From Board to Boss: Eric Holloway’s Entrepreneurial Journey to Owning Locally Owned Rise Skate Shop in Fort Wayne, IN.

In the heart of Fort Wayne lies a thriving skateboarding community, and at its center stands Rise Skateboarding Shop, a beloved local institution. Recently, this iconic shop has seen a change in leadership as Eric, a lifelong skateboarder and dedicated customer of Rise, has taken the role of the new owner. From his early days on the board in third grade to now living his dream of owning a skate shop, Eric's journey is a testament to his unwavering passion for skateboarding and his commitment to the local skateboarding community. Join us as we delve into Eric's story of perseverance, dedication, and the exciting new chapter he is embarking on as the proud owner of Rise Skateboarding Shop.

Eric Holloway was born in Detroit, Michigan, and had a wonderful childhood. He described it as "awesome," mentioning that he mostly grew up with his mom as his dad lived in Texas, and they didn't see each other much. Despite being in the middle of his father's five children, Eric enjoyed the unique experience of being his mom's only child and having siblings with his dad. He emphasized that his mom always made him feel like they had everything they needed, even though they didn't have much money. During Eric's third-grade year, his mom received a job opportunity with the Red Cross in Fort Wayne, leading to their relocation in March of 2000. It was around this time that Eric's interest in skateboarding was ignited. The Christmas before their big move, he received his first skateboard. He still remembers the thrill of unwrapping it that morning, and with the help of his mother, he learned to ride it in the basement of his childhood home. The experience on that Christmas morning ignited his lifelong passion for skateboarding.

We asked Eric what life was like after he moved to Fort Wayne, and he said,

"I went to Northwood Middle School and then Northside High School. So, with my mom working at the Red Cross and me going to school at Northwood, it put me in the perfect spot for skateboarding. At that time, the only skate shop was Get Wet Surf and Skate in that plaza with Jungle Georges, so every day after school, I would skate to Get Wet, and then my mom would pick me up from there because it was a block away from Red Cross. I did that from sixth through eighth grade, so every day, I was in the skate shop, and all the guys there took me under their wing. By the time I was in seventh grade I was basically working there. I was behind the counter, helping customers and gripping skateboards. I was a full-fledged employee without getting paid, but they would give me free stuff. They knew my mom was a single mom, so whenever there were shoes on sale, they would give me a pair, or if a board came in defective, they would just give it to me so I could keep skating because it is an expensive hobby. Then Northside was awesome because by that time, Lawton Skatepark was here, and Northside was just down the river from the skatepark, so I would skate to Rise every day after school and hang out with Nick and then proceed to the skatepark where my mom would pick me up."

In high school, Eric met his now wife Grayce Holloway, owner of Icing for Izaac, and just before graduation, they welcomed their first baby girl, MaKenzie, into the world. After Eric graduated from Northside High School, he started working in the restaurant industry until he was 19, and a friend of his mom's offered him a position to work for Kendall Electric, where he stayed for the next 11 years. While at Kendall Electric, Eric started a T-shirt and money giveaway business called Skate Money Gang. The business concept was for skateboarders to upload videos of themselves doing tricks onto the internet and tag Eric in the video. Then Eric would review the videos, pick the ones he liked the best, and send them a T-shirt or money. Anyone who wanted to represent the brand could also purchase his shirts through his website. We asked Eric what his goal was for business during this time. He said

"My goal was to build the Skate Money Gang brand up to where I could get my own skatepark facility. I didn't want it to be open to the public, though. Instead, it would be a brand-owned, word-of-mouth kind of thing. If you know of the brand, you're welcome to come. It would be a hidden gem in skateboarding. So, my goal was to stay with Kendall Electric until I could purchase my facility. That was until upper management didn't like how I spoke out about certain things, and they started treating me unfairly and making my life difficult, so I had to have a moment and think about my life and the way I wanted things to go. At that time, Grayce stayed home with the kids and went to the shared kitchen for Icing for Izaac from 4:30 p.m. until about midnight. So I started thinking about how I have enough money to float all summer and then go back and get a job when the kids return to school, so I told Grayce to go full speed with her business and see what she could do. That first week she went full speed at the bakery was the happiest I've ever seen her. She was able to come home at five and be around the kids, and we still had money, and her business thrived. Then, three weeks after I quit my job and she went full speed she found her current location and asked me how I would feel about her buying that location. I told her to take every dime we had and buy that building because there was no way that was not going to work. After that, we jumped head first into the bakery, which allowed me to buy the skate shop." 

