Retail Therapy – Oakland’s New and the Almost New (Oakland Magazine)

Verse

This hip-hop flavored shoe boutique has its own subtitle: the Academy of Fine Art and
the Science of Sneakers, and true to its word, carries both sneakers and art. The boutique
opened at this spot in late 2007, and owner Tyranny Allen is a local celebrity having been
a member of the much-lauded Oakland hip-hop group Digital Underground. The boutique
offers limited edition and dead-stock sneakers that range up to $1,000 a pair (for a double
pack of limited edition Air Jordans in a gold box with an 18-karat gold tag). Also come by
for locally designed T-shirts by No Rival and Thug Boss and caps emblazoned with “ht”
for local brand Hella Tight, which every good Oaklander knows is a definite shout
out to the in-crowd.

Retail Therapy

Verse Oakland

481 Ninth St.
(510) 709-9695
www.verseoakland.com
versesneakerboutique.blogspot.com
11 a.m.–7 p.m. Mon.–Sat.