Sneaker City moving out of Downtown Seattle after repeat break-ins and massive rent hike

SEATTLE - Repeated break-ins and a massive rent hike have forced the oldest mom-and-pop sneaker shop in Downtown Seattle to pull up stakes.

Sneaker City has spent the past 20 of its 30 years of business right across from Pike Place Market. It’s on Pike Street--right between Starbucks Coffee and Hard Rock Café.

Business owner Caroline Cho said she wanted to stay. But she said the sky-high rent costs and non-stop crime are now too much to handle.

“Our doors were broken into multiple times so we stopped replacing the glass,” said Cho.

Thieves have broken into her business 15 times in nearly two years.

“They broke this one once, they broke that one another time, and they broke one on the other side as well,” said Cho.

Many of the crimes were caught on camera. But the crooks have never been found. Cho says she’s exhausted and she can’t afford the $5,000 dollar monthly rent hike headed her way.

“(It’s going to be) $13,000 a month, from $8,000. That’s preposterous. We barely have business,” said Cho.

Their lease is up Monday, January 31 and that means the sneaker shop in Seattle has no choice but to leave downtown.

“If you go to the back, it’s a little bit of a mess because it’s a mad dash to pack,” said Cho.

Cho and her employees are frantically trying to box things up and move things out to a warehouse. The business is now moving online.

“(We’re) trying to get organized, but at this point, we’re just throwing in boxes and get them out because we don’t have time anymore,” said Cho.

Cho says the property owners are raising the rent because they believe the space is worth a lot more.

"It’s because we’re right in front of Pike Place Market. This area is very hot," said Cho.

People who live and work in the area as well as Sneaker City supporters are sad to see the longtime business go.

"A lot of what makes Seattle really unique and gives it character are the businesses," said Eunice Kwon. “It’s just really a disappointment. You lose so much value that is immeasurable. You get the personality, the character, the character of the business itself.”

“It’s really unfortunate. It almost feels like we’re losing our city to repeated crime. And then to add rent on top of that--it doesn’t make it any easier. I understand why they’re leaving, but it shouldn’t be that way,” said Edward Ruiz, who works a few doors away from Sneaker City.

Cho said her sales are down nearly 90 percent. Many people walk by and don’t realize her business is open. Because of repeat break-ins, she keeps her windows boarded up.

Cho said she's heartbroken she has to move, but there are just too many headaches to deal with if she stays.

According to the Downtown Seattle Association - more than 377 businesses have permanently closed since March of 2020. That's compared to 217 businesses that have opened during that same period.

In a statement, DSA told KOMO News “Small businesses that are scraping by to make it through a pandemic shouldn’t have to face a constant threat of break-ins, theft and damage, but for far too many that’s been their reality... Making progress on this issue is critical for downtown’s recovery.”