KICKS Extra: Sneaker Shops
What to wear and where to get it.
by Russ Bengtson
As recently as five years ago, the phrase “sneaker boutique” didn’t exist. Because there weren’t any. You needed new kicks, you visited the striped shirts at Foot Locker or the racks at Modell’s. The concepts of “upscale” and “sneakers” were entirely different, even as Air Jordan prices hit designer heights.
No longer.
Now every major city has at least one high-class sneaker shop — here in New York, it seems like a new one opens every month. Shoes are presented like art objects or jewelry, styles are carefully selected, and the owners and managers are as into — or more into — shoes than you’ll ever be. We caught up with two of them.
PHILADELPHIA
Ubiq
1509 Walnut Street
215.988.0194
Dave Lee, manager
KICKS: How long have you been in business?
LEE: We’ve been open for a little over two years?
KICKS: What’s the fastest you’ve sold out of any shoe? Which one was it?
LEE: Quickest was probably about 12 minutes. The Easter Air Force 1s, the clear Air Force 1s — you know, the invisibles — the Defining Moments Pack. They all sold out in about 10 to 12 minutes.
KICKS: What’s the most expensive shoe you’ve sold?
LEE: Probably the Defining Moments Pack.
KICKS: What’s the most popular style for you?
LEE: We carry a lot of SBs, a lot of quickstrike Air Force 1s. We’ve also got the Creative Recs, adidas, Vans, Converse.
KICKS: But is there one particular style that goes the fastest?
LEE: Mostly it’s the more limited ones.
KICKS: What shoe is your personal favorite?
LEE: The Jordan 11s, any Dunks.
KICKS: You have a big collection yourself?
LEE: Personally — I sold a lot of my pairs — I’m pretty much down to about 20-25 pairs. I needed some space in my room.
SEATTLE
Goods
1112 Pike Street
206.622.0459
Paul Williams, co-owner
KICKS: How long have you been in business?
WILLIAMS: Three years.
KICKS: What’s the fastest you’ve sold out of any shoe? Which one was it?
WILLIAMS: To the line, basically. So however long it takes to sell out to the line, 20 minutes to a half-hour. The P-Rod Elites (Jordan) and the Futura same thing — mostly real limited Dunks. The Hawaii Dunk.
KICKS: What’s the most expensive shoe you’ve sold?
WILLIAMS: Just regular, probably the P-Rod Elite, $200.
KICKS: What’s the most popular style for you?
WILLIAMS: Dunks. Dunks are definitely the most popular, either high or low. It still seems to be going strong, there doesn’t seem to be much of a break. We still sell out. Not of everything, but most limited new releases will go in one day.
KICKS: What shoe is your personal favorite?
WILLIAMS: I’m a huge Jordan III fan, so that P-Rod Elite is one of my all-time favorites for sure. The white/cement Jordan III, I think, is one of the nicest shoes ever made.
KICKS: What are you sittin’ on, as far as a personal collection?
WILLIAMS: Oh, lots, but I don’t give out that information. Just lots.
KICKS: Is that because you don’t even want to know how many pairs you have?
WILLIAMS: No, no no, I don’t publically admit how many shoes I have, but I got a lot. I don’t want my wife to find out, that’s what it is.
17 Responses to “KICKS Extra: Sneaker Shops”
Aug.21 at 11:50 am
Joe says:
Your magazine (and supplemental issues like Kicks) were basically how a lot of us got into shoes. I remember middle school we’d all flip directly to the back and check out the new stuff. And you’d give us at least a target area for a release date too. The game has blown up, to say the least. However, I was disappointed to see ad’s for fake/counterfit shoes in SLAM. I do know though, you have to have ad’s to keep it going and there is little control over it. Nevertheless thanks for a magazine full of eye candy.
Aug.21 at 1:32 pm
Delicious J. says:
I stopped collecting Nikes in 95′ or so and switched to skate shoes, even for playing ball. So much more variety and originality.. plus I can’t skate in Nike’s. Speaking of, Nike freaks should be glad they went into skating with the SB line. Look at all new colors and designs, so much more flavor.
Aug.21 at 2:59 pm
Chris O'Leary says:
95 was such a hot year for Nike basketball. Even their run of the mill, cost-friendly stuff was collection worthy. Paul Williams hiding his sneaker totals from his wife is hilarious. Very rarely do significant others fully understand the sneaker stuff. Good call on Williams’ part.
Aug.23 at 2:20 am
Jonathan says:
All I have to say is SLAM as a magazine and publication has really fallen off which is really sad.I’ve been down with SLAM since issue #1 with Grandmama LJ on the cover back in 94.Up until the Kobe “Cold Blooded” issue I use to buy this mag.But now I wont spend $5 to $6 on this mag.I’ll just go to my local Barnes & Noble bookstore pickup the mag and read the articles in the store then the leave. What really pisses me off with Slam presents Kicks #9 is this: You put on your cover that you have a preview of the Kobe 2 but you have no pics of the shoes.All you have is a Q & A interview with Kobe which doesnt mention or have any info on the Kobe 2. WTF? Where is the preview of the Kobe 2? You guys false advertised and you did was create HYPE by puting that on the front coverb of your magazine. I’m just glad I’d buy into the hype and spend $5 or $6 bucks on your magazine.
Aug.23 at 9:02 pm
seyha says:
i thought the issue was out
i haven’t been able to find it out here in southern california
i want my kicks
Aug.29 at 1:02 am
fcgreatness says:
I bought the new kicks magazine recently out . I like most of the shoes in the mag. I need new some new shoes for school but were can i buy most of these shoes.
I even stayed up all morning looking for atleast one of my favorite shoes. I gone to every popular shoe website on the web. Where can i find these shoes. I hav a week till school starts back please help me out. Infamous black sheep i trying to get them thnks.
Aug.30 at 12:31 am
Steve says:
Mag looks sick but it aint anywhere around where i live and its a week after it came out! Wats up SLAM?
Aug.31 at 5:26 am
nabeel says:
wtf i cant find the list for the new kicksology?
Sep.4 at 1:21 am
Anam says:
I was looking at your most recent kicks magazine…. slam presents#42 and you had a pair of adidas btb miami heat championship 2006 shoes and i was wondering where i could find those. i looked at the adidas site and even googled them but i didnt find them… please help me find them
Sep.10 at 7:54 pm
Markus says:
Will someone help me out I cant find Infamous Black Sheep shoes, and I cant find K1X anywhere either plz help me out.
Sep.13 at 4:37 pm
Squalle!! #1 Gilbert Arenas fan! says:
Thats ma boi!!!!! Gilbert Arenas! a.k.a the “ZERO”, “THE ASSASIN”, N’ MR. BLACK PRESIDENT”. I’m defenetly gonna get a couple os his shoes, its about time he had his own signature shoes, love this kids game, cause he can score, n’ shot from any where on the floor.
Sep.29 at 9:59 pm
joecool says:
in the slam magazine it featered the awsner x but now realeas date,help out?
Oct.16 at 2:31 am
DAKOTA says:
How can I get the infamous black sheep kicks??
Mar.16 at 7:45 am
besoul says:
any ” underground station ” should have them
Aug.23 at 11:11 am
MRZ HOOTIE says:
HOW DO I SUBSCRIBE TO KICKS MAGAZINE
Aug.29 at 11:49 am
Chain 3 TMT says:
I was at a “bobbito” show and did a sneaker design
and they copied it and put it on the D.Wade shoe
what do i do?
Feb.9 at 12:25 pm
linda dillon says:
how do you subscribe to kicks magazine?