He Put an 80s Skate Shop in His Basement! [ft. Matt Picker from Bones Brigade Audio Show]

Join us on an incredible journey into Matt Picker’s basement, transformed into an old school skate shop that captures the essence of 80s skateboarding and BMX culture. Matt, a passionate flatland rider and skater, has curated a collection of iconic boards, BMX bikes, and memorabilia that will take you back in time.
In this video, we explore the Shred Shed, a personal project inspired by Matt's childhood memories of skating in his basement and visiting skate shops. Matt shares the stories behind his collection, his DIY projects, and the inspiration for recreating this nostalgic space. For skateboarding enthusiasts, you might also recognize Matt as the co-host of the Bones Brigade Audio Show podcast, where he delves into the rich history of one of the most influential skate teams ever.
Discover the magic of this unique space, relive the 80s skateboarding era, and learn about Matt’s passion for preserving this cultural legacy. Don’t miss this trip down memory lane!
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:58 Skate Shop
09:16 Freestyle Bikes
10:33 Bones Brigade Audio Show

[@bigben1986]

As a BMX rider, I also fell in love with skateboarding because at that time a BMX magazine called FREESTYLIN would feature pro skaters in the magazine. my first deck was the Vision Mark Gonzalez. 1986. This basement is all me I swear! lol freaking awesome!!!!!!

[@shawkes6775]

Loved the Mark G decks! Heck, I still do! FREESTYLIN’ Mag ruled all!

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

So cool! That Gonz board is so iconic 🙌 I remember the magazines incorporating skateboarding a bit around that time to, and may have also helped push me into skateboarding was well 👍

[@bigben1986]

@@TheNostalgicNeighborhoodit was/ is so awesome! 😎

[@bigben1986]

@@shawkes6775yes mark always had awesome decks. I miss those days!

[@Giveupyerowlsins]

I have a stack of Freestylin Mags stored away..curb dogs, Scotty freeman and club home boy zines.. could you get away with a buckwheat t shirt today 🫣 I don't think so

[@taylorherald9225]

I REMEMBER FINDING AN OLD 80S BOARD AT A THRIFT SHOP IN THE 90S WHEN I WAS ABOUT 7 OR 8 IT WAS 97 98 PROLLY AND I TOOK IT TO THE SKATEPARK EVERYONE WAS IN AWE THAT I BROUGHT AN ORIGINAL BOARD IT WAS SO SICK EVERYONE WANTED TO RIDE IT. DEFINITLY ONE OF MY FAVORITE MEMORIES AS A YOUNG KID TRYING TO STAND OUT FROM THE NORM

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

That definitely sounds like a fun way to stand out from the norm!!! 🙌

[@juanhander5876]

epic display of radness

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

Totally agree! 💯 So rad!!!

[@martyn5799]

@@juanhander5876 hell yeah brother you know that 💯💯💯👌👌👌🔥🔥🔥

[@ontopofitnews]

This is the most visually appealing collection display I've ever seen in the skate space, really love it

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

I love it too. Such a great way to display a collection!!

[@gsg_joe]

NONE of this is crap. 💯👍

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

Totally agreed 💯👊

[@islamicsalami7208]

Wow! What an amazing basement and such a humble guy. Thanks for filming and sharing this. This guy is forever young, and I love it!

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

Couldn’t agree more. 💯 Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@byronsmail1766]

Great video! Awesome! Anyone that grew up skating in the 80's can relate to this skateshop setup. I miss those days

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

Thanks for the kind words! I miss those days too!

[@shawkes6775]

Dudes got SUCH a great attitude! Reminds me of my first deck, a Veriflex (I think) Jinx I got from K-Mart (Kame Apart) for $70 in Bozeman Montana. My first pro deck, a Powell Peralta Hawk Claw (pink) from HAMMELS Skate Shop, Mission Beach San Diego. Nostalgic Indeed!

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

Right on. The Hawk Claw was so classic for a first board! 💯 I never heard anyone call K-Mart “came apart”, how fitting 🤣

[@NJGhost34]

This touched my heart. Our era was unmatched. My fav deck ever was my Jason Lee Cat in the Hat bLind deck. What a trip down memory lane. Thank you

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

Right on. The Jason Lee Cat in the Hat was an amazing graphic 💯

[@GLiKK763]

The energy in this video alone is so genuine man, I love seeing older dudes carry that knowledge down to the younger dudes. You guys are like historians and I couldn’t begin to explain how dope it is to learn from such seasoned enthusiasts of the community. Stay rad and continue to keep this history alive, We all appreciate the work you put in!🤙🏻

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

Dude, you just made my day with this comment. This is why we do this, thanks so much for the encouragement. 🙌

[@tonybones7044]

Another epic video Matt! Thank you for sharing this as I had never heard of this podcast. I have awesome memories of skating with friends and evertbody piling in my friend Ray's house to watch the new SK8 TVs on Nickelodeon then going back out to skate with a little more inspiration!. Over the years I have acquired all of my favorite childhood decks except one.... the Rob Roskopp eye deck... someday soon I will complete my collection! Take care my friend 🛹🛹🛹

