brown and pink. Decks on the walls. Quad Skates on the shelves. Lots of awesome soft-​goods, gear, wheels, bearings, trucks, pads, helmets – for quad-​skaters and skateboarders.
But really – the super key thing here is Sandy Cruz, herself. Just the nicest person you’d ever want to meet… even if you don’t skate you’re going to want to buy something from her. That’s the way it goes. Not to mention she’s a local roller-​derby legend.