Amy, the owner is so knowledgeable about the skates, and asks a lot of questions about the person who will be wearing the skates to make sure they get the best kind for their skill level and fit... read more

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Finally visited this store after attending a roller skating party for my aunt's 80th birthday and wanted to get my own skates. The shop owner, Amy, was busy tending to a small family that was getting their little girl fitted for her first pair of skates. She acknowledged us and said if we had any questions to let her know. We perused around the store and wanted to get every skate, in every color! They had skates from about $80 a pair to $200 a pair and we had no idea what made one better than the other so we asked and honestly it sounded like it just depends on the person. I tried on a pair of suede skates and instantly fell in love. They fit like a glove and I tend to have wider calves/ankles and these looked and felt like they were made for me. The price was about $250 so I shopped around for another pair that was cheaper, but I wasn't a fan of the material. The color ways were so cool, but I think I'm going to go with the suede in a different color. The shop is cool and carries a variety of accessories for your skates. They also sell some skateboard and skateboard accessories/gear. Amy also hosts a Wednesday evening class in Upland for $20 at a local park, so it really is an all in one stop for all things roller skates. As for the family I mentioned earlier it was clear English wasn't their first language and Amy took the time to answer every question and provide every possible skate for the girl to try on and feel out. I thought that was cool and could tell these skates were going to change her life! read more

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Came in needing new wheels and wheel bearings. Never replaced them before so I had a lot of questions, which the owner had no problem answering for me. She even gave me a demonstration on how to replace wheels+wheel bearings. Love coming here when i need too :) read more

Came in to buy a complete skateboard for my grandson for Christmas, when I first came in the lady at the counter was on the phone and I needed help picking out a board and pads. I understand I walked in while she was on the phone, but after 5-6 minutes of no interaction from the employee I decided to call my son who helped me pick out a board and pads via FaceTime. Once I was ready to checkout, I stood at the counter for another 6-10 minutes while she was on a personal call which was heard because it was on speaker. I easily spent over $120 and would expect better customer service from a spot like this. The only reason I'm not giving it 1 star is because they had both the skateboard and the pads I needed. read more

The owner reached out to me regarding my recent experience at her skate shop with her employee. She was disappointed with the treatment I received, so she invited me to come shop for my skates during her shift. I went to the store and she was very pleasant and gave me so much information on skates. She is a very nice woman. I also got a free skate lesson coupon. The owner will address it with her employee. It says a lot about an owner when they take the time to address these types of situations, so thank you. read more

Empire Skates - Skate Shops Near Me - Upland, California

I had a great first visit to Empire Skates this past Sunday. I was coming in to pick up my first pair of skates after the ones I bought a couple of days before hurt my feet so bad. The employees Soul and Kay were so kind and found the perfect skate for me in a matter of minutes! Literally the first pair they had me try on fit like a dream! Now I'm up and skating in comfy skates! I can't thank them enough for being so welcoming to me in the store. I will definitely be coming back anytime I need gear. read more

Empire Skates - My skates from Empire Skates that I decked out in rainbow laces - Skate Shops Near Me - Upland, California

Super helpful! I love this place and the people who work here. Literally so many cool things to get all your gear or anything skate related, even kids skates. Everything is reasonably priced and well made! read more

these guys were so great! I was looking for a very particular set of skates for skating. I've been calling everywhere in Las Vegas and Orange County and these were the only people that . They were very generous with their time and kind on the phone and held my skates for me for days. I really appreciate all the effort they put into it and willingness to serve. read more

Amy has got to be one of the nicest shop owners there are out there. Instead of staying home during this heatwave like I sane person, I drove to Empire Skates, where it's hotter, and decided to try and look into getting some roller skates. I've been walking and I want something to mix things up and really wanted to support a small business. I was instantaneously greeted by Amy and she quickly tended to me and taught me some basic skate maintenance. She helped me pick some skates, get some Outside Wheels and taught me how to change them. We talked about many things, which is always great! For such a niche specialty, the people behind the shops are important. Amy should be proud. I told her that if I need any skating goods, I will gladly make the trek to Upland to support her expertise, shop and kindness. If you're 20 to 60 minutes away, make your way here and support this store if you're looking to move and be on wheels. Amazon gets enough business as it is and you can try things on and see what works for you IRL!!! (They also have an online presence but the shop is great!) read more

I'm new to skating and I decided to stop by and own my own pair after getting tired of renting them from the rinks which can cause pain from lace holes pushing on the upper foot. Amy helped me get a cheaper beginner pair. It didn't take me long to decide I wanted it. I also bought a skate bag. Great customer service Amy has. I also went to class as a bonus from the purchase. This is the best place if you want to buy skates and accessories. read more

