An Homage to the Ottawa Institution that was — and is — Top of the World
I can’t remember exactly how I found out that Top was closed, I haven’t really lived in Ottawa all that much in the past two decades, but it was jarring to say the least.
If you’re under the age of let’s say, fifty years old and grew up in the capital city, there’s almost no way you wouldn’t know the name Top of the World and not associate it with the skate and snowboard shop on Rideau, then Bank St. in it’s twilight years.
I can’t say the exact year, maybe 1996, if I’m not mistaken… it was around there that ol’ Cathy Marley took her eldest son[me] downtown to get his first pair of skate shoes.
I’d probably been skateboarding for a year or two at that point and went from plastic Nash skateboards, to Hobbywood – I think somewhat plastic and cheap metal skateboards, to a used powell from some guy named Jeremiah Doubt(if I’m not mistaken) that my mom somehow was able to buy off the dude. I think he was possibly sponsored, too(what a cool guy).
So at this point I’ve got my shitty used skateboard, my transworld mag(which at this point in time was not only in print, but stapled in the back instead of binded).
Ahh the good old days.
So what shoe catches my eye? Well none other than a nice White pair of Evol Casuals. To this day still the best fucking shoes I’ve ever owned. But that’s probably due to nostalgic purposes as well.
Game Changer.
These weren’t my first pair of skate shoes, I had a pair of Tas Pappas Globes from The Price Club or Costco now, but I wanted a pair from a shop.
With the closest two stores closed — Backbone and Sk8 City…
It was time to get in the Windstar and head downtown to what I heard was the cool skateboard shop.
I heard right.
The first thing I remember was smelling incense. Kind of a confusing first encounter but mixed in with the girls that were working that day, my 10 year old self was just a ball of confused thoughts.
This was an experience that would really put me on a path that I don’t think I’ll ever stray away from.
Not really skateboarding itself, but skateboard culture.
As a little stupid kid, to feel like you’re right at home in so crazy world where grown ups are acting like kids, there’s a TV playing videos, and a whole room full of shoes. It’s paradise.
Especially when you live in the Ottawa suburbs.
It’s like there’s a whole world out there — they’re on top of it.
All the price labels are written in graffiti letters just like the house brand t-shirts and stickers.
The dude putting together the skateboards actually talks to you… probably like more of an adult than was even necessary.
Man, it was really the one place in the city where a stupid kid didn’t feel like they were bugging the people working. It was truly the best.
So I dip into the shoe room and thar she blows. A nice little row of Evol Casuals. Damn fine.
Just like in the mag, pristine.
I’m pretty sure I bought them like 3 sizes too big so I could grow into ‘em.
Boxing Day, Blood Sport
Boxing Day at Top was
Then go over to Taco Bell in the Rideau Centre to marvel at your haul and then shit it all out in the piss-soaked bathroom behind the burger king(RIP to the little satellite food court).
Skate Retail in the Era of “Big”
It’s not uncommon now for the little guys to get kicked to the curb. Skateboarding’s got Red Bull sponsors, Zumiez, limited collabs, and enough Instagram ads to make your head spin.
I’m not here to knock any of that. It’s a different time and the world’s a different place now.
Top of the World held on longer than most. But even they weren’t immune to the waves of commercial real estate and corporate retail… and a global pandemic isn’t going to make things easier.
Still, they adapted. And now? It seems they’re building a solid online shop, and they’re still pushing that same energy, even if it’s digital now. It’s not the same, sure. But it’s still them.
That’s rare. That’s legacy.
Maybe the old Brick and Mortar shop won’t ever come back but if it stays online, it can grow and still be a huge part of the community.
Represent something real. Something that came before the Olympics, before Red Bull, before vaping.
Back when:
- Men(and teenagers) smoked analog cigs
- You’d actually get kicked out of spots and not have your phone to shield you(guys with balls, not me).
- You had to sit on your mom’s basement carpet rewinding 411VM Volume 3 with your hand because the remote was taken away by the cat or something.
So, if you want to support a couple guys that supported an entire city’s worth of skaters… check out their site. Buy a shirt. You’ll be doing them a service, and yourself a huge fucking favor because they’ve got the best tshirts in the game.
Thanks for all the years, fellas. Means the world. https://www.topoftheworld.com/Want more nostalgia and gear talk? Check out our full breakdown of the Top 5 Skate Shoes for Big Guys in 2025.