Since Rise opened its doors in 2005, Eric has been a loyal customer. His close relationship with Nick, the founder, has grown over the years, and Eric made it clear to Nick that he was interested in purchasing the business if Nick ever decided to sell. That conversation continued for several years until one day, during a routine visit to the shop to buy a skateboard, Nick asked Eric if he was serious about buying the shop. Without hesitation, Eric replied, "When do you need the check, and how much do you want for it?" After six months of working with lawyers and accounts to get the logistics of the deal in order, on May 31st, 2024, Eric officially took ownership of Rise Skateboard Shop.

We asked Eric if he had faced any challenges since taking over the company. He mentioned that his main difficulty has been adapting to the business's operations and working with various brands and vendors. While most vendors quickly transitioned under the new ownership, a few companies were hesitant to place orders, prompting Eric to seek alternative suppliers. Despite the initial disappointment, Eric found empowerment in problem-solving and seamlessly establishing new relationships with other brands. Although Nick is no longer running the business, he continues mentoring Eric and providing assistance when needed.

Regarding store design, Eric has already introduced a gaming station equipped with a TV and XBOX for customer enjoyment and intends to repaint and reorganize the shop to give it a fresh look within the coming weeks. Additionally, he plans to install a fingerboard skatepark and a section for purchasing fingerboards as well. Since taking over, Eric has received positive feedback from customers who have welcomed the changes. He shared,

"I've been around the Fort Wayne skate scene since 2005, so everyone knows me from the skatepark, and everyone is excited. I love it when people tell me they didn't see it coming but they couldn't think of anyone better for Nick to sell the shop to other than me."

Regarding the future of Rise, Eric is currently working on forming a local skate team to represent the brand. His plan includes producing a video featuring the team over the next year, with a premiere scheduled at the downtown theater next fall, similar to what Nick did in 2006 when Rise first came to Fort Wayne. As for long-term goals, Eric aims to enhance the online presence of the Rise brand by offering a wider range of Rise-branded attire, boards, and other merchandise through their website. He envisions expanding the website's offerings beyond what is available in the physical shop. Eric is committed to digging deeper into the Rise brand and continuing to strengthen its legacy in Fort Wayne.

Eric's journey from a passionate skateboarder to the proud owner of Rise Skateboarding Shop is a true testament to his dedication and love for the sport. His story showcases perseverance and commitment, from his early days on a skateboard in his basement to becoming a vital part of the skateboarding community in Fort Wayne. Despite the challenges that come with taking over a business, Eric's determination and problem-solving skills have allowed him to navigate the transition successfully. With a clear vision for the future, Eric is focused on expanding the Rise brand by forming a local skate team, creating engaging content, and enhancing the online presence of the shop. As he continues to build upon the legacy of Rise, Eric remains deeply rooted in the skateboarding community, driven by his passion for the sport and his desire to provide a hub for skateboarders in Fort Wayne. The future looks bright for Rise Skateboarding Shop under Eric's leadership, and we are excited to see the shop thrive and grow in the years to come. To finish our conversation we asked Eric what he would say to other entrepreneurs hoping to start a business someday. He said,

"I would say that it's definitely possible even if you have to wait your turn. Don't give up the hope for your dream; you have to keep fighting for it. Similar to how I was chipping away at Nick over the years, asking him to sell Rise to me. Don't give up that hope. Don't give up that fight. Don't give up that desire. Just keep that fire lit."

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We want to send a huge thank you to Eric for sharing his story with us. We are excited to see how he continues to build on the Rise brand and skateboarding community. We also want to thank Nike with Creative Roots Media for capturing all the photos you see throughout the article. If you enjoy reading the stories of the entrepreneurs helping shape our city, one business at a time, subscribe to our free newsletter so you are always in the loop about what is happening here at the Fort Wayne Business Journal.