670 Rock Steady, now located at the Gualo Rai Plaza on Middle Road, has maintained a strong following from members of the local community who take pride in wearing shirts that speak of their culture.
“It has been our commitment to focus on quality — first and foremost,” 670 Rock Steady owner Frank Cabrera told Variety.
Cabrera, now 33, first opened the shop in 2007 and he began with just four designs.
From a small shop in 2007, 670 Rock Steady has moved to a bigger space, at the Guialo Rai Plaza across from Top Development Inc. on Middle Road.
The shop’s new 2,500 square feet space affords its customers more room to explore a great variety of shirt designs and other novelties.
The shop brought together nine young entrepreneurs passionate about their art and their culture.
670 Rock Steady shop owners Cabrera and his wife May own “Magas” and “Stressfree” brands.
They are joined by eight vendors whose brands add a variety to the shop.
Angel Demapan owns “Poksu” and “Marianas built”; Elen Del Rosario, “Solid” and “Pongai”; Jesse Tudela, “Is.Brand,Balas” and “Marianas wear”; Eric Palacios, “Atdit”; Ron Mostales, “Lakas Tama”; Daniel Worswick, “Island Rebel”; Carlo Quezon,
“Green Minded”; they also carry the brand Konflik.
Demapan, 29, one of the vendors, told Variety, “It’s been a wonderful opportunity.”
He too, he said, started from the back of his truck selling his products.
“I was able to meet Frank and I officially joined his company as a vendor right in time for the Flame Tree Arts Festival last year,” Demapan said.
For Demapan, “It has been a fruitful journey forward. Now moving into this bigger space, it is giving us — vendors — a bigger and better opportunity to reach out to our buyers and to promote the products that we produce.”
As for the brands he owns, Demapan said “Marianas Built” is more of a cultural-based brand focusing on local heritage.
His “Poksu”, which in Chamorro means “accurate” and “sharp shooter”, is a contemporary brand that reaches out to younger generation.
He also expressed his gratitude to 670 Rock Steady Shop. “The brands are thankful to Rock Steady shop for giving us the opportunity to be here.”
Another vendor, Eric Palacios, 31, said he’s honored and proud to be part of the team.
Daniel Worswick, 33, who owns the brand “Island Rebel” with his wife, said, “It’s nice to be part of the family.”
For Worswick, the brand caters to all Pacific islanders wherever they may be.
For the holiday season, Cabrera also anticipates they may have to extend their store hours.
Since Dec. 2 the shop has been holding a “Christmas Smash Sale,” giving 10 percent to 25 percent discount on select items.
Aside from shirts, 670 Rock Steady sells long sleeves, hoodies, jackets, hats, beanie, stickers, bags, accessories, lotion, sunglasses, shell necklaces, among various items.
Cabrera said, “There is always something new to look forward to every day. We always have new items every day.”
The shop located next to NMPASI in Gualo Rai is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday; 11 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
