In the words of the late R&B singer Ben E. King, “There is a rose in Spanish Harlem.” Located on E. 105th and 3rd Ave. is the sneaker store Goliath, which also carries clothing. Opened since September 2004, this store lies in the heart of a predominately Spanish neighborhood. If you walk down the street on a warm day, you will probably hear the live, impromptu sounds of salsa played by the locals. It’s an unusual location for a sneaker boutique, but it definitely works. This store has all the properties of a downtown sneaker store, but you can avoid the crowds, steep parking fees, and sometimes pretentious attitudes that you often find.
When you’re buzzed into the store, you walk into a sneaker aficionado’s paradise. Wall to wall you see nothing but sneakers by Nike, Vans, etc. The middle of store is lined with tables filled with the hottest street labels.
Only a countertop separates us from the owner Rosemari Frazier. The sounds from an Ipod connected to speakers plays in the background as we talk about sneakers, clothing, sneaker nuts, and the future of her store.
Realeyez (RE): Why did you decide to open the store? What if any, is the significance behind the name of the store?
Goliath RF (RF): The name of the store means taking over. We wanted to come into Harlem and show that they didn’t have anything of this nature-meaning a boutique. We wanted to come in and educate the consumer, provide quality products as well as good service. I chose to open up the store because it [sneakers] was something I liked, something I was into myself. I always wanted to open up a store, I just didn’t know what kind, so it was natural to go into something you like.
(RE): How did you get a license from Nike? (Specifically Quickstrike)
(RF): That’s the million dollar question. There is no straight answer A, B, and C. It’s a combination of items, what they’re looking for, if it fits into their profile, what they’re thinking in terms of the future of Nike. It’s also the new area; they have a lot of Nike accounts here, but nothing like a boutique. It’s just something they saw a need for and decided to go with it.
(RE): How did you get the opportunity to do collaborations with New Era & 3sixteen? Who designs the Goliath shirts? Do you have any future planned collaborations?
(RF): We went after getting New Era, just a lot of phone calls, a lot of following up, making yourself known; and through some favors called in. As far as 3sixteen, we carried the brand for about a year, and they approached us about a collaboration. The majority of the Goliath shirts were designed by my employees and me. As for the future collaborations, yea, but I’m not gonna say because I want it to be a surprise.
(RE): Who would you like to do collaborations with?
(RF): There are quite a few, I don’t want to say names because sometimes they go through and sometimes they don’t, but people that we having relationships with. Either we have carried the brand, or we know the designers or owners.
(RE): How did you get the opportunity to retail such a variety of street labels such as Lemar & Dauley, Ten Deep, The Hundreds, C&C, etc.?
(RF): You have to research them yourself, find them, and aggressively pursue them. Once they know your name, they will start coming to you because they want to be in your store. We pursued them (Lemar & Dauley, Ten Deep, The Hundreds). We were referred to Crooks & Castles by another vender. Once they know you and what you’re about, they will automatically start referring you to their friends that own businesses. They will approach you with their line and then you can decide if it’s something that you want to carry or not.
(RE): Do you yourself collect sneakers, and if so what is your all time favorite?
(RF): That’s a tough question; it depends on the time of the day, time of the month. Sometimes I’m into Air Max 90s, sometimes its [Air Max] 95s. I have 3 all time favorites: My puma x Evisu collaborations, Infrared Air Max 90 (which I’ve deaded since the re-release), and a Presto designed by actress Sarah Jessica Parker of “Sex in the City” from the artist series. There isn’t just any one favorite.
(RE): Considering the popularity of new female labels such as BBS (Brown Babes), Married to the Mob, and Mama why isn’t there a larger female selection?
(RF): It comes down to a combination of things; the area and brand awareness. A lot of women don’t know the brands, and the average girl in this area may spend $10 for a shirt. This neighborhood is very competitive, and girls opt to by 3 shirts for $30 instead of one. We had Mama and Married to the Mob, they sold out. BBS I might bring next season. There are a few customers but not enough to carry a whole women’s section.
(RE): Do you see Goliath getting the opportunity to design a sneaker with Nike?
(RF): I don’t know because I don’t know the qualifications. I don’t know if it’s reserved for a certain type of store.
(RE): How are sneaker prices set?
(RF): Nike has a suggested retail but you can do what you want, it’s not etched in stone.
(RE): During the process of starting the store, did you have any obstacles to overcome; what are you current feelings towards making such a commitment?
(RF): To get a Nike account. My store is a sneaker store and I needed a license from the main supplier, which is Nike. I had sneakers but not an account.
(RE) Were you buying sneakers at retail?
(GF) I had sneakers but no license.
(The room breaks out into laughter)
(RE): What would you say sets your store apart from other stores, and what do you think keeps customers frequenting your establishment?
(RF): We are in Harlem, not the average expected area (like downtown, the west-coast, LA or San Francisco). We are in more of a communal residential area. We get the average day nut, not the extraordinary nut. We can relate to the average day nut because we are nuts ourselves. We aren’t in a cluster of stores, so you really have to want to come here if you’re not in this neighborhood.
(RE): How has the store grown since its opening in 2004, and are there still more visions that you have for the store?
(RF): There are some ideas-design wise, but the store isn’t in its final phase. It may be something of a more artistic nature, something that has to do with aesthetics, making it [the store] look a little neater and cleaner.
For more info check out Goliath RF online at goliathrf@verizon.net or
hit them up at 212.360.7683
( Interview done by Nicholas C. & Philip P.)
