There is one pretty simple reason that Ray Colville, owner of the new
Double Up in East Lansing, got into shoe retail.
“Basically,
I love sneakers,” he says. “I have a love for the culture, the street
scene, the music, the fashion. It’s ingrained in me.”
There was
another reason, however, that inspired Colville, who also owns the
nearby In Flight shop, to open his shoe and apparel business in East
Lansing. He wanted to offer MSU students and East Lansing residents a
place to shop for men’s apparel.
“Honestly there’s no place for a
guy to shop except Urban Outfitters,” Colville says “If you don’t’ have
a car and you want a hat you’re screwed.”
The 1,000-square foot
retail shop will feature 15 apparel lines, ten sneaker brands and a few
different hat and accessories makers. Not only will Double Down be
closer to Downtown
East Lansing than most existing men’s apparel stores, but the brands featured will be unique to the area.
“We
have products and brands that other stores don’t have,” says Colville.
“They’re new, fresh brands - exclusive brands - you won’t be able to
find anywhere else.”
Double Up opened last week and Colville
plans to hold a grand opening within the next month. The store currently
employs three employees, and Colville hopes to hire another two or
three in the fall.
Source: Ray Colville
Writer: Natalie Burg, News Editor
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