Part retail, part performance and meeting hub, the shop hosts community events showcasing Alumni's connection to Queens and the local creative community.
Founded by second-generation sneaker shop owner Gene Han and creative partner Jaeki Cho, Alumni operates as more than commerce—it's a pillar of the community, championing AAPI and Black-owned businesses while partnering with Queens-based running collective World's Fair Run Crew to boost local engagement and borough pride.
When you enter, you're part of the tribe. The minimalist vestibule serves as a coffee shop by day, with a concrete-clad wall punctuated by a long horizontal cutout that displays kicks while framing views into the showroom beyond.
Porous black display walls reference the area's post-industrial steel cages with minimal modernism that keeps the space light. Flexible shelving allows curated arrangements, with each sneaker suspended on thin welded shelves that encourage continuous circulation.
The store nods to neighborhood history through its exterior signage—decades of paint layers still readable as "Tuxedos & Costumes"—layering Alumni's unique style onto Queens' evolving identity.
Photography - Rafael Gamo
