Press Release:
VANS DQM GENERAL TO OPEN IN MANHATTAN’S SOHO SHOPPING DISTRICT LATE THIS SUMMER
Co-Branded Retail Space, Vans’ First in Manhattan, to Offer Premium Streetwear & Footwear
Cypress, CA (August 2, 2011) – Vans, the original action sports brand, and leading New York-based streetwear purveyor and skateshop DQM announced today plans for The Vans DQM General to be located at 93 Grand Street in the heart of New York’s coveted SoHo district.
The General, Vans’ first company retail foray in Manhattan, brings together two of the most prolific names in contemporary streetwear – one rooted in Southern California surf and skate, the other in New York skate and street – in creating a unique retail concept carrying both original, exclusive co-branded DQM for Vans footwear and crafted apparel as well as select Vans and DQM premium product for men,
women and kids.
Slated to open in early September, the 2,600 square foot Vans DQM General will be deeply rooted in the heritage of its SoHo neighborhood and its past life as haven for skateboarders, punks, artists and risk-takers of all kinds.
“Over the past five years, no fewer than 100 people have asked me why we don’t have a store in New York City,” says Doug Palladini, Vans’ Vice President of Marketing.
“My answer always was that we had so many great wholesale partners that our own store didn’t make sense, so when Chris from DQM approached us, it was the perfect opportunity. Chris and DQM really understand Vans as well as city culture and history, and know just how to bring our brands together to make something new and relevant for an area like SoHo. ”
“Vans has been a huge part of my life in New York both in the world of professional skateboarding – I rode for Vans for a time in the early 90s – and then as a retailer, selling them to my customers every day for the past 8 years,” says Chris Keeffe, founder and owner of DQM.
“Vans has this long and storied history coming out of California, but at DQM we felt like the story of what Vans means to people in New York City can still be told through the prism of our Vans experience: we don’t have pools to skate and we have snow on the ground for five months a year. We grew up finding a way to wear Vans that fit the style and climate of our city. I wanted to create a space where we can tell this story from the ground up; a place that’s rooted in our local community and makes sense to New Yorkers.”
DQM, initially focused solely as a skateboard goods and shoe store, is now considered one of the world’s leading streetwear brands with a global following. In eight years, Keeffe and crew, including lead designer Tashi Stricker, have grown the line from a few t-shirts and hats to a menswear line including premium cut and sew woven shirts, pants, jackets and accessories.
The DQM team is also developing DQM for Vans product to live side by side with exclusive Vans shoes and handpicked items from Vans’ footwear collections.
The Vans DQM General space is special itself. A designated New York City Landmark, 93 Grand Street was designed in 1868 by John Snook, known for designing the first Grand Central Station as well as the St. Nicholas Hotel. The building was built during the summer of 1869 utilizing a process of veneering brick with cast iron plates cut to look like stone that was patented by James L. Jackson, a prominent builder at the time.
About Vans
Vans, the original action sports footwear and apparel company, is a brand of VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC). Vans collections include authentic footwear, apparel and accessories, snowboard boots and the Pro-tec line of protective gear and are sold in the United States through more than 250 company owned stores as well as independent retailers.
Internationally, Vans sells its goods in approximately 70 countries through a network of subsidiaries, distributors and foreign offices. Vans promotes action sports lifestyle and youth culture through support of athletes on boards and bikes all over the globe and through progressive events such as the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing®, the Vans Downtown Showdown, the Pro-tec Pool Party and the Vans Warped Tour®. For more information, please visit vans.com.
See page 2 for more on DQM…
About DQM
When DQM opened for business on November 1st, 2003, on a nondescript street in Manhattan’s Bowery district – a site of counterculture since the 1950s, home to CBGBs, the beatniks and punk rock – it had just twenty styles of sneakers, a few skateboards and five styles of house brand t-shirts on the shelves.
Founded by professional skateboarder Chris Keeffe, born and raised in the heart and streets of New York City, DQM was built on a culture and relationships that began long before the store was conceived, and it quickly found the support of the neighborhood and the downtown scene.
Remaining true to this history and its roots in skateboarding, DQM has grown to become not only New York’s premiere location for sneakers, menswear and skate goods, but also a fully-fledged brand in its own right, with a complete seasonal collection of clothing and accessories sold in select locations around the world. DQM has been proud to work regularly with New York City’s up and coming designers and photographers as well as with companies as well-known as Vans, Nike, Crescent Down Works, Girl Skateboards, Stormy Kromer, Casio G-Shock, Adidas, and Incase.
Entering its ninth year, DQM continues to push the envelope for a new board and bike generation, at the same time never forgetting where we came from: thanks to friends and family, here and gone. We endure because you do. For more information, please visit dqmnewyork.com.
