Alumni of New York cofounders Gene Han and Jaeki Cho are redefining the local sneaker store, giving their chain of streetwear boutiques a global edge.
Stephen Han
Back in the 1980s, when sneaker culture began to materialize in New York City, many local sneaker shops were owned by Korean-American immigrants. A majority have since shuttered due to retirement or competition with online retailers. But Gene Han, a second generation owner in Brooklyn, strived to balance both the brick-and-mortar and digital ends of his family business—and ultimately build it as a hub that helps the Asian community and supports AAPI-owned businesses across the city.
After watching his father run a sneaker shop—first as Sneaker King in the late 1980s, then as Rugged Sole in the ’90s—Han created an extension of his store in the 2000s called Wealthy Hostage, which focused on limited edition and sought after models. But as premium streetwear continued to rise in prominence in…