Went in for a helmet and pads and they had my sizes available and ready to go. I've got a huge head so most places don't have my helmet size and I was very happy that they had it and in the color I wanted. The employee was super nice and even let my daughter look at all the skates and boards and gave her some stickers. I will be back for anything I need when I'm skating. read more

I visited Empire Skates a few months back where I informed Amy that I just started roller derby, I'm brand new to the sport, a new skater, and our league referred us to this specific shop because Amy will know exactly what we need, so I heavily relied on her guidance. Fast forward to now, and I take accountability on my end that even though I didn't know the first thing about derby skates, I should have done my own research. However, trusting that I was getting top notch advice. I settled on one of the two skates I was shown. It was between the GT-50s or Bonts. The Bonts felt extremely tight on my foot, so I went with the GT-50s. At no point was I informed and/or advised against the GT-50s, and that they are NOT recommended for derby. It wasn't until today when I was with some teammates and we talked about the tears in my skates and how unnatural that seemed given I haven't been skating that long. That's when one of my teammates informed me that when we were at Empire Skates (we were both in the shop purchasing skates at the same time), when I left, Amy let THEM know that I made a bad purchase and that these specific skates weren't good for derby at all. I'm not entirely sure why I would even be shown a skate for that specific sport if it's not recommended. I've been raving about this shop and "guidance" that I received for the last couple of months, and I don't doubt that Amy and the rest of the employees are knowledgable, but I do wish I would have been given the courtesy of being informed or warned about the skates similar to the other customer in the store. But again, taking personal accountability, it's a lesson learned. read more

I've had the pleasure of dealing with Amy when I've been in the area and absolutely love the shop and the customer service. Super rad custom work and I'll be back to get skates for my daughter SOON! Thanks Amy! read more

raynie was such an amazing sweetheart she filled all of my questions and needs i hope to keep seeing her at empire!!!

I really like this shop. I bought my skates here . I also picked up some protective gear . The customer service is attentive . The selection of skates and accessories is great . They even let me try on gear . It helped to give me peace of mind that the size I chose was correct . My reason for going in as opposed to online was that personal touch and they delivered. Parking was free and close to the shop. Located in downtown Upland. read more

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Helped my son build his skateboard!! Amazing costumer service!! We will be back. She showed my son how to build his board and helped him all the way! read more

Amy was very helpful and patient while I tried on tons of different derby skates and tried to get me the best fit and value. My skates also came very quickly after mounting! read more

We stopped by on 3/24/23 to purchase roller-skates for our 6 year old. Shelby was at the counter that afternoon, and was so kind, helpful, and patient as we asked questions. I quickly browsed the shop and found a plethora of skates and accessories. My husband is interested in building his own skate, and ES seemed to have a lot of parts to complete the project. We ended up leaving with a pair of Rockets and pink Luminous light up wheels for our little dude! read more

Empire Skates - Size J12 Crazy Rocket youth skates - Skate Shops Near Me - Upland, California

Waited in a line for 20min or so due to COVID safety precautions but their customer service made it up for me. I was just browsing with little idea of what I really wanted and they were so kind to show me a variety of skates and seemed to genuinely enjoy skating overall. I am happy with my purchase and my experience. Will definitely be back again for anything skate related. 03/10/21 edit: the ladies at the counter once again helped us out together a sweet new setup. read more

Empire Skates - Our haul of the day! Boardwalk skates in tan, stock Boardwalk wheels, leather toe guards and a rainbow Moxi skate leash. - Skate Shops Near Me - Upland, California

I haven't skated in so long and after doing tons of research I ordered a pair of skates from them. They called to confirm size and even ordered 2 sizes for me just in case. I ended up driving out there to pick them up just in case something didn't work out with them. Guess what. I didn't love them and was able to buy another pair with her help. Customer service was top notch and she actually went above and beyond for me. Definitely recommend purchasing skates here. Awesome experience and couldn't be happier. read more

My hubs and I went in today with a few questions and wanting new wheels. Amy and Tom were incredibly helpful answering our questions as people who are still learning the ropes about custom builds and what's best for our current skill level. Tom taught me how to replace my wheels and bearings, which was so kind. As an added bonus they have lots of inventory to chose from and a cute doggo named Betty. Lastly, I want to touch on how compassionate these owners are, they allowed a homeless women to use their private restroom and were very respectful to her despite her having a mental illness. In addition, they have lots of LGBTQPI+ merch which I loved! I cannot recommend this small business enough. read more

