A GOOD FIT? IT’S A SHOE STORE THAT SELLS BOOZE
Yes, you can, at this high-end sneaker store and cocktail bar
Ican remember my first pair of Nike sneakers. I begged my mother to get them for me, in all their teal-and-white glory.
I loved those things so much I cleaned the soles after wearing them.
They cost $40 in 1993. These days, a highly sought-after pair of sneakers for those who covet such things can run into the thousands.
If you need a stiff drink to work up the nerve to spend that much on a pair of shoes, now you can do a shot or two at a bar in the same shop.
These aren’t just any sneakers. And it’s not just any bar.
Welcome, Denver, to Sneekeazy. The newest tenant in the former City Hall Amphitheater space on Broadway in Denver draws from the Prohibitionera concept of concealing a bar behind a more legitimate storefront, that of a high-end shoe store.
It’s the first venue of its kind, anywhere, they tell us.
Shop
This isn’t somewhere you can pick up gym shoes for the kids, or a pair of beaters to mow the lawn in. The wood-and-glass display cabinets are home to some literal fashion statements.
If there is a pair of kicks a customer covets that isn’t in Sneekeazy’s inventory, the place has a “plug”: a connection in the sneaker world who can find rare or limited-edition shoes.
And if that’s not unique enough, Sneekeazy will have on staff what operations manager and director of marketing Andrew Hoey calls a “solemmelier” (like a wine guru, but for shoes) who can design and create custom one-off pairs based on your specifications.
“You can take a dress shoe and put (an Adidas) Boost sole on there, or take a snowboard boot and put a Jordan sole on it, so (he’ll be building) very cool different kind of concepts,” Hoey said.
Sneekeazy’s stockroom is slated to be full by mid-November, but in the meantime there are some seriously coveted footwear, from Air Jordan 1 Banned OGs to a pair of Yeezy 950 duckboots in peyote from Kanye West’s collaboration with Adidas.
There’s also a pair of Nike Dunk Low SB “De La Soul,” emblazoned with the album cover design from that hip-hop group’s record “Three Feet High and Rising.”
A pair of MJ’s limited-edition sneaks appears again in the form of the Air Jordan 2 Alumni Pack in Carolina Blue, but it’s not just Nikes in the case.
If you have a real keen eye, you’ll spot pairs of Pure Boost runners from Japanese fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto’s Y-3 collection, in both triple black and oreo colorways.
Sip
Ready to drink and relax? You’ll find yourself in an airy and open space with floor-toceiling windows for a view of Broadway and the afternoon sun. Hoey said Sneekeazy was designed as a speakeasy-style venue that is more of an “ultralounge.”
Behind the bar is a beverage program designed by a partner in the ownership group, Jon Spadafora, who was named Denver’s top bartender in 2000, and STK Denver sommelier Chris Wilson.
They’re setting their goals high, hoping to rotate the featured cocktail list weekly from a projected database of 150 to 200 choices (!), and staying loyal to local ingredients when it comes to libation.
They will also feature a full range of wine and beer, with the latter menu carrying a heavy emphasis on homegrown product.
“We know how proud everyone is to be from Colorado ... so we decided to keep as much local spirits (as we could) here,” Grand Junction native Hoey said.
“You’ll see a lot of (Denver distiller) Leopold’s and Colorado-based whiskeys and vodkas. Our entire liquor well is Mile High Spirits cocktails, so we’ve tried to stay as home front as possible.”
Hoey said the bar will feature a DJ every night from 9 p.m. until late, playing a range of genres, and there will be a weekly acoustic session in the works for jams earlier in the evening.
A rooftop patio will give Denverites a chance to soak in those rays or catch a breath of fresh air. Expansion ideas for Sneekeazy include a larger rooftop, as well as a Sunday brunch in the springtime.
For now, the team appears to be content with getting to know its new neighbors in the Golden Triangle neighborhood and finetuning its craft.
“Denver is one of those markets where you only get a few opportunities to get it right, and if you don’t, it’s over,” Hoey said.
“(Locals are) judging you (compared to) every other great spot before you, and it’s been done very well before you many times before.”
Snack
Sneekeazy shares a kitchen with downstairs neighbor Element Kitchen & Cocktail, whose menu is designed by “Top Chef” contestant John Tesar.
Sneekeazy’s snacks are based on the same menu items and ingredients, but with a twist to make them more shareable.
A sample menu provided to The Know shortly before Sneekeazy’s grand opening listed Deviled Eggs; Vegetable & Hummus; Yellow Tail w/Avocado; House Guacamole; Pork Belly Quesadilla; Nachos; Charcuterie Board and a Bacon Board, all for $10 apiece.
“The food menu is going to be more of a small tapas-style menu: skewers, bites, and something where you can just have small plates,” Hoey said.
Like the cocktail list, Sneekeazy expects the food selection to change frequently, based on Element’s menu and seasonal availability of ingredients.
The shoes, though? No matter what the season, they’re all-time classics.