Sneakerheads: Put a spring into your step
Last updated 4-9-09 at 1:43 p.m.
By Jason Cruz
Northwest Asian Weekly
“Third Generation Sneakerheads”: This is how John Mooney describes himself and frequent customers at his Pioneer Square shoe boutique, GEMS Sneakershop. Rather than stocking his store with the latest athletic shoes, Mooney carefully selects his inventory by focusing on individual pieces rather than bulk.
“Shopping here is like going to my closet,” Mooney said. According to Mooney, the sneakers at GEMS are ahead of the curve and on the cutting edge of fashion. His vision is setting a footprint for the young Seattle urban professional.
Mooney opened GEMS in June 2008. “[I] wanted to find a place off the beat, and where people would walk by and do a double-take [upon spotting the store],” said Mooney. Nestled in a modest building on an unassuming street on Western Avenue, GEMS prefers an organic marketing approach which relies on word of mouth for business. The strategy caters to sneaker fans hunting for exclusive and individual shoes like one would seek rare art pieces.
Mooney seeks out trends and believes that there is a great opportunity for Seattle to adapt to the trendsetting styles. In order to find the hottest shoes, Mooney conducts intensive research.
Mooney’s dedication to the sneaker market has earned Gems recognition by the New York Times as one of the top five new boutique stores of 2008.
After graduating from Nathan Hale High School, Mooney decided to pursue his passion for fashion in San Francisco.
Starting from scratch, Mooney found a career at Timberland, where he worked as a stock associate.
Working his way up the corporate ladder and was soon traveling across the country for the company. After 12 years with Timberland, his boutique vision come to life.
The atmosphere at GEMS exudes a hip, private club where martinis are sipped by important higher-ups. However, instead of vodka and vermouth, shoes are featured along the backlit cove wall display. Instead of busy bartenders, Mooney offers an amicable smile and up-to-date information about the sneakers in his inventory.
Not only does GEMS sell shoes, it blends lifestyle, fashion, and art. Every first Thursday of every month, GEMS participates in the Pioneer Square Artwalk. A part of the store has a wall which is solely dedicated to artist or footwear companies to put up installations. GEMS also hold events for fellow sneakerheads. A recent gathering, held on March 4, showed off an exhibit of trophies of Hall of Fame NBA basketball player Bob Cousy. DJ Topspin spun records while shoe enthusiasts checked out the latest kicks in the cove, including the newest PF Flyers, which sponsored the trophy wall.
