Everything You Need to Know About Supreme Stores Around the World
Since opening its first store in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood back in April 1994, Supreme’s transformation from small independent skate store to a global-conquering lifestyle brand is undeniably impressive. Given the company is now valued at $1 billion, it’s incredible to think there are only a handful of Supreme brick and mortar stores worldwide.
Part of Supreme’s appeal can be attributed to the brand’s exclusivity and limited distribution. With the exception of Rei Kawakubo’s Dover Street Market, Supreme products are no longer officially sold in any physical stores apart from their own. Fans travel worldwide for the experience of visiting a Supreme store in person, creating a destination space in each of the brand’s chosen cities.
With success comes expansion, and there will certainly be more Supreme stores opening in the not-too-distant future (skate capital San Francisco has already been confirmed, while European stores in Berlin and Milan have been rumored). But, as is the case with all Supreme projects, the brand likes to take its time. James Jebbia will only open in a location he thinks is absolutely perfect.
Without further ado, here is a chronological guide to all of the current Supreme stores in the world.
Supreme New York (1994)
Where it all started.
British retail entrepreneur James Jebbia moved to New York City in 1983 and opened the UNION NYC boutique with his then-partner Mary Ann Fuscio in 1989. He then launched the Stussy NY Chapter Store on Prince Street in 1991.
In April 1994, Jebbia opened a small skate store named Supreme on Lafayette Street, an unassuming block tucked behind the main shopping mecca of Broadway. Before Supreme opened in April 1994, Keith Haring’s Pop Shop was the only retail store on Lafayette Street and most of the neighboring units remained empty. This lent the area a quiet, neglected feel, therefore making it an ideal skate spot.
The shop itself was unlike any other skate store of the time. Brightly lit with white walls and a high ceiling, it possessed a gallery-like atmosphere, with the shelves of impeccably displayed products reminiscent of a high-end fashion boutique.
The hardwood floor meant customers could skate right into the store, while the bank of television's in the window showcased the latest skate videos alongside classic footage of old boxing fights and New York gangster movies. The space, run by Gio Estevez — the brand's first-ever hire — was treated as a hang-out spot by his crew of downtown skaters, and proved to be fairly intimidating for those outside the local scene.
Selling popular skate brands of the time such as Zoo York, Spitfire and Shorty’s, the store also produced a small amount of its own in-house clothing, allowing the downtown skate community to rep their local store.
The layout of the Manhattan store has hardly changed much over the past quarter-century but is currently undergoing an extensive renovation project which is scheduled for completion later this year.
Find it at:
Supreme New York 274 Lafayette Street New York, NY 10012
Supreme Daikanyama (1998)
Clued-up Japanese tourists visiting NYC were the first to adopt Supreme as a collectible brand, with the enthusiastic visitors buying as many products as staff would allow them on each visit to the Lafayette Street store. It made sense for Supreme to explore this market further, so four years after originally opening in New York City, the brand opened three Japanese stores in fairly quick succession throughout 1998.
The first of these stores was in the peaceful Tokyo neighborhood of Daikanyama. The area, often referred to as the Brooklyn of the Japanese capital, is an unlikely shopping district that attracts a more relaxed clientele than the hustle and bustle of Shibuya, which is a mere 15-minute walk away.
The store itself is fairly small, but the full glass frontage fills the space with natural light, giving a feeling of space. There is a central sliding glass door and a huge adjustable television monitor which dominates the left-hand side front window.
Find it at:
Supreme Daikanyama 1-6 Daikanyama-cho Shibuya-Ku, Tokyo 150-0034
Telephone: 03-5456-0085 Opening hours: 11 a.m. -8 p.m. Mon-Sun
Supreme Osaka (1998)
The second Supreme retail location to open in Asia is situated in Osaka, Japan’s second largest metropolitan area. One of the smaller Supreme stores, the Osaka outlet relocated to its current location in the city’s Nishi Ward in 2012.
The high ceiling compensates for the short narrow shop floor space that features impeccably folded garments on shelving units alongside hanging pipe rails. A large yellow “Angel” sculpture by skater-turned-artist Mark Gonzales hangs from the ceiling, welcoming customers with its smiling face.
Find it at:
Supreme Osaka 1-9-8 Minami-Horie Nishi-ku, Osaka 550-0015
Telephone: 06-6533-0705 Opening hours: 11 a.m.- 8 p.m. Mon-Sun
1998: Supreme Fukuoka
The third Supreme store to open on Japanese soil in 1998 was the tiny outlet in Fukuoka’s trendy Daimyo district. Situated underneath Sound Park Karaoke, this is the smallest of all Supreme stores worldwide.
