One Albert Lea family is taking their love for a hobby and bringing it into the business world.

On April 5, Lisa and Richard Alcala, with the help of their children, opened Dirty Dog Skate Shop on Clark Street. The shop, which had formerly been the home of Bookkeeping Cents, sells all sorts of skateboards, skateboarding apparel, videos and banners.

Lisa Alcala said she and her husband always wanted to work for themselves — she’s a stay-at-home mother and he’s a truck driver — and the store seemed like a good fit.

Richard Alcala was also one of the original people in Albert Lea who sparked the skateboarding hobby, and now the couple’s son, Alex, is devoted to it, the mother said.

“Our son was the main reason for it,” she said.

They got the space for the shop, which had been empty for about four or five months before they found it, made a few modifications and then ordered their merchandise.

The merchandise comes from a wholesaler out of California and includes brands Tony Tave, Bam, Birdhouse and Skate Mafia, to name a few. Clothing features brands such as Plan B, Element and Blueprint.

Lisa Alcala said kids can come into the shop and get a blank deck — a skateboard without any decorations or other hardware such as wheels — for as cheap as $20. Then they can decorate them to their own liking and pick out their own wheels for it.

There’s a small workshop area in the back where they can get help putting their skateboards together.

“I’ve learned a lot about it,” she said.

In the winter, she and her husband hope to sell snowboards, and at some point they also hope to have replacements for Rollerblades.

She noted so far the shop has serviced people ranging from 9-year-old children to adults in their early 20s. A lot of times, youth come into the store as a group, look around and then later come back with their parents.

“I know they really like it here,” she said. “They really identify.”

She said she and her husband are open to any suggestions for merchandise from their customers.

“The kids are going to have a voice,” Lisa Alcala said. “We are listening to what they say.”

Every day she’s seen new faces, and thus far, the store’s had a successful start, she said.

Dirty Dog Skate Shop is open from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. It is open from 3:30 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. Lisa Alcala said the hours will probably be extended when school is out.

Lisa and Richard Alcala have three sons, Tony, 20, Alex, 12, and Adam, 3.

The business is at 218 W. Clark St.