Xtreme Sports closing its doors in Cedar Rapids

Xtreme Sports, an independent retailer that catered to young thrill seekers, will close Sunday after eight years in Cedar Rapids because of lagging sales.

The store at 5070 Lindale Dr. NE. sold skateboards, BMX and motocross gear, apparel and other extreme sports merchandise.

Owner Shellie Moore said the future of the store became a concern after sales were down almost 40 percent during the last holiday season because of the recession. “We're having a problem with people staying local and loyal anymore,” Moore said.

The store moved in January from Lindale Mall to its current location, where Moore hoped business might improve. But it did not.

Moore said teams and athletes who received sponsorships through the store are sad about the closing, and not just because their sponsorships are disappearing. Some parts and equipment will now be impossible to find locally.

Because of the recession, customers were increasingly inclined to put off purchases, Moore said, or find the same items at online e-tailers offering lower prices.

Some local issues also hurt sales. The city skate park at Riverside Park in southwest Cedar Rapids was damaged in the flood, and activity was down because some believed it was no longer a healthy place for skateboarding. A cool, rainy summer also reduced outdoor activity.

“I hope that the city will open another skate park,” Moore said. “The kids really need it.”

Moore said closing the store will give her more time to spend with her two sons, Brandon and Trey, who are top BMX competitors in the area.