Located in the center of Chuo Ward, Daimyo has a cosmopolitan European feel thanks to its vibrant streets full of vintage clothing stores, restaurants, bars, cafes, and fashion boutiques. Mainly frequented by a 20-35 year old demographic, the Supreme store counts the likes of A Bathing Ape and United Arrows as neighbors.
Find it at:
Supreme Fukuoka 1-11-29 Daimyo Chuo-ku, Fukuoka 810-0041
Telephone: 092-732-5002 Opening hours: 11 a.m. -8 p.m. Mon-Sun
Supreme Los Angeles (2004)
A decade after the doors first opened on Lafayette in New York, Supreme finally launched its second retail space in North America. Crossing over to the West Coast, the brand set up shop on the quiet block of North Fairfax, home to a few small local businesses and some well respected Jewish bakeries and delis, including the legendary Canters.
The store itself is huge — double the size of the New York and Japan stores of the time. The white walls, bright lights, and smooth skateable flooring remain, but the centerpiece of the store is an awesome peanut-shaped wooden skate bowl designed by Steven Bladgett of American art collective Simparch.
Run by Jeff Cutter and ex-New Yorkers Tino Razo and Javier Nunez, the store is a local hang out for pro skaters and is ground zero for the awesome “Boys Of Summer” skate crew. The popularity of Supreme’s West Hollywood outpost shortly created the “Fairfax strip," which now is home to a multitude of reseller stores and brand flagships including Diamond Supply Co., AAPE and RipNDip.
Find it at:
Supreme Los Angeles 439 N. Fairfax Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036
Telephone: 323-655-6202 Opening hours: 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. Mon-Sat, 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Sun
Supreme Harajuku (2006)
The Ura-Harajuku backstreets are significant areas in streetwear culture, so it was only a matter of time before Supreme made its mark in the neighborhoods that were quick to adopt the brand in its early days.
Like many shops in the Harajuku area that are all built on top or below each other, the Supreme store must be entered up a flight of stairs. Sitting high above the flagship NEIGHBORHOOD store (a brand Supreme has collaborated with in the past), a flag of Supreme’s iconic box logo is proudly displayed to pedestrians.
Inside the store, there is a large window that fills the space with natural light, offering a great view of the busy street below. There is a wall covered in Ari Marcopolous’s portraits of young Supreme team skaters from years gone by and a large, curved illuminated Supreme logo above the accessories wall.
Find it at:
Supreme Harajuku 4-32-7-2F Jingumae Shibuya-Ku, Tokyo 150-0001
Telephone: 03-5771-0090 Opening hours: 11 a.m.- 8 p.m. Mon-Sun
Supreme Nagoya (2008)
Continuing to fulfill the Japanese market's high demand for its product, Supreme opened its fifth store in Japan in September 2008. To commemorate the launch, Supreme released an exclusive gold foil box logo T-shirt that remains a firm favorite with collectors over a decade later. Located in Nagoya’s vibrant downtown district Sakae, the energetic neighborhood also counts residents like Stussy, A Bathing Ape, Carhartt, and F.I.L.
Upon entering the Supreme Nagoya store, you’ll see photographer and long-time collaborator Ari Marcopolous's portrait wall to your left, with a collection of framed prints on the opposite wall featuring past Supreme celebrity endorsers including Kate Moss, Kermit the Frog, Lee ’Scratch’ Perry, Lady Gaga, RZA, and Lou Reed. One of the coolest features of the Nagoya store is the installation of eight Mark Gonzales "Angels," which hang from the ceiling, running from the back of the room to the entrance.
Find it at:
Supreme Nagoya 3-13-28 Sakae Naka-ku, Nagoya 460-0008
Telephone: 052-261-2858 Opening hours: 11 a.m. -8 p.m. Mon-Sun
Supreme London (2011)
Having built up a cult following with accounts in stores such as The Hideout (London), colette (Paris) and Firmament (Berlin), it was only a matter of time before Supreme opened its own European store. Given James Jebbia grew up in London, the British capital felt like the natural location for Supreme’s first retail outlet on European soil.
Launching at the tail-end of London Fashion Week in September 2011, the store, located at the end of Peter Street in Soho, opened to the public with a special Union Jack box logo T-shirt that was available in both short sleeve and long sleeve versions.
Supreme London is held down by legendary British skater Jagger, who oversees the split-level store at the end of the renowned Berwick Street Market. Entering the store at street level you’re faced with a huge Gonzalez "Angel" hanging over the large basement space, with the store counter and skate deck wall to your left. Venture downstairs to shop the brand’s products and footwear, and you'll find another large Gonz sculpture sitting proudly on the shop floor.
