Community With Kingswell: Thoughts from the Disney Plaque Dedication
Everyone has a Disney story. And residents in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, know this to be true.
On Sunday, September 15th, the Los Feliz City Council held a block party to commemorate a section of the neighborhood, located on Kingswell Avenue, with a plaque entitling it, “Disney Bros. Cartoon Studio Square”. For those not up on their history, this location is where Walt and Roy Disney opened their first studio in 1923. The event brought out Disney fans and locals, some dressing in outfits reminiscent of the 1920s, to enjoy an array of tables and music.
But there were also plenty of recognizable faces that participated like councilmember Nithya Raman, Disney Legend Don Hahn, as well as other Disney family members like Roy Patrick Disney. Each spoke briefly, thanking Los Feliz and the local businesses that now occupy the studio space for helping make that day special. This included none other than Kingswell skate shop.
Through the crowds of Mickey Mouse ears you could see mini-ramps and skateboards set up outside of Kingswell for new and seasoned skaters to come and ride. As long as they avoided the droves of folks snapping photos in front of the redressed storefront, which perfectly paired with skater and designer Jason Filipow’s restocked “Founder Merch” that was inspired by Walt Disney.
Since opening in 2013 by former pros Patrick Melcher and DJ Chavez, Kingswell has been an accepting and cultural hub, priding themselves in their effort to tear down the wall of intimidation that keeps the curious away from their doors. They’ve attended and held multiple community events, while maintaining a helpful presence to assist and inform all those that cross their threshold.
“You don’t open a skate shop thinking you’re gonna get rich,” co-founder Patrick Melcher said in his recent interview with The Platform. “You do, you know, cause it’s in your blood.”
Like when Disney occupied the space, there is immense passion teeming inside the walls of Kingswell. A desire to build and maintain a strong sense of kinship with the people that skate or stroll by their shop each day. That’s why any association with such accolades, like this recent plaque, are welcomed as it allows others to see what the regulars have known for years.
Before I departed from the event to continue my normal Sunday shenanigans, I said what-up to the usual Kingswell crew. And as I exited the shop, I saw an excited child run up to his family and comment on how there were boards for him to use. The boy suddenly took off, claiming one, and proceeded to curiously tackle the ramps like the experienced skaters marveled at. Witnessing that joy brought on by that new experience, brought about memories of my first board and the words DJ Chavez spoke in his 2018 interview with The Nine Club podcast.
“It’s still the old school ideals of just mom-and-pop philosophy of like, yo treat people rad when they come in,” he declared. “Anybody who comes in to my store is the most important person that ever comes into my store.”
And I think that really sums up the magic of Kingswell.