Two creators with ties to sneaker culture are opening up a store of their own. ConnorTV (real name Connor Gorman) and The Drip Don (real name Hasan Habhab) are the owners of a brick-and-mortar retail location in Farmington, Michigan, which sports the simple name SHOP.
SHOP comes from two of the internet’s foremost sneakerheads. Gorman and Habhab met when the former creator attempted his version of Ryan Trahan’s penny challenge. They soon resolved to go into business together. They established SHOP in a Farmington strip mall, next to a smoke shop Habhab has owned for six years.
In a video Gorman shared earlier this year, he detailed the work that went into opening up SHOP. He and Habhab designed the brick-and-mortar business from the ground up. They even recruited a YouTuber called the Epoxy Guru to help them with their floors.
Subscribe for daily Tubefilter Top Stories
Finally, SHOP is ready for business. The shoe store’s grand opening is scheduled for July 22. Gorman and Habhab will give away items, including a PlayStation 5 and a pair of Nike AirMax 90s. They also told the Detroit Free Press that they have surprises planned for their attendees.
@thedripdon JULY 22!! 34781 grand river ave Farmington Michigan #michigan#grandopening ♬ original sound – The don
“We want to give [our fans] as much attention as possible, because we know the feeling of meeting somebody that you look up to,” Gorman said. “Giving back is huge for us.”
SHOP will serve sneakerheads by fitting into the buzz-powered “drop culture” that has exploded on the internet over the past few year. Gorman and Habhab have hunted for rare sneakers, assembling a collection of 1,200 sneakers. By placing some of the coveted items on the wall, Habhab hopes to evoke the feeling of a gallery, as he told Hometown Life.
“These are all very limited sneakers you can’t find anywhere,” Gorman added. “This is stuff you can’t buy in stores or they sell out extremely quickly.”
He and Habhab are not the only creators venturing into the world of brick-and-mortar retail. The launch of SHOP comes one week after beauty guru Jeffree Star opened up a “makeup and meat” store in Wyoming. The U.K.-based creator group known as The Sidemen has also connected with its fans by breaking ground on IRL merch shops.