Find it at:
Supreme London 2-3 Peter Street London WIF 0AA
Telephone: 207-437-0493 Opening hours: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Mon-Sat, 12 p.m.- 6.p.m. Sun
Supreme Shibuya (2012)
Tokyo is a major city for Supreme, as evidenced by the brand's decision to open a third brick and mortar location in the Japanese capital.
Opening in September 2012, the minimalist store features mostly plain white walls bar a few Nate Lowan bullet hole graphics, which also featured on the exclusive box logo opening tee. A huge blue “Schminx” sculpture by longtime collaborator Mark Gonzales acts as the shop’s centerpiece, while a large video screen and curved brick bank distinguish the simple white storefront.
Find it at:
Supreme Shibuya 1-18-2 Jinnan Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0041
Telephone: 03-5428-4393 Opening hours: 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Mon-Sun
Supreme Paris (2016)
Supreme’s second European store is located in world fashion capital Paris and opened in March 2016. Tucked away on Rue Barbette, a side street in the Le Marais district, the building was overhauled by London studio Brinkworth and creative studio Wilson Brothers as Supreme owner James Jebbia looked to create a new retail space for the brand.
Upon entering the store you’re greeted by a 7-foot “Priest” statue by Mark Gonzales that stands tall in front of a gallery wall of images by Weirdo Dave and a video screen. The unusual layout means you walk down a corridor into the main shopping space that features a large glass ceiling and customary Supreme shelving units made from oak and steel tubing.
Store manager Samir Krim has to be the most well-connected man in the Parisian skate scene and his team make-up some of the city’s most respected local skaters.
Find it at:
Supreme Paris 20 Rue Barbette Paris 75003
Telephone: 1-43-488-014 Opening hours: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Mon-Sat, 12 p.m. -6 p.m. Sun
Supreme Brooklyn (2017)
With pretty much every city in North America crying out for a Supreme store of their own, it was quite a shock to many that, in 2017, the brand announced its third store on home soil would be located in Brooklyn, New York — just three miles from its original spot on Lafayette. New York has always been the heart of the business and the small store in Manhattan was at bursting point thanks to the brand’s increasing popularity. In order to ease pressure on the staff, customers, and neighbors of the Lafayette store, it made sense to open a secondary NY location in a less central neighborhood.
Housed in a former storage building for delivery trucks, Supreme appointed New York firm Neil Logan Architect to retrofit the Williamsburg warehouse. With a similar layout to its store in LA, Supreme Brooklyn’s centerpiece is a raised wooden skate bowl designed again by Steven Bladgett of Simparch. This gives Supreme employees, friends and visiting pro skaters a spot to skate, chill and meet up. There’s also a couple of skate-friendly blocks that double up as seating areas for customers.
Tucked away from the popular Bedford Avenue, the Jeff Pang-managed Supreme Williamsburg store is a little more chilled than its Manhattan counterpart and well worth the trip across the bridge for visitors to the city.
Find it at:
Supreme Brooklyn 152 Grand Street Brooklyn, NY 11249
Telephone: 718-599-2700 Opening hours: 11 a.m. -7 p.m. Mon-Sat, 12 p.m.- 6 p.m. Sun
Supreme New York (2019)
This year marks an impressive landmark for Supreme as the brand celebrates 25 years since opening its first store in downtown New York. Given the original Lafayette Street store has remained mainly unchanged bar a few minor adjustments, it felt like the right time to give it a bit of love.
While its flagship store remains closed for renovation work, Supreme has picked an incredible location for its temporary home.
The ‘pop-up’ Supreme store is currently housed within the Germania Bank Building on 190 The Bowery, a legendary spot that has been a canvas for some of New York’s most respected graffiti artists, including Futura 2000. The space is huge and can comfortably accommodate a large number of shoppers at one time, therefore easing pressure on the lines outside. In the middle of the store sits a large sky blue colored “Shmoo” statue by Mark Gonzales, while an ultra-thin supersize monitor hangs above the counter playing Supreme’s skate videos.
The building is steeped in so much downtown New York history and makes for such a customer-friendly shopping experience that it would be a shame to see it close. Watch this space…
Find it at:
Supreme New York 190 Bowery New York, NY 10012
Telephone: 212-966-7799 Opening hours: 11 a.m. -7 p.m. Mon-Sat, 12 p.m. -6 p.m. Sun
Take a deeper dive into Supreme by watching the video below.
