Nike Factory Outlet Collingwood Rip
Today Melbourne’s sneaker connoisseurs shed a tear because the Nike outlet on Smith St in Collingwood finally closed its doors yesterday after almost 20 years of faithful service. Situated a brief 10 minute walk from the Sneaker Freaker HQ, stories abound of the odd gems that appeared magically on the shelves, such as SB Dunks and Space Jams, sometimes years after the original release. News would be texted amongst heads or posted to the and within hours the gold would be gone. On discount days, the crowds were manic and pre-Christmas, it was the only sports store I’ve ever seen that had bouncers and a nightclub-style entry system. I’ve lost count of the amount of shoes I bought there over the years, not to mention ACG jackets that seemed to appear in the middle of summer, but my best score was a swag of Jordan 1s that came without a lid on the box for a tenner. When they hit $600 on the Bay a year later, I wondered why I didn’t rinse the lot! I also seem to remember kids being kicked out for buying too much stuff, but since it was back in the days of reseller madness, I’ve forgotten the details. Many of Melbourne’s most knowledgeable sneakerheads worked there over the years, adding to the social aspect of a visit. Apparently the store will reopen in a far-flung suburb, making the trip a rare occurrence, so bon voyage Collingwood Outlet, you will live on in our memories. Woody