If you are a coffee connoisseur, a skateboard junkie, or both, Recess is where you belong.

Three weeks ago, Sean Chilon opened the homey coffee and skate shop on Harvard Place right off Westcott Street for those interested in either or all aspects.

‘I’m just curious to see what this shop has to offer,’ said Chris Colagiovanni, a sophomore mechanical engineering major. ‘I don’t think it will last, because the market for that is so small. Who is going to drink coffee, the parents of the kids who bring them to buy skate stuff?’

Chilon says he’s just a guy who wanted to open his own business, going off his experience working in the both the skateboard and coffee house industry. The shop got its name from what it actually is to the owner: a recess. This is what he loves most in life, and he’s turned it into a business venture.

As one walks in, there is a lounging area, which wraps around the entire establishment. Art covers the indie-style painted walls with broken skate decks featuring art by Chilon and are strategically placed around the shop. Behind the checkout counter is a vintage espresso machine made of copper and bronze.

Chilon has been skating for 17 years and knows a lot about the sport. He previously worked for Science Skateboards located on Crouse Avenue. He also knows people who work the business side of skateboarding who are helping him to develop connections with other shops and companies.

‘You can go to the mall and buy an average skateboard from some guy who looks like a skater and works at Zumiez, but you will only get the best stuff from local shops where actual skaters work,’ Chilon said.

Also experienced in the coffee industry, Chilon’s shop offers some a wide selection of coffee blends.

Leah Friedman, a sophomore psychology major, was drinking the half Tanzanian Peaberry, half Zimbabwe blend and said the coffee was fantastic.

‘I was a waitresses at a four-star restaurant, and their coffee was not this good,’ Friedman said.

Although the skate portion of the shop is not complete, Chilon has plans for it to be ready by the beginning of the summer. His store will be selling brands such as Spitfire, Satori, Independent, Venture and Movement.

Chilon also is an artist and will be designing custom-made decks for customers. He also plans to swap inventory with a few other skate shops along the East Coast, so there will be a variety of artistic merchandise in the shop.

Recess is also featured in a skate video based in the upstate area, which shows footage of skaters from places like Binghamaton and Syracuse. Chilon says he hopes to use his latest enterprise as a means to promote local skating talent. There are a lot of good young skaters in the Central New York area, and he hopes to field a team, ready to compete in major competitions and put Central New York on the map, Chilson said.

‘Using this project as means to connect with the community is my ultimate goal,’ Chilon said.

Published on February 28, 2006 at 12:00 pm