By Mike Kinney
So much for exclusive — Exclusive Shoes is luring dozens of customers daily to its Richmond store.
The reason is clear: You won’t find some of these shoes, or people who know this much about shoes, at a Footlocker.
Among the current trending products offered at Exclusive Shoes: the Jordan 4 Retro Union Guava Ice shoes and the Nike SB Dunk Low Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Dunky. These shoes generally cost in the range of $1,000-$2,000. Looking for something from the Adidas Yeezy collection by famed rapper Kanye West? This spot has it.
Open noon-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, Exclusive Shoes has been operating at 4926 McBryde Ave. in Richmond for five years. With its staff consisting of four part-time employees and owner Jason Drisker, the shop specializes in “urban shoeware culture.”
Drisker, 36, was raised in Richmond and graduated from Kennedy High. He lauds his small but mighty staff. They know their stuff, he said.
Drisker said he wasn’t initially passionate about owning a shoe business, but saw Exclusive Shoes as a good business opportunity.
“I followed my intuition on it,” he said, adding, “now I am so glad I went and opened up this business.”
Drisker loves the independence of owning his own business, including the ability to hire people he trusts and interact with members of the community, who he says come from all walks of life.
“By owning my own business, I am able to stand on my own two feet and provide for my family,” he said.
Exclusive Shoes allows Drisker an avenue to give back to his community. The shop has held giveaways of backpacks and school supplies. Last month, it donated grocery gift cards to people struggling amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We appreciate the support that our customers and the community have given us since we opened up for business here,” Drisker said.
Exclusive Shoes plans to remain exclusively in Richmond for “a long time,” he added.
For more information, visit Exclusives Shoes here.
