Cybercafé Skateshop opens its first store in Portugal
Last Saturday (06/12), Cybercafé Skateshop opened its first store in Portugal, in Lisbon. The location couldn't be better: in the center of the Portuguese capital and close to several spots frequently visited by local skaters.
Very spacious, the store features a clean and minimalist aesthetic. Inside, the store displays materials such as wood, iron, and porcelain that come together to create an interesting contrast that pairs well with the items for sale.
In fact, the products available for purchase range from decks to t-shirts, pants, and caps from brands like Butter Goods, Thrasher, Bronze 56K, Baker, and Dickies. In the coming months, the promise is to add Last Resort, Palace, Frog, Converse Cons, and other brands already known to skaters, as well as smaller, local, and independent brands.
Official photos from the inauguration taken by Cybercafé Skateshop
The Cybercafé Skateshop arrives in Portuguese lands through the hands and minds of two Brazilian skaters who had the idea (and the courage) to undertake in a country completely new to them. It is worth noting that there are few skateshops in Lisbon, although the city is increasingly gaining relevance for those who practice the sport.
The space will also serve as a meeting place for the community and a celebration of skate culture in Lisbon, as the environment also sells coffee, beer, and printed materials such as zines and photography books.
Official photos from the inauguration taken by Cybercafé Skateshop
To better understand the proposal, we went to the inauguration and talked to the founders Gabriel Mafra and Lui Appratto.
Tell us a bit about your journey.
We met in Florianópolis about 10 years ago skating at the same place. In addition, we shared a similar taste in music, cinema, and art in general, which helped our friendship strengthen quickly.
A few years later, we lived in different places, and each followed an academic and professional path: Lui studied Design in Brasília, and I (Gabriel) started getting involved with audiovisual, producing independent videos (mostly about skate).
We reconnected in Lisbon, almost by chance, and that’s when we decided to create something together.
Regarding the Cybercafé Skateshop, where did the idea of creating a store in Lisbon that meets the expectations of skaters come from?
Throughout these years of friendship, we always talked about opening a space where we could bring together everything we like: skate, music, streetwear, design, cinema, coffee, beer, etc.
As soon as we reconnected in Lisbon, this idea came back to life, initially in a joking tone, but it ended up making perfect sense, especially because we hadn't found a space like that in the area.
Butter, Bronze, Thrasher, Baker, Dickies (etc...) why did you choose to work with these brands?
They are brands we have always identified with.
Our proposal with this selection was to mix the OG with the new, making this bridge so that the younger audience has the opportunity to appreciate the brands that paved the way for the more recent ones, but also bringing new brands so that skaters who have been in the game longer can learn about these initiatives.
Why was now the right time for the project?
The opportunity arose, and it was grab it or leave it. We managed, with a lot of luck, to get financial support, so it was to start the skateshop or go for something different (where we wouldn’t have experience and capability to manage).
Additionally, if we had waited a bit longer, we wouldn’t have secured the ideal space due to the real estate appreciation happening in Lisbon.
Speaking of timing, how did the pandemic affect the launch of Cyber? Did you have to rethink the inauguration?
In a way, the pandemic caused properties to be slightly devalued, which made it easier to find a suitable location in the center of Lisbon, close to various spots and on the route of Lisbon's nightlife.
Of course, it was necessary to make some adaptations, such as product delivery, which had its deadlines altered. Finally, we had to observe the new health safety rules, which prevented us from holding a larger inaugural event but ensured care for everyone who came to meet us.
What are your expectations?
To ensure that all the hustle we put into creating the store can translate into support for the community, through events and skate videos (we are already working on our first one that we want to launch soon).
Additionally, we hope to bring a bit of the experience we gained in Brazil related to skate and other segments and apply it to this new daily life. We also plan to launch a line of clothing for the store that we like, akin to the brands we appreciate.
The Cybercafé Skateshop is located at R. Ferragial 1, 1200-484 in Lisbon, from Monday to Friday from 10:30 am to 8 pm, and on Saturdays from 10:30 am to 4 pm. Follow them on Instagram.
See others like this
