We visited the Vans store in Union Square in Manhattan.
The layout was very straightforward — men's clothes were on the left, women's on the right, and shoes in the back. The store was pretty busy considering it was the middle of the day mid-week.
The brand's ties to skate culture were evident all over the store. Vintage-looking photos of skateboarders were all over the walls, and the "Off the Wall" slogan, rooted in skateboarding, was seen all over the store.
There was a wall of skateboards for sale from popular brands like Hockey, Krooked, and enjoi.
It also sold wheels, trucks, bearings, and other skate accessories, despite the likelihood that many of Vans' customers don't know how to skateboard.
Most of the styles at Vans were simple, like flannel shirts, logo tees, and hoodies. Everything had a very retro feel to it, and nothing was trying too hard to be trendy.
Men's clothing wasn't terribly different from women's clothing. The styles were almost the same, just in different sizes. The muted colors and big logos added to the retro feel.
Shirts generally cost between $20-$30, and they were pretty high-quality. Hardly anything in the store was on sale.
There was a big wall of graphic tees with different variations of the Vans logo.
The store also had a regional display with products selected specifically for New York.
Shoes took up almost half of the store. Vans has five main styles of shoes — Era, Old Skool, Slip-On, Authentic, and Sk8-Hi — all of which were available among other styles.
There were a ton of different colors, patterns, and designs in each style, plus the option to customize the sneakers in any way. There were plenty of shoes for skaters and non-athletes alike.
Vans also does sneaker and apparel collaborations with brands like Marvel. In the past, Vans has collaborated with Star Wars, Supreme, and other hugely popular brands.
Most shoes cost between $50 and $75, which is cheaper than rivals like Adidas and Nike.
A ton of people were shopping for shoes. There were little kids, teens, and adults all browsing. The shoes were easily the most popular part of the store.
Near the register were other accessories like backpacks, hats, and sunglasses, most of which had the Vans logo on it.
Even though many retailers are currently struggling, Vans is taking advantage of the athleisure trend and a resurgence in retro styles to become hugely popular among teens.
