By Andy Furman
NKyTribune reporter
If the shoe fits….
As for Sole By Style – the sneaker museum located at 617 Madison Avenue – well, the shoe has grown.
“We’ll be moving next door to the Braxton Brewing Company on Pike Street,” co-owner Jacob Cain told the Northern Kentucky Tribune.
That move is tentatively planned for early Fall.
Who knew one could make a living selling used sneakers?
“It’s a cultural thing,” he said, “people are attracted to the styles, and some use them as collectibles.”
Cain, who doubles as a web-developer and designer, says Sole By Style offers buy, sell, trade and shoes on consignment.
But why Covington?
“First off,” said the Oak Hills native, “I liked the area. I was drawn to the growth; and saw a good opportunity here.”
His first opportunity came as a student at the University of Cincinnati.
That’s where he met his eventual partner, Mitchell Wolfe.
“He (Mitchell) had a ton of shoes,” Cain said, “I knew it was a partnership from the start.”
Sole By Style has over 300 different styles – with the prices ranging from $100 a-pair to a few thousand dollars, according to Cain.
“We do our very best to keep a wide selection of sizes,” he said, “and our biggest challenge – that’s easy – styles and, of course the sizes.”
Traffic has been excellent, Cain says.
“We get our word out on our social platforms – Facebook, Instagram and Google,” he said.
And the name – Sole By Style?
“My e-Bay name was Sole Style 23,” Cain said, “so it was a natural.”
Entering Sole By Style is like taking a history course in – gulp – sneakers.
Like baseball cards, stamps and coins, apparently sneakers are a collectable item – although Cain reminds many customers buy to wear.
The customer base – naturally – is young.
And when you consider not many – if any youngsters – don’t wear shoes today, well it seems like a lucrative business.
And for Jacob Cain and Mitchell Wolfe, it is.
For them, the shoe actually does fit.
Sole By Style is located at 617 Madison Avenue; Hours: Monday through Saturday noon-8 p.m. and noon-6 p.m. on Sunday. Shop@SoleByStyle.com