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

Right on!!! You’ll love the podcast, I’m sure!!! That’s an awesome memory about taking inspiration from SK8TV with your friends back in the day!😊 Good luck on that last deck 🙌

[@Mark-tw5ws]

Man!! Trip down memory lane seeing those Vision and Zorlac banners! Awesome set up, thanks for sharing....woah seeing that Gonz deck! My first board was a Vision Ghost and my most prized was an original SMA Natas. Great memories

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

Right on!!! Thanks so much for watching. Yes, Matt’s setup is so awesome 🙌🙌🙌

[@julienbaut5784]

So cool ! I wish I could have enough space at home to create something like this. I already own so much skateboard decks (almost 180) and 2 bikes (GT and Haro), but clearly not enough space to display them ! 😔 Maybe later ….

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

Whoa! 180 decks!!! That’s amazing. You totally could make an amazing display with them if you ever find the space 🙌❤️

[@jeffladrillono2313]

What a rad basement. Just needs a combo tv/vhs to play skate videos on

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

Great idea 🙌

[@jeffbrown5033]

I still have my tony hawk&bill danforth on my den wall…allways wanted mark the gonz gonzales board

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

Oh wow, that’s awesome 🙌 I wanted that Gonz board too. I’ll probably pick up its reissue one of these days.

[@right_on_riggins]

The colors, the smells 🤟🏼🇺🇸

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

The smells of a skate shop really transport you back!!! 💯🙌

[@marcelboogaard3809]

Great episode. Anyone else went like “I had that and my friend rode that” Definitely going to check out the podcast. Keep em coming 👊🏻🛹

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

🙋‍♂️ Right on! I’m sure you’ll enjoy the podcast. It’s so good!!!

[@JKNitro-vt5qs]

I had the exact same variflex board as my first board. it was a dark green color. i had got it for christmas and went to my friend's house and was learning how to go off a launch ramp. after trying for a while i eventually landed my first time without wiping out and the board broke in half under my feet lol. it was a cheap board like complete setup was like $30-$40. so after that happened my mom took me to Fun Wheels which was our local skate/bike shop. i was blown away with all the boards on the wall and such. at this point i basically knew nothing about anything about skateboarding. i was like 13 years old or something. i picked out a Jeff Kendall pumpkin board as my first "real" board because i thought it looked cool. i also got gullwing trucks and oj 2's. the first setup was probably $100 for everything. i got my first vhs "wheels of fire" and loved it. maybe a year or so later i went and got the Animal Chin vhs and the bones brigade video show and my mind was blown at that point. later i got a caballero board with tracker trucks and rat bones. it was funny because i remember we had put a GT performer bike on layaway for my birthday but then my friends were getting into skateboarding so we cancelled that at the last minute and got my first real skateboard instead. later on i ended up buying a haro fst from a friend who no longer rode it.

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

I love hearing about this story about getting your first “real” skateboard, and that Jeff Kendall graphic is so iconic 🙌 Thanks for watching and sharing 🙏

[@CK3KSF]

Super Awesome! I remember a bike/skateshop out in West County- Wheel West.

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

Awesome! I moved to west county in 1992, for my senior year. I wasn’t skating much then, so I don’t recall that one. Splash was still up by Chesterfield Mall, and I knew a girl who worked up there. 👍

[@MattPickerSTL]

Wheels West is where I got that Vertigo, ironically… 🍻

[@CK3KSF]

@@MattPickerSTL Right on!!! When did they close down or move?

[@CK3KSF]

@@TheNostalgicNeighborhood what town in WC? I was in Ballwin/Manchester area!

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

@@CK3KSF I was in Ellisville, close to the intersection of Clarkson and Manchester. (Not too far from Bluebird Park.) So pretty close to Ballwin!

[@bmx_dreaming]

Yooooo I really enjoyed this Matt and Matt P… 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 1988 GT Vertigo ST was my first real freestyle bmx as well. Still need to recreate mine

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

Awesome Brandon! I had a hunch you’d enjoy this one too 👊

[@migzz7976]

Sweet!🤘🏽

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

Right on!!!

[@marlowkaplan3584]

ahhh i feel home in this place

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

That’s awesome!!! It definitely felt like the good old days in there ❤️

[@dais1188]

Ray is amazing 😎

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

💯 Absolutely!!!! ❤️

[@frankiew311]

Outstanding!

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

Totally agree! His basement is so awesome 🙌

[@thepointsnorth]

Throwback shop replica as a hobby is the new basement train set

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

I love it!!!!! 🙌💯🤯

[@therealandrecorbin4050]

That is great

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

Totally agree 💯🙌

[@robbeaton2178]

I had one of those Body Glove neoprene bracelets! Always wondered if anyone else ever bought one. Nicely done on the skate shop 👏🏻

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

Very cool! We chatted for about an hour down there and I had to cut some things out to make it shorter, but Matt shared about how the shops in the area as a kid were all surf/skate shops, and he wanted to incorporate some the surfing vibes with the skim boards, palm tree, etc. he said he picked up those body glove bracelets at one of those shops back in the day. How cool that he still has them

[@bradthompson2593]

awesome , altered skates of America in Alton. Skated downtown Alton for many years. I still talk to Glen on social media.

