CARLSBAD, Calif. (KGTV) -- Cameron Wetzler's downtown skate shop almost made the Guinness Book of World Records for being the smallest skate shop on Earth. Instead, the building could be torn down.
In July, Wetzler subleased the 100-square-foot building in a downtown Carlsbad parking lot and opened Elm Street Board Shop. He had a local artist spruce up the outside with images of Carlsbad at sunset and a Freddie Krueger theme.
"All the kids have been skating here for two generations and anybody who lives down here always thought this should be a skate shop," he said.
Wetzler's shop, and a vape shop next door, closed in October to make way for redevelopment.
A Carlsbad family is proposing to turn the site into a glassblowing operation that would offer classes, demonstrations and shopping.
"The last thing we want to do is another coffee shop or condos," said Mary Devlin, who would own what's being called Barrio Glassworks. "We really wanted it to be part of the look of Carlsbad and to fit with sort of the real local community."
Devlin said glassblowing is becoming rare these days, and was inspired after a trip to Murano Island in Venice with her son.
Wetzler raised nearly $900 to appeal to the project to the City Council, but now may withdraw it.
"It's business, I can't knock it," said Wetzler, who has relocated his skate shop to a spot on Carlsbad Village Drive through a young entrepreneur's program.
Devlin said she feels for the skateboarders, and hopes they can work with the city to develop a skate park that is sanctioned. If all goes as planned, Barrio Glassworks could open this summer.
