Eric Olek of Friday Knights has opened the city’s first sneaker consignment service inside his Exchange District store. (HANDOUT)
Sneakerheads look no further than Eric Olek‘s latest retail offering in Winnipeg’s Exchange District.
The owner and entrepreneur behind streetwear brand Friday Knights has turned his attention to a sneaker consignment service inside his flagship store.
“I saw a gap in the market, where the limited nature of high profile sneaker releases prevented people from getting their hands on something that they really wanted,” said Olek.
“In addition, Kijiji is flooded with people meeting up to buy and sell sneakers, so why not facilitate that need in a secure environment?”
Olek said he was inspired by similar services in New York and Toronto and encapsulates hip-hop culture into his shop.
Since opening last June, Friday Knights has accumulated more than 170 pairs of sneakers from local collectors and resellers. Brands range from retro Nike Air Jordan’s to the Kanye West-designed Yeezy collection.
“It’s thanks to these collectors that we’re able to offer such a crazy selection — instead of just letting something sit in their closet forever, they can give someone a second chance at a pair of sneakers they missed out on,” Olek added.
“Just yesterday someone came in and found a pair of shoes they had been wanting for 10 years.”
Friday Knights is located at 223 McDermot Avenue and is open Tuesday to Saturday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
