Preach-es bringing fresh kicks, streetwear to Sioux Falls: 'We’re not trying to blend in'

Preach-es, a boutique shoe store, is hoping to bring a big city feel to Sioux Falls.

The new company offers top shoe brands such as Jordans, Adidas, New Balance and Nike to name a few.

Behind the brand are founder and chief executive officer Jonathon Vazquez, chief operating officer Abraham Perez and Tyler Blake, who serves as the chief marketing officer.

The three saw a need for a high-end shoe store in Sioux Falls after moving from out of state. Blake is from Chicago, while both Vazquez and Perez are from California.

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“Sioux Falls and the surrounding areas, we’re about two to three years behind streetwear or fashion trends than you’d probably see in bigger cities like Los Angeles, New York and Miami,” Vazquez said. “We feel like we’re coming in just at the right time where people are more interested in it and want to learn more about it and want to wear different shoes.”

Blake said he noticed a need for it recently, with an influx of people moving to Sioux Falls. 

“With all these people moving here from California, Texas, this is the perfect time and the right opportunity to do something like this,” Blake said.

Preach-es aimed to make the store minimalistic inside and have an “upscale” feel. That was part of the company’s goal, the three said.

“We had a very particular vision in our mind and what we wanted aesthetics in the store … We wanted more (of) a higher-end look and not cluttered. It looks very minimalist, but we have a lot more sizes in the back,” Vazquez said.

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Prices for shoes vary depending on brand, style and sizing. They cost anywhere from $200 up to thousands of dollars.

“The size, the colorway and the model have a lot to do with what the price is,” Vazquez said. “Prices do vary, but a lot of our shoes are right on what (the) market is, a lot of our shoes are under market, so we wanted to be very intentional with that.”

There’s also a VIP experience, which includes a 30-minute stylist session, hour-long lounge access, with complimentary beverages, photos for social media and a discreet private entrance.

The VIP experience is mainly designed for bands, entertainers, athletes and political officials, Blake said. The VIP Lounge costs $100, which will go towards a purchase inside the store.

About a third of the store comes from consignment purchases, Blake said.

“We’ve really built a relationship (with consigners) … They’re here throughout the day, they stop and chat and they have a good time. They bring shoes, this is business, but it’s more of a relationship,” Blake said.

Along with creating relationships with consignment sellers, the trio is hoping the store brings creativity to Sioux Falls. 

“Sioux Falls needs people that aren’t afraid to express themselves because there’s so many people in this community that doesn’t have anyone speaking for them,” Blake said. “We’re not trying to blend in or doing anything in terms of the norm here, we want to create our own space and we want to speak for everybody that feels the same.”

The three brainstormed the name, Preach-es, which stands for “practice what you preach.” The name, while not a Christian store, signifies the three’s religious beliefs.

“We want to be real with everything we do. More on the spiritual and religious side, we’re all pretty big in our faith … If we see an opportunity that’s appropriate, we won’t shy away from talking about Jesus,” Perez said.

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Preach-es is focused on giving back to the Sioux Falls community and plans on doing outreach events through after-school programs, speaking at schools and hosting artists.

“I think the main thing is this store is more than just a business. We look forward to doing community outreach and just really connecting with people in the community. That’s at the forefront of everything, just making sure this is a space that’s for the community,” Blake said. “We all want this to be a pillar for the community.”

Along with shoes, Preach-es offers high-end Louis Vuitton products, shoe cleaning products and a number of clothing brands, including Blakes's own streetwear clothing brand, wake by Tyler Blake.

Preach-es is located at 225 E. 11th St., Suite 107 in downtown Sioux Falls. The business is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The business is open from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., on Sunday, and is closed on Monday.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sioux Falls shoe store Preach-es boasts fresh kicks and streetwear