Sockshop Prepares To Open Next-Door Storefront For Shoes

Sockshop Prepares To Open Next-Door Storefront For ShoesPhoto: Camden Avery/Hoodline
Camden Avery
Published on September 25, 2015

Haight Street's Sockshop, at 1742 Haight, is gearing up to open another retail space next door, at 1740 Haight. The new item they're selling will be an appropriate match: shoes.

The space, vacated earlier this spring by Buyer's Best Friend, will function as a short-term (one year or less) pop-up space for Sockshop, according to shop manager Kamaria Marden.

"We're starting with a pop-up to test the market," Marden said. "We're focusing on a customer who's looking for fashion, comfort and unique design." She said the offerings would differ from other shoe boutiques on the street, with brands like Dansko, Latigo, Chocolate Blue and Pikolino.

Marden said the new space won't require much in the way of cosmetic overhauls to be operable, and she expects it will open sometime around the first week of November. "It depends on a lot of things. Maybe a week earlier or a week later, but definitely around then."

This isn't the first foray into shoes for Sockshop; its store on Pacific Avenue in Santa Cruz has been selling shoes for about 15 years, Marden said. There's also a third Sock Shop on Telegraph Ave. in Berkeley, which doesn't sell shoes.

Expansion in the Haight isn't a new prospect for Sockshop, either; in early 2013, it moved from 1780 Haight to its current location at 1742 Haight, in order to have more space.

If all goes well, Marden said, Sockshop will use the pop-up as an opportunity to go through the city permitting process to open a permanent shoe store, including connecting the two spaces.