Correction: A previous version of this story said Campus Kicks' new location is in the attic of 14 W. Union St. Campus kicks will actually be located in the attic of 16 W. Union St. The previous version also said Campus Kicks' website is www.campuskicks.com. It is actually www.campuskicks.net.
An assortment of fitted hats and graphic tees hang among pierced and tattooed mannequins in the front window of Art Apocalypse, signifying the popular Union Street tattoo parlor has a new attic residence.
Solid business has allowed Campus Kicks to dig into the Athens fashion scene with a physical presence in the attic of 16 W. Union St., said founder Vince Reeder. Until their grand opening on April 13th, the specialty outfitter has been based solely online at www.campuskicks.net.
Reeder and the two other co-founders of Campus Kicks, David Hirsch and Michael LaPlaca, began renting the modest space from the tattoo parlor one month ago. Since then, the trio has been working to transform it into the sort of place that they think potential customers would want to go to buy name brand apparel and fitted caps not available anywhere else near campus.
“We pretty much live in the middle of nowhere in a college town with nothing but college kids around us,” Reeder said in a previous Post article. “When I was a student, I thought it was a real hassle to drive home to Cincinnati just to buy what I liked.”
What began as a barbershop in 2009, The Chop Shop, 20 S. Court St., rapidly morphed into a combination barbershop-retail store, which the founders are now excited to unveil with actual retail space.
“We needed to expand and decided this was the place to do it,” Reeder said.
In addition to funneling name brand apparel into the Athens fashion scene, the trio strives to apply discounts to the items they bring in.
Reeder said he and his associates do not get the items at a discounted price, but hope that profits from enough sales will end up buffering the difference in price in the long run.
“Maybe people will say, ‘This is cheaper than in the mall, maybe I will get two,’” Reeder said.
The store is set to open on Friday April 13th, Reeder said. This will be the first day the store will be having its regular hours. Monday through Wednesday the store will be open from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday it will be open from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
“Vince went to school here,” said Mark Pierce, head of public relations for Campus Kicks. “He wanted to help out — especially guys — and that’s what he is doing. It’s all about that college buzz.”
sm366909@ohiou.edu