Empire Skates - Skate Shops Near Me - Upland, California

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Bought my first skates here. The lady was very nice and helpful, wasnt pushy at all. Been here twice and bought a helmet and some other stuff. Great mom&pop shop. Support local read more

Empire Skates - Sure-Grip skates - Skate Shops Near Me - Upland, California

Last year I purchased these gorgeous custom pair of Roller Skates for both Derby and casual strolls around my home town of San Diego! I researched this place since it's about an hours drive from San Diego, and it was worth every minute! I believe it may of been Robert? who was running the shop when I arrived and was able to spend quite a while here asking questions about particular parts to build my ultimate skate and he was super knowledgeable and offered suggestions too, which I went with most of them! The purple Pilot Falcon plates with the Solaris Boot are the perfect marriage! My foot feels as if it's floating in the clouds and so I feel no pain or discomfort since these boots were recommended by skaters that embrace ultimate comfort and agility! I paid extra to use the color lab for Riedell Solaris Boots to include a sweet purple stripe on back and boot tongue! Since the pandemic, these skates have been my best friend! I cannot say enough and hopefully when the pandemic is over and we can all be out and about safely, Roller Derby will RETURN and these skates and the new Radar Halo wheels will be READY for the derby experience once again! The store front is located in a old-school type shopping area, very cool and quality skate shop! The inventory here is amass, so you can find many items inside this shop or they will order what you need which was the case for the wheels I wanted to try. Look forward to returning to get a different stopper than the one you see. It works great, but is just a tad too large. Happy New Year!! read more

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I decided I wanted to get into roller derby this year but first I needed to learn how to roller skate. Seeing how roller skating and roller skates have become a popular thing on Tik Tok and social media, I reached out to some local derby girls in the Omaha area and some friends who have been skating to see what skates I needed. My husband accompanied me to check out Empire Skates to see what kind and types of roller skates they had and what they recommended for roller derby. There was a four person limit to enter the store so we waited until customers came out. We had to wear our facemask and staff were wearing face masks. As we entered they had an array of items, boot roller skates, protective gear, toe stops, stickers, helmets, and so much more. I forgot the name of the person who helped me but she was welcoming and patient to my needs and questions. She recommended me the Riedell Dart quad skates. She made some recommendations on skates and decided to try some on. I decided to try on two different sizes to see which ones fit. I decided to go with the Riedell Dart skates because aside of her helpful recommendation, I had also researched about this brand and the type of skates they have. The skates came with a tool to change wheels and maintenance. She also recommended I buy outdoor wheels since the skates I was buying had indoor wheels. The difference is the outdoor are bigger and soft to go over cracks and easier to glide and for indoor wheels it's hard and meant for indoor skating. As I picked my skates we asked her about protective gear, they had a 15% off deal going on for Black Friday. They had the brands Moxie, 187, SCABS, etc. I went with the SCABS package because it included wrist, knee, and elbow pads. As for a helmet, I went with a black triple eight glossy one! Can't wait to add stickers on it! My experience at Empire Skates was good, I'd go back to see what else they have in store. I liked that it's local and next to a cool coffee shop! The staff were helpful, attentive, and patient. I can't wait to start skating! read more

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Best in skate, skateboarding, hockey, roller, derby, dance skate figure, skate whatever skate you want indoor outdoor. They're the best in Southern California. Love this place. read more

I did a little research before deciding to go the distance to this sweet little skate shop and waited about 30 minutes outside while the ladies practiced covid distancing and helped other customers in front of me. (It was Saturday, you can expect them to be busier on weekends) Once in, Anne Marie (spelling?) was super helpful and quick in helping me decide on which skates to go home with (I wanted low rise, derby style speeds). I'm looooving my Riedell Wicked Skates, and my soft wide wheels (for street skating). I'll be back when I'm ready for some smaller wheels and bearings for more rhythm skating!! Thanks again Anne Marie! You rock! read more

Empire Skates - Riedell Wicked Skates with Pulse (soft) 65mm 78A wheels - Skate Shops Near Me - Upland, California

I live in Rancho and empire is the closest roller skate store in the area, I bought my first pair of skates from here, I've always wanted my own custom skates and just found everything I wanted and needed, dropped my Stacy Adams off there recently and can't wait to see them when there done! Best skate store if your in this areas read more

Ann Marie and another rad employee there (didn't catch a name) were SUUUPER helpful!! Soooo glad I came here to get my skates fixed up. Any and all questions were answered and her suggestions and recs were tooootally helpful In this kinda complicated decision making (when building your skates) there SOO many options. I got new laces, wheels and bearings today. Not only did she put them on for me ( sooo nice) but she also showed me how to take the bearings out. (Cuz I totally didn't know how to do it ) so easy, and now I can do it for myself. I feel this is my new lil fav shop! Will be back soon. Quarantine edit: There is in-shop shopping (limit 4 peeps at a time) read more

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Great customer service. Willing to answer questions. Staff extremely knowledgeable and helpful.

