Dead Solez brings new life to rare sports sneakers phenomena in downtown GR

Riding on the wave of growing national interest in high-end and luxury sports footwear, Dead Solez has opened for business at 53 Monroe Center St. with a focus on both sales and trade-ins for high-end, luxury athletic brand sneakers.

At Dead Solez, customers can shop the curated selection of rare discontinued styles like the Air Jordan 11, Nike Foamposite, and Jordan 1 Collaborations, or bring in their own rare sneakers to trade in for cash or new kicks after passing an evaluation by one of two resident “sneaker experts” on staff there. 

“We’re really excited to set up shop right in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids with heavy foot traffic, easy access, terrific customers and near other great boutique stores,” says co-owner Angelo Martinez.

Dead Solez also sells and accepts trades for similarly high-end brands of baseball caps such as New Era hats. 

Originally started earlier this year by Tim Datema inside Capz on Rackz in Comstock Park, the rapid growth and popularity of the service prompted Dead Solez to move into its own downtown location.

Chris Prins, associate with Colliers International who helped broker Dead Solez’s three-year lease on the 1,200-square-foot space, says Dead Solez offers something different to the growing boutique retail market in Grand Rapids’ downtown core. 

“I think it’s something that the specific downtown market hasn’t seen yet,” Prins says. “Dead Solez sells to a customer base that’s already down here so it’s an easier commute, you get a lot of foot traffic up and down that corridor and they’re kind of exclusive in terms of what they sell and what the brand is.”

For more information, visit Dead Solez online or find them here on Facebook. 

By Anya Zentmeyer, Development News Editor
Images courtesy of Dead Solez