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BRICK AND MORTAR
Photo: Raleigh St. Clair
Hondo is a young
entrepreneur who set up shop in
the heart of Salt Lake with a dream and
a promise to the skaters here to stay true to a
skateboard-only skateshop. Hailing from Massachusetts,
Hondo came out to Utah to finish a degree in English at
the University of Utah and soon found himself immersed
in the local skate and snow culture. The only thing that
was lacking in the scene was a downtown skateshop,
and he took it upon himself to make that become a
reality. After finding the right building and going through
the necessary steps for any new business owner, Brick
and Mortar (561 W. 200 S.) opened its doors to the
public on July 31, 2010, and all the city folk could not be
happier with the situation. Great prices on hard and soft
goods, not to mention all the different brands in stock,
weekly games of SKATE with prizes
and a bounty of awesome art shows kept local
downtown skateboarders coming back.
SLUG: What was your first SLUG experience?
Hondo: Probably just reading it. Finding it
when I first moved here in 2005 and seeing that
there was skateboarding in the little magazine
around town. I didn’t really know anybody here or
anything really, I was just always up on campus
and would see it up there. So I picked it up and
saw the skateboard and snowboard articles and
thought it was pretty cool.
SLUG: How have you seen SLUG change since
your first experience?
Hondo: I think it has changed to be more
inclusive of the skateboard scene. I really like how
broad it is, as well as showcasing old and new.
SLUG: What has been your most memorable
cover?
Hondo: I can’t remember any covers. Nah, I
remember the Snuggles [Jared Smith] cover. I
remember it because it was death defying.
SLUG: How has SLUG influenced you?
Hondo: It made me stop reading record reviews.
By Raleigh St. Clair info@slugmag.com
Ha. I don’t know, it gives me something to read while
waiting to be seated at the Park Café. It keeps me in
touch with the local skateboarders who never invite
me to go skate with them. What they’re doing, I don’t
know.
SLUG: Do you have a favorite article or feature in the
magazine?
Hondo: I like reading Mike Brown’s stuff, I always
think that’s pretty funny. My favorite thing ever, so far,
has been Colt Bowden’s wife’s response to Colt’s
article. I have actually even gone back online to reread
that one because it’s so funny. I like the pictures
of all the hot chicks in all the ads, too. Oh yeah, I really
liked the Brick and Mortar article—that one was great.
35 dollar decks? I mean, c’mon, that’s amazing.
SLUG: Why do you think SLUG has continued to be
relevant for the last 22 years?
Hondo: I believe SLUG is still relevant because they
are doing things that all of the other print magazines
are not doing. They are still writing about new things
that are not “mainstream,” but on the cusp of the
underground. They are able to walk that fine line of
talking about things only a tiny percentage of people
care about, as well as talking about what normal
“civilians” care about.
Presenting:
The Trashcan Sinatras
March 29th at the State Room
638 South State Street, Salt Lake City
tickets available at all Graywhale locations
For Trashcan Sinatras, or any artist’s CDs
See the new improved www.fatfin.com
now with mp3 downloads!
U of U Graywhale 208 S 1300 E 801-583-3333
Taylorsville Graywhale 1775 W 4700 S 801-964-5700
Bountiful Graywhale 390 N 500 W 801-677-0333
Ogden Graywhale 4066 Riverdale Rd 801-399-0609
W. Jordan Graywhale 90th & Redwood 801-676-6010
Draper Graywhale 256 E 12300 S 801-576-0999
Orem Graywhale 575 E University Pkwy 801-221-2505
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