Celebrating a Milestone
Celebrating a Milestone
The Boardroom Snowboard Shop hits its 40th anniversary
Photos / The Boardroom
Our local go-to snowboard shop has carved a serious milestone for themselves. The Boardroom is celebrating their 40th anniversary! Since opening its doors in 1984, this second-generation small business continues to deliver premium product lines, top notch customer service, and the ultimate drive to give you a good time while standing sideways on the slopes.
Four decades in the making, The Boardroom shares its humble beginnings setting up shop only to experience a devastating fire after a short time operating. But Mike and Jodie Timkey knew they were all in, gambling on themselves and their dream of selling fun. They rebuilt the barn-style building with the help of friends, and it’s a good thing they did, because in a few years everything would change. Come 1991, The Boardroom, originally a ski rental and accessory shop, made a major shift and ushered in the early era of snowboarding for Ellicottville, NY. As snowboarding grew in popularity, so did the Timkey’s business, and not just because of what they had to sell. When you go to The Boardroom, you’re not being sold on a product or pushed into a sale, you get real conversations from the Mom and Pop shop that treat you like family.
Now the slopeside staple runs under the next generation. Their son, Spencer Timkey, was happy to share how they’ll be celebrating that major 40-year mark for The Boardroom.
“First and foremost, we’ll start by celebrating every single person who we’ve worked with, has worked for us, or has walked through our doors. All of the aforementioned are the reason the shop is what it is, and why it can continue to operate the way it does. It really is awesome when you think about it - an unbelievable testament to the snowboarding community and my parents, who walked so I could run. Forty years is a long time, and we have no plan on slowing down any time soon.”
Embracing the unexpected and adjusting to the current trends in shopping, The Boardroom proves its place and passion as a premier east coast snowboard shop. Over the years they’ve welcomed some big changes, like the launch of their online shopping experience, giving you a real-time catalog to explore their current inventory - a promising option that’s helped riders check the latest gear in stock before making the drive from Buffalo or Cleveland to their favorite board shop.
Now, of course this year they’re got some awesome additions to share with us as well. Say hello to The Boardroom FW25 Collection. Highlighting branded apparel and partnered with premium brands, you can now find exclusive products emblazoned with The Boardroom logo, in-store and online. You’ll want to check out the quality for yourself, then put on your favorite finds and represent them on the slopes.
Adding to the excitement they’ve continued to create throughout the years with a bandwagon along for the ride, The Boardroom has launched their own 40th Anniversary zine, laid out by EllicottvilleNOW/PaNDaGOAT Media’s very own Meaghan Lucarelli. It shares a look into the history and early days of the shop - getting the chance to go back to the twists and turns that’ve gotten them to a milestone not many make.
With less than 5% of businesses making it to 40 years running, Timkey shared what the ride has been like for The Boardroom and his family. “I could write a book with the stories. When we talk about the snowboard culture and community being one-of-a-kind, that’s not lip service. There’s a weird subconscious bond you share with everyone that stands sideways, kind of a kindred spirit sort of thing. It has this innate ability to bring random groups of people together. I’d say some of our closest friends are people that shopped with us but the relationship grew from there.”
A testament to good times right there, stories carved from the storefront to the slopes, generations that share in the search of a good time that are met by The Boardroom ready to get them there. You’ll definitely want to grab yourself a copy of the 40th Anniversary zine while checking out shop.
The Boardroom has become a lifestyle of its own - a community for snowboarders near and far. They continue to live the dream that they started so long ago and have as much fun as possible. But don’t be fooled into thinking it’s an easy one. Spencer explained some of the key elements that have driven the success of the shop beyond the fast-paced, fun appeal.
“Hard work, showing up on time, being friendly, cultivating community, not complaining and most importantly never staying complacent. These are all ideals my parents instilled in my sister and I, and I think that’s served me pretty well since taking the reins. They worked very hard to get the shop to the place it is, and I feel like there’s a legacy involved here. I want to honor what they did while putting my own stamp on it. The coolest aspect is that they are both incredibly supportive and dynamite sounding boards, so I can still bounce ideas off them and get honest feedback. Running this shop is something we take an immense amount of pride in. We hope everyone that walks through our doors can feel that passion, that feeling of a genuine, authentic snowboard shop. We don’t care if you’ve never set foot on a board or if you’re on your 10th one - our doors are open to everyone that wants to stand sideways.”
From one generation to the next, humble beginnings and legendary triumphs, The Boardroom continues to shred into the adventures that await. The journey is far from over for the Timkeys as they gear up for the next chapter, hopefully with an epic winter fit for 40 years running. With two sons of his own, Timkey has already shared the love for snowboarding with his three-year-old, another generation ready to stand sideways on the slopes.
So here’s to The Boardroom, all that they’ve worked toward. You’ve made it this far with a reputation that can’t be beaten. An Ellicottville institution, an east coast wonder shop, 40 years with many more to come. Congratulations on this milestone event and, of course, thank you for all the fun that’s been had and that’s still to come!
To find more information on The Boardroom, seasonal snowboard and ski rentals, products and apparel, check out their website at www.boardsandpowder.com or give them a follow on Instagram @boardroomeville. The Boardroom Snowboard Shop is located at 6113 Route 219 S., Ellicottville, NY 14731.