Hard Times for Hard Times

Hello, my name is Toney Herndon and I am the owner of Hard Times Skate Shop. We are located in Portsmouth, VA, a place that is familiar with Hard Times. We have been operating for a little over 10 years now and have had our share of ups and downs but this year has been a little trying. We have had several shooting incidents nearby the shop. Last month our windows were broken and the shop sustained some minor damage. All those issues have made Hard Times a high risk for insurance companies. This makes it difficult to find affordable replacement insurance with our recent cancellation. Then, on December 26, 2022, I encountered another discouraging event. The moment I opened up the shop I was greeted by a waterfall pouring from the ceiling which was caused by a burst pipe from an unoccupied unit above the shop. The water destroyed some inventory. Luckily, not all, but still a vast amount to a small business owner such as myself. It also caused damage to our laptop, cash register, credit card processing machine, displays, paperwork and some of the positive vibes that live in the shop. The good vibes were only gone momentarily. Through the collaborative efforts of myself and my great friends, we were able to clean up the water. The floor is currently drying with an air vent and we installed a replacement ceiling. We are on a good pace to reopen soon but any help and assistance from the public would be greatly appreciated. The funds would be used to replace some inventory and store property that was damaged. It will also allow us to begin a search for a new location to continue the great things we have started and ensure a great future.