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

Oh, that’s so rad!!! I grew up in Bethalto, so Altered Skates was the closest shop to us. I remember there was a skate shop in Fairview Heights too, but only went there once.

[@bradthompson2593]

@@TheNostalgicNeighborhoodcool, i lived in East Alton/rosewood Heights, not too far from ya. yes i skated for Altered skates during the late 80s, we did a few demos and contest at the Fairview heights store. i will be watching some more of your vids

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

@@bradthompson2593 Oh wow, not far at all. Small world!!!

[@paul-cx2fo]

F*ckn Awesome!!!

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

Right on! 🤘👊

[@craigdoughty8803]

That’s not used crap… that’s some awesome stuff!!

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

Well said!!! 💯

[@carlborman5165]

Wow!!!!

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

Agreed!!! 💯

[@destructo3915]

Just needs a vintage TV to play old skate tapes and a cash register on the counter to really complete the experience; that would be sick.

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

Agreed. That would be a nice touch 👍

[@jeffzabielski4457]

Love the haro circuit board 👌 just sweet

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

Haro stuff is so cool!!!

[@martyn5799]

I can still remember my first real proper board it was a santa monica airlines Jim Thiebaud deck a pair of neon yellow gullwing trucks with bones bearings and santa cruz speed wheels to start with I didn't want to scrub the graphics and what not but as my skills progressed I shredded the ass out of it.

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

Right on!!! Jim Thiebaud is so rad! And that deck is such a classic 🙌

[@martyn5799]

@@TheNostalgicNeighborhood thank you so much for bringing all the memories of my first real deck back to me. I'm 49 year's young and I wrote my comment before I had fully watched your video. I absolutely loved that deck so glad to see it again as its fired up some kick ass memories. Thanks again dude your a straight up Og legend. 💯💯💯🔥🔥🔥

[@g3attack]

I have had a 4 hour Election since I watched this video!! Who do I call? No Blue Pill Taken! 😂😂😂

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

Yikes!!! 😱🤣🤣

[@martyn5799]

Can't believe he's got my first deck in this video 🤯🤯🤯

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

That’s so awesome!!!

[@rwirtz77]

My first pro board was a Psycho Stik Mini

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

Awesome! That Psycho Stick is so classic!!! 🙌

[@mikebond5957]

This dude needs the pink&white performer GT in here

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

Matt’s a Haro guy, but a pink GT Performer would look amazing in there too 👍

[@mikebond5957]

@@TheNostalgicNeighborhood ohhh man, how about tracker ultralights…. !? I just visited my old skate shop and took the wife. It smelled the same because of the ice rink but was all hockey gear. Sorry just being nostalgic. It’s crazy how 35 years can go by but you still smell and feel it …

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

@@mikebond5957 Agreed, it’s so interesting how smells can be tied to such stroking memories 👍

[@ToddStong-tv1zg]

I miss my old Gibson zorlac

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

And rightly so! Such a classic graphic 🙌❤️

[@ToddStong-tv1zg]

Great ramp and ditch board 🛹

[@neubergermj]

Matt do you follow 80s Life on KZbin? He just did a Bones Brigade Video Show filming locations video, definitely worth checking out

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

I do watch his videos from time to time. He’s awesome! I have that one on my list, but I haven’t watched it yet. There’s so much good stuff on KZbin that I get backlogged 🤣 Glad to hear it’s good! Hope to get to it later this week. 👊

[@jerrtheripper1349]

Matt, I’ve got a random question for you. How wide was the original Rat Bones deck? The Vato Rat deck? I know the reissue is 10”. Wasn’t the early 80s one narrower?

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

That’s a great question. Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t have access to an OG and I don’t see the specs posted online. The one that Stacy pulls out of the TV in the first Bones Brigade video looks like it could be 10”, so I’m guessing the reissue is correct. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYLcn5iMf7Nsr9ksi=KZHwQ2N-qAnnKKRg

[@oldschoolskater7687]

Do you guys still meet at Kinetic Park. If so, when?

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

The Kinetic sessions don’t happen regularly like they used to, but there’s usually at least a couple guys out on the weekends. If you check the St. Louis Old Man Skate Cartel Facebook group, you can see when dudes are meeting up to skate 👍

[@Constantinus_Apollyon]

are they 1,55$ like in the 80's or they cost as much as a car?😅

[@TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

Most repop decks are in the $75-$85 range, some more limited ones can be over $100. Not too bad after you consider inflation. But some of the originals from the 80s in good condition can indeed cost thousands apiece.

[@Constantinus_Apollyon]

@@TheNostalgicNeighborhood Yeah I was talking about the originals. Seen some sh*t costing 60k somewhere. Also even Tony hawk himself payed someone to get an original board to his "nest collection" a hefty sum and gave him his personal board. Talking about inflation huh?