cuz we called them and told them to come out.
I'm surprised the news wasn't there.
Sneakerheads don't mind the chill if they can buy scarce Air Jordans
Shoe collectors camp out on Michigan Avenue outside Niketown for a chance at one of the last numbered pairs
By Steve Schmadeke | Tribune reporter
December 19, 2008
When Detroit residents Tim Muir and Chris Nielsen appeared outside the Niketown store on Michigan Avenue, carrying enough cold-weather gear to cross Siberia, word quickly spread among shoe fanatics.
Only a few hours later, Bridgeport resident Joe Gorman, 27, called a contact at the store, who acknowledged the line had formed. Gorman's girlfriend, Clara Cinta, dropped him off outside. While Cinta bought a $30 tent, did laundry and gathered supplies, Gorman called friends in Ohio and Michigan, who immediately set out for Chicago.
They were all after the same thing—the last pairs of numbered Air Jordans Nike apparently plans to sell. A total of 23 U.S. stores are each selling 23 pairs on Dec. 23 at $230 a pop. (Air Jordans have been on the market for 23 years).
"It's the end of an era," Muir said wistfully.
Sneaker fans said they think the shoes can be resold for around $2,000.
Gorman also called Detroit resident Simon Carter, 24, who after spending a cold night in line said Thursday he contracted pneumonia last time he waited outside in freezing weather for a pair of shoes, but that didn't stop him.
"It was a month before I felt like myself again," said Carter, who owns about 500 pairs of sneakers. "But we're dedicated—I'm a die-hard sneaker fan."
Carter had nothing on Artino Sowunmi, 21, who flew in from California with two friends. They brought a six-person tent, chairs and a paperback copy of "Atlas Shrugged."
"Some people collect cars, some people collect cups, I collect shoes," Sowunmi explained Thursday as frozen winds raced down Michigan Avenue. He traveled to Chicago because he said four of the five California stores selling shoes were "shady"—workers only sold to friends or raffled the shoes off.
The bitter cold was affecting even Chicago natives.
"You just can't get the chatter out of the bones all day—for like a week afterwards," said Gorman, explaining what it was like to sleep in a tent on cold concrete.
Gorman said he called in "shoe" to work ("Yeah, there's another rare shoe, and I'll be outside for a couple days.") and insisted that the roughly $1,200 he spends a month on shoes (not including glass display cases) is worth it.
"I spend a lot, but in return I get good friends and I'm also getting one hell of an experience," he said. "Hopefully, five years from now I can sell [the shoes] and put a down payment on a house."
Despite the cold and lack of sleep, the atmosphere was friendly. Sneakerheads passed around two portable heaters supplied by Rosemont resident Shane Money, 28, and gamely answered questions for puzzled passersby: What are you doing? Are you homeless? Are you crazy?
Store employees eventually had mercy and handed out orange wristbands to reserve their places shortly before 4 p.m. Thursday. The out-of-towners packed up and said they planned to do some sight-seeing. Gorman and his girlfriend could now make her sister's 17th birthday celebration.
More than 23 wristbands were handed out. Near the end of the line, Little Village resident Darnell Mangum, 33, held out hope he'd get a pair of shoes to resell at a profit. He has three children to buy Christmas presents for and rent to pay on what he's making selling concessions in sections 436 and 437 at Soldier Field, he said. He saw his cold wait outside as part of a classic American endeavor.
"America is the home of the hustler," he said.
sschmadeke@tribune.com
Guess what!???
Ok this is a such a funny incident!!!
I don't know if you will be laughing
but I have for days!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok So we were outside Niketown
and its the daytime and the walkway is getting
crowded especially with all us in the way
So Apes goes "Make way for the old lady"
And there's this classic mishgan ave old lady
old old lady! with a gangsta ass burberry scarf
and I said "she's an og"
So Joe up there "Jael" goes
"Ima teach you how to stunt, ma"
In a singing way
&&& the old lady stares Jael down
not scared of all us youngsters
Gives Jael a mean ass mug!
& She walks off
while we laugh our bellies off!
She was more gangstah than this
