Kristi Gonzalez and Daniel Arango are sharing New York City’s rich sneaker culture with their community, and the world. Through District One, their brick-and-mortar stores, and online eBay page, the couple has been able to bring the city’s sneaker scene to enthusiasts around the world.
District One is a New York City sneaker resale store “for the people.” Husband-and-wife Daniel Arango and Kristi Gonzalez opened the store in 2021, and Daniel has been a prominent reseller of sneakers on eBay since 2007.
Since he began selling online, Daniel has sold over 14,000 pairs of shoes, according to the couple’s Seller Spotlight profile on eBay. Their physical retail stores are now known for releasing the latest shoes, as well as selling pre-owned sneakers at a discounted price.
“We were both born and raised in NYC and have extreme pride. I’m from Queens and Kristi is from the Lower East Side. Being from New York and opening a sneaker store in New York and running what I think may be the biggest buy-sell-trade business in New York is a blessing, and we’re so proud,” Daniel said.
“District One is an homage to the Lower East Side. District 1 is the school district in the heart of the neighborhood, where Daniel and I met in high school. I wanted a name that would represent where the store is and where we came from. No matter where we go from here, this is where we started,” Kristi explained.
“New Yorkers have always been ahead of the game when it comes to sneakers. Since I was a kid, I’ve loved seeing what sneakers people were wearing. I couldn’t afford them, and my mom would only buy me one or two pairs a year. As I got older, I wanted to amass a collection, and that’s what ultimately led me to reselling.”
Daniel discussed how his “journey in the sneaker business began 12 years ago. I would line up for new releases in NYC, take them home, and then list them on eBay and sell them for more. Once I graduated from college, I decided I was going to focus full-time on reselling. I started buying everything that was coming out and listing them on eBay.”
“In 2015, Daniel asked me if I’d quit my corporate job and join him because he couldn’t keep up with the demand. I used my background in customer service and retail to help him scale the business so he could focus on what he was really good at, finding the dopest sneakers in NYC,” Kristi said.
“In 2019, we partnered up with Simon, my main competitor. We joined forces to sell out of an office, and then used the profit to open District One in the Lower East Side in 2021. It was life-changing for us and we made more money than we ever have. From there, we opened our second storefront in February and continue to scale.
I think our street cred is why we’re one of the most well-respected sneaker resellers in New York, but also the country. We put in our work in the streets for seven years and started from zero. People know we’re fair, we don’t overprice our sneakers just to make a dollar,” he stated.
“We basically sell a lifestyle. So without the sneaker community, we wouldn’t be anything. Sneakerheads cash out all the time for the newest releases, both in our store and on eBay. So we cater to a lot of collectors as well as average people who just want a nice pair of sneakers.”
Daniel said that the market they sell in encompasses all kinds of customers. “We also sell what everyday New Yorkers are wearing. The trend has evolved recently from Jordans to Asics and New Balances to Hokas and On Clouds. We carry shoes in a wide range of prices, so you can walk in the store with $20, $50, $100, or even six figures and find a pair. There’s something for everybody.”
“Everyone wants to open a sneaker store, and I find it amusing because we didn’t open one until we were 10 years in and had saved up a lot of money. I recommend selling out of your house until you’ve built up some capital.
Also, follow the trends, and don’t be scared to evolve your business. You can’t be hard-headed when the market is changing. The market doesn’t care about your feelings, and you’ll get left behind if you don’t adjust. Be malleable, and never get stuck in one way. We sell our product differently every year.
Lastly, ensure your sneakers are authentic. We hired someone with 10 years of experience in authenticating sneakers, and we look at every shoe with two pairs of eyes before we make an offer on it,” Daniel concluded.
Eric Mastrota is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, he reports on world news, culture, and lifestyle. You can reach him at eric.mastrota@thenationaldigest.com.
