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BucketFeet Kicks Off Wicker Park Opening with Free Food, Drinks Thursday

By Alisa Hauser | June 11, 2015 9:46am
 BucketFeet is open at 1647 N. Damen Ave.
BucketFeet Opens in Wicker Park
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WICKER PARK — Fans of stylish shoes and "back stories" will get plenty of both at BucketFeet's largest store yet, which opens Thursday in Wicker Park and showcases sneakers designed by a growing roster of 15,000 local and international artists.

Known for its unique patterned sneakers, Chicago-based BucketFeet sells its shoes at a flagship store Downtown and at retailers around the world. 

Located at 1647 N. Damen Ave. in the former Belly Dance Maternity storefront, BucketFeet opens at 11 a.m. Thursday.  At 6:30 p.m., the shop will host a grand opening shindig with free food from Dimo’s, drinks, and sweets from The Goddess and Grocer.

The 1,800-square-foot storefront offers about 80 of the latest women's, men's and kid's collection styles, as well as flip flops, socks, books and accessories. 

A "Create Station" in the back of the store allows shoppers to make and submit their own designs. If the design is selected, the artist will get a percentage of profits from every pair of shoes sold.

BucketFeet shoe prices range depending on materials, though most cost between $60 to $110.

The store, which will bring 10 new jobs to the area, joins several other shoe stores in the 1500 and 1600 blocks of North Damen Avenue such as Nike, TOMS Shoes, Asics and Finish Line. The vast selection has earned that stretch a reputation as the neighborhood's "shoe corridor."

The back wall of the shop is adorned with a group art show based on the "sky blue and bold red hues" colors of the Chicago flag, featuring works from 10 artists local that all created an original piece for the retail launch. 

At a pre-opening party on Tuesday, BucketFeet co-founder and CEO Raaja Nemani said he was most excited about the added space to display the stories behind the shoes and what inspired each artist.

One of the season's standout sneakers is a gold Pineapple shoe, designed by DJ LU, a graffiti artist living in Colombia. 

One of BucketFeet's top summer sellers, a pineapple shoe by DJ LU.

The extra space also offers more room for events, such as a speaker series, featuring folks like Kane One, an SAIC professor and graffiti artist, as well as arts and craft meet-ups and a design your own shoe day, July 11.

Upcoming BucktFeet Bucktown Studio Events:

7 p.m. June 25: Arts & Crafts

6 p.m. July 8:  Startup Talk with Co-Founder Raaja Nemani

1 p.m. July 11: Design Your Own BucketFeet

2 p.m. July 18: Instameet - #BucketFeetMeet

6 p.m. July 21:  Seminar: The History of Graffiti

BucketFeet, 1647 N. Damen Ave. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

BucketFeet, 1647 N. Damen Ave., next to Goddess and Grocer.

BucketFeet's 'Create Station' where artists can submit their own shoe designs.

A small sampling of BucketFeet's summer styles.

BucketFeet, 1647 N. Damen Ave., next to Goddess and Grocer.

Inside BucketFeet

BucketFeet co-founder and CEO Raaja Nemani.

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