I will always come back to this local shop. The owner is very friendly and she always helps me with any questions i have. She always gives extra information/opinions in every way possible. Thank you! read more

Entered the shop in early September because I wanted to make sure I had the right size in skates, and two lovely ladies were working the shop. They were super friendly, they even let me try on the boss's skates while she was away to make sure I found the right size!! Flash forward to yesterday having received my Moxi's and it was a long wait but worth it, and am very excited to restart my skating journey. Thank you Empire Skates!! (Love the stickers btw :)) read more

Empire Skates - Skate Shops Near Me - Upland, California

Empire Skates is the greatest! With a very knowledgeable staff and a large and thoughtful selection, Empire Skates is the place to go. The new location is Amazing and just across the street from their old shop. read more

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Yo! I want to send a shot out to Amy at Empire Skates. This is a rad shop and Amy was able to help me pick out some really good Roller Derby gear while entertaining me with some cool stories about her Derby days. She really hooked me up and has all the knowledge. If you're looking for Derby gear or a cool skateboard, hit this shop up. Thank you Amy! read more

Empire Skates - Skate Shops Near Me - Upland, California

Such a cute little place with everything you need! We were able to try on different sizes and get all the gear the kiddos need for their first skating experience! The staff was super sweet and helpful. We would def recommend this spot for all your skating needs read more

Empire Skates - Skate Shops Near Me - Upland, California

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TIP: You can order online for in-store pick-up! I am so glad I found this place. Living in the Inland Empire, it's a little tricky to find skate shops that cater to skater folks AND roller skater folks! I placed my order online for my skates then I received an email from one of the employees of the shop confirming my order ensuring that the sizing was correct. Very personable! The next day, I made my way to downtown Upland. Don't be scared; downtown Upland has tons of free parking all around, just be aware of the one-way roads and outdoor dining set ups. Other than just having to wait in line outside on the busy Christmas week, the pick-up was a breeze. It was about a 30 minute wait for someone to poke their head out to ask for pick-up orders, a kind brown-haired individual. 2 minutes later, my disco blue SureGrips were in my hand! They offered for me to try on the skates, but I know they'd fit. I've been telling all of my crew to come here for skateboard gear and rollerskate gear. Active? Zumiez? Big Five? Dicks Sporting Goods? Amazon? Absolutely not. Empire Skates for the win! read more

Empire Skates - Killer selection from classic to flamboyant! - Skate Shops Near Me - Upland, California

My son wanted a skateboard. Stopped at this shop and our experience was amazing. The clerk was super nice. My son loved the variety they have. read more

Empire Skates - Skate Shops Near Me - Upland, California

This visit was September 6 at around 1pm. The kindest souls are found within this skate shop. I don't remember the name of the man here, but he was so kind and helped me pick out the perfect roller skates. Especially during this pandemic, I was very appreciative that he was able to control how many people were allowed in the shop at any given time. If you're looking for some roller skates, feel free to ask away! I'm sure anyone here would be more than happy to help you out. They sure did make my experience the best I could have possibly thought of. I will be back! read more

Preordered Moxi beach bunnies 3 months ago and just got them in today! Originally purchased a size 6 since everyone says to go down your usual size, but they reached out to me to confirm since demand is so high. I properly measured my foot and turns out I'm a size 7! They were able to make changes to my order from their end and responded to all my messages in a timely manner. I'm EXTREMELY grateful that they told me to measure my foot, otherwise I would've waited 3 months for something I couldn't wear. Also important to note, the shipping price was almost half of what moxi was charging on their website, which is why I chose to order through Empire. Thank you thank you thank you so much for your great customer service! I'm ecstatic over my new skates! read more

Excellent selection, great looking shop and vibe. Most any of the skate parts you would ever need. Great if in a pinch, but pricing is on the high side and would keep me shopping around if I have the time. If price is not an object, make it your first stop. read more

Went in on Thursday and Val helped my friend and I out with any questions we had. Even helped my friend build her skates!