My Biz: Sneaker enthusiasts launch their own shop

CORALVILLE — Zach Grant and Ian Johnston have been into sneakers for a really long time.

“Sneakers have always interested me growing up,” Grant said. “Whenever I had the chance to buy a new pair at the mall or online, I would try and get a unique pair that would stand out from the rest.

“I quickly learned about the sneaker community, that the releases were hard to get and had aftermarket value, which quickly sparked my interest in the sneaker game.

He started his collection with the 2013 KD 6 Maryland Blue Crab, “the first cool pair of shoes that I got as a Christmas gift. This is where I started my shoe journey.”

Today, Grant and Johnson are co-owners of Tribute Kicks, a shop in the Coral Ridge Mall that buys, sells and trades highly sought after sneakers, streetwear and vintage clothing.

“Ian and I decided to open this business together because we both used to run our own separate online businesses and decided that it was time to come together and bring the community a brand-new business,” Grant said.

“This makes it much easier for the public to get their hands on sold-out releases and cop pairs they have always wanted,” he said. “We wanted to be a household name, so this was the first step in the right direction.”

Store, website

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The store offers retro Jordans, Dunks, SBs, Yeezys and more along with the latest streetwear, including Essentials, Supreme, Bape, Sp5der, Kaws and Denim Tears. The shop also includes a wide variety of vintage clothing, including Carhartt coats and University of Iowa gear.

“All the sneakers and clothing that we carry are typically sold-out releases that resell for higher prices in the secondary market,” Grant said. “We also buy and trade with customers who bring in shoes that interest us and offer them cash or store credit.”

The two also just launched a website where they update new shoe inventory. And inventory moves fast.

“Something that keeps us always on our toes when working is trying to stay stocked with inventory,” Grant said. “It can sometimes be overwhelming, especially since this is our first year, so we did not know what to expect and how much inventory to have”

Choosing the mall

Grant, 24, and Johnston, 22, who grew up in Cedar Rapids, opened their store in July 2023, but both had been in the business doing local meetups and shipping items for seven years.

They said their decision to open in Coral Ridge Mall was strongly influenced by location and foot traffic, literally and figuratively important for a shoe store.

“I've had six different part-time jobs throughout college before opening Tribute Kicks along with selling shoes on the side with little experience in retail,” Grant said. “Being a recent graduate from the University of Iowa, being close to Iowa City and Cedar Rapids, Coral Ridge Mall seemed like the perfect spot for our store.”

“Being our own bosses strongly influenced opening our own business,” Johnston added, “with having the freedom to design, market and control the operations of the business. Coming together to make a strong impact on the community appealed to us.”

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Giving back

One element that sets the store apart is the owners’ desire to give back.

“We donate every month to different mental health organizations,” Grant said. “We feel that it is our job to give back to the community that helps us grow.”

So far, those donations have gone to ASAC, the Coralville Food Pantry, Living Undeterred Foundation, CRUSH and others.

“I lost a mother and a brother to substance abuse so this hits close to me, especially with us giving back,” Johnston said. “I feel like it fuels that fire of wanting to try to help our community. We have people stopping in and saying that they want to shop with us because we donate to mental health and substance abuse places as it is a big part of our community right now.”

Shoppers who stop in are likely to meet the owners as well, as they only have a couple of other employees

“Currently, we have two employees as well as two seasonal employees who we hired for the busy holiday season,” Grant said. “Other than that, Ian and I are here almost every day to keep the operations running smoothly.”

So far, the Tribute Kicks team is finding they appreciate the customer connections they are making.

“Each person that walks through the doors has something in common, and it's always an easy way to get to know someone,” Grant said. “Seeing someone get a shoe that they have been on the hunt for always is another thing that is special to me, knowing we just made a positive impact on their day. And it’s pretty great getting to be myself when I'm working.”

Know a business that should be considered for a “My Biz” feature? Let us know by emailing mary.sharp@thegazette.com.

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