Chase Reed: From Sneaker Pawn to King

The 17-year-old turned fresh into a lucrative business.

Sneaker Pawn Exclusive - Most sneakerheads have a favorite shoe, but not many of them can tell you the exact date they got them. “September 7, 2012,” said Chase Reed, the 17-year-old owner of Sneaker Pawn in Harlem. “My godmother and my mom went half-and-half on a pair of Air Jordan ‘Raptor’ VII’s for me. We drove to the store and called twice... I got the last pair."  (Photo: Rebecca Smeyne / BET)

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Sneaker Pawn Exclusive - Most sneakerheads have a favorite shoe, but not many of them can tell you the exact date they got them. “September 7, 2012,” said Chase Reed, the 17-year-old owner of Sneaker Pawn in Harlem. “My godmother and my mom went half-and-half on a pair of Air Jordan ‘Raptor’ VII’s for me. We drove to the store and called twice... I got the last pair."  (Photo: Rebecca Smeyne / BET)

The Spot - Reed isn’t your normal sneakerhead. He’s turned what was once a quest to get fresh into a lucrative business: selling and allowing customers to pawn their pairs at his flagship store. Creating a new lane in the sneaker world, Chase Reed is just beginning to see where this can take him.  (Photo: Rebecca Smeyne / BET)

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The Spot - Reed isn’t your normal sneakerhead. He’s turned what was once a quest to get fresh into a lucrative business: selling and allowing customers to pawn their pairs at his flagship store. Creating a new lane in the sneaker world, Chase Reed is just beginning to see where this can take him.  (Photo: Rebecca Smeyne / BET)

Sneaker Goals - “The business took off media wise, but we didn’t sell a sneaker for three months,” said Troi Reed, Chase’s father. “After winter, people knew about the store, but it didn’t turn into dollars right away. Honestly, me and Chase didn’t totally know the business yet. But a few months after that, we figured out our niche.”  (Photo: Rebecca Smeyne / BET)

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Sneaker Goals - “The business took off media wise, but we didn’t sell a sneaker for three months,” said Troi Reed, Chase’s father. “After winter, people knew about the store, but it didn’t turn into dollars right away. Honestly, me and Chase didn’t totally know the business yet. But a few months after that, we figured out our niche.”  (Photo: Rebecca Smeyne / BET)

Kicks on Kicks - “Prices go down on sneakers depending on the market and what people are looking for,” added Chase. “There’s a lot of people reselling, there’s a lot of sneakers coming out, a lot of colorways, too many general release sneakers by the thousands. So there was hype around Air Jordans because you might see five releases for the year, but now they come out every weekend.”  (Photo: Rebecca Smeyne / BET)

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Kicks on Kicks - “Prices go down on sneakers depending on the market and what people are looking for,” added Chase. “There’s a lot of people reselling, there’s a lot of sneakers coming out, a lot of colorways, too many general release sneakers by the thousands. So there was hype around Air Jordans because you might see five releases for the year, but now they come out every weekend.”  (Photo: Rebecca Smeyne / BET)

Best in NYC - Within a year’s time, Reed has developed a name and brand that get people excited behind the rare pairs in his shop. “We had two pair of Nike Air Mags [from Back to the Future],” said Chase. “We sold those for $7,500. We get a lot of exclusive stuff that you won’t really find in stores.”  (Photo:  Rebecca Smeyne / BET)

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Best in NYC - Within a year’s time, Reed has developed a name and brand that get people excited behind the rare pairs in his shop. “We had two pair of Nike Air Mags [from Back to the Future],” said Chase. “We sold those for $7,500. We get a lot of exclusive stuff that you won’t really find in stores.”  (Photo:  Rebecca Smeyne / BET)

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Collecting Game - With plans to expand his business, Chase’s future looks brighter than the colorways in his closet. “We have something special," Chase said. “We’ve never seen anyone come in the sneaker game and really embrace it and bring the value of sneakers to the world. People ask why do you stand in line for Jordans and call you dumb for standing in line, but they don't know there’s value in sneakers.” (Photo: Rebecca Smeyne / BET)

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Collecting Game - With plans to expand his business, Chase’s future looks brighter than the colorways in his closet. “We have something special," Chase said. “We’ve never seen anyone come in the sneaker game and really embrace it and bring the value of sneakers to the world. People ask why do you stand in line for Jordans and call you dumb for standing in line, but they don't know there’s value in sneakers.” (Photo: Rebecca Smeyne / BET)

More to Come - “We’re a pawn shop for sneakers. We buy and sell sneakers, consign, refurbish, customize, we do a lot of stuff. We just got to continue with the business. Now we’re working on a store in L.A., and then we’re opening up another store in Harlem or downtown Manhattan. But we’re going from a brownstone to expanding the business and opening our wings.”  (Photo: Rebecca Smeyne / BET)

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More to Come - “We’re a pawn shop for sneakers. We buy and sell sneakers, consign, refurbish, customize, we do a lot of stuff. We just got to continue with the business. Now we’re working on a store in L.A., and then we’re opening up another store in Harlem or downtown Manhattan. But we’re going from a brownstone to expanding the business and opening our wings.”  (Photo: Rebecca Smeyne / BET)