Along with everything else to expect that comes with it: exclusive collections, a KITH Treats counter, Sadelle’s at KITH restaurant, and the inevitable lineups.
Despite the rumblings, rumours, and speculation that beloved KITH brand will open in Toronto’s Yorkville neighbourhood as soon as end of this week. Though the expansion was never officially announced nor confirmed by KITH. That doesn’t mean the brand and its founder, Ronnie Fieg, haven’t been dropping Easter egg hints for their sneakerhead/ KITH-head cult following to pick up on. Among these hints was the release of a KITH Treats (the brand’s iconic, completely delicious, ice cream shop) t-shirt that listed its locations — including Yorkville, Toronto. That’s when everyone knew that the cat was out of the bag. Shortly after, construction got boarded up at the commercial space over by Trattoria Nervosa at 78 Yorkville Ave. Late last week, this finally came down, revealing the KITH signage and a peek inside the store, now confirmed to open this Friday.
RELATED: Check out the VIBE inside the KITH 1st Canadian flagship in Yorkville >>>
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That’s not the only Easter egg that was dropped. The brand also recently collaborated with Marvel on an incredibly sought-out shoe collection that also came with a limited edition box, sealed bag, and collector’s trading card. But “KITH Friends and Family” also received a limited edition comic book that boasted a KITH Toronto logo and what seems to be an outline of the KITH Toronto floor plan, on the back.
But before we jump right into the launch, here’s a little more on the internationally-loved KITH brand, and its influential sneaker and sports culture legend founder, Ronnie Fieg (who also holds the title as the New York Knicks basketball team’s first-ever, and current, creative director).
Meet the sneaker culture icon behind it all: Ronnie Fieg
If you’ve heard of, read anything, or simply been exposed to anything KITH-related, you’ve probably heard of the founder, Ronnie Fieg. The entrepreneur is known for his clear knack for epic collaborations, an eye for design, and his love for sports…even more so, his beloved New York Knicks.
“All I ever wanted was a way in.”
Fieg writes in a hand written note on the Kinnect foundation website mission statement page.
Fieg often speaks about how he got his start in the sneaker retail world at the young age of 13, when his uncle gave him a job as a stock boy and salesman at David Z, his footwear chain. Here, Fieg eventually became a manager and head buyer.
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“When I was 13-years-old my uncle offered me a birthday gift that I negotiated into a job.”
Aaron “Ronnie” Fieg, CEO/Founder/Creative Director of KITH
Where the KITH empire all started
Working at David Z, Fieg started bringing in a well-curated assortment of sneaker and athletic footwear brands. It was here where he had his fist collaboration, teaming up with Asics to design three pairs of Gel Lyte IIIs that landed him on the cover of The Wall Street Journal and sold out in 24 hours. This would set the stage for a future in collaborating with the world’s most famous footwear brands in some 50+ products – from Adidas and New Balance, to Herschel Supply and Polo Ralph Lauren.
Armed with years of experience and a growing name for himself, in November 2011, Fieg opened up his own apparel and footwear boutique called KITH NYC. The now iconic shop has grown to 12 locations worldwide (from New York and Miami, to Hawaii, Tokyo and Paris), each one boasting creative and cutting-edge design features and carrying the most coveted footwear from brands, like Yeezy, Stampd, Timberland, New Balance, Nike, Adidas, and more. A 2015 update to Fieg’s Brooklyn store included a new KITH Treats business, something that would become a staple in KITH shops. Now, KITH is much more more than a sneaker shop; it’s a distinct lifestyle brand with a cult following.
For the sweet tooths: KITH Treats
Launched in 2015, KITH Treats offers a favoured customizable swirl, milkshake, and cereal bowls start with a choice of ice cream flavour or type of milk, and a myriad of legacy American cereals to incorporate—including Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cheerios, Lucky Charms, and Froot Loops. As an added bonus for Canadians, many of these cereal brands aren’t easily accessible in Canada, aside from a dedicated “black market” for American cereals (it’s a thing). Other sweet ingredients can also be mixed in, including brownie bites, M&Ms, Kit Kat, and Twix Bars.
Photos: KITH
Guests visiting the KITH Yorkville (Toronto) flagship can also expect all of the iconic KITH Treats offerings that have earned the brand a loyal following of KITH-heads since its launch.
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A major partnership: Sadelle’s at KITH
Not just a play on words, Sadelle’s at KITH truly is a “major” partnership between KITH and Major Food Group (MFG). MFG is the restaurant group behind American restaurant titans like Carbone, Dirty French, and many more, including Sadelle’s, a New York City brunch staple.
KITH, in partnership with MFG, launched their first outpost of Sadelle’s inside their European flagship store in Paris in 2021. They later opened one inside their Miami flagship earlier this year in February 2023. The Toronto location marks their third Sadelle’s at KITH outpost to join the international MFG Sadelle’s lineup.
Photos: KITH
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The Yorkville Toronto Sadelle’s at KITH ‘essential brunch destination’ is said to be in the same space as their Treats counter service bar. It offers a full dining room, where guests can order items off of the signature Sadelle’s menu–think: house-made bagels, sliced-to-order salmon, chopped salads, and their world-famous French toast. There will also be specialty breakfast sandwiches available which pay homage to the popular NYC deli-style sandwich culture. The selection features The Maia — Sadelle’s turkey, swiss, muenster cheese, russian dressing, and pickles on a kaiser roll; The Leo — salmon, egg, schmaltz onion, and cream cheese on a bagel; and The Poppy — bacon, coleslaw, and tomato on challah bread. The three sandwiches, which were created by MFG’s Mario Carbone, are named after Ronnie Fieg’s and Jeff Zalaznick’s (Carbone business partner) children. For dessert, diners will also be able to enjoy items directly from the KITH Treats menu, served at their table.
Soft spot for giving back: Kinnect Foundation
With a desire to give back, Fieg launched non-profit The Kinnect Foundation in 2022. The organization is devoted to creating positive impact through three key pillars: education, community, and social impact. In a founder’s letter on the foundation’s website, Fieg calls the foundation about access – the first step in becoming successful. “I needed someone to take a chance on me,” he writes in his own handwriting. “I knew I could build the biggest house on the block, but only with a spot to lay the first brick.” In the fall of 2022, the foundation welcomed its Kinnect Scholars Program’s inaugural class. The high school students are paired with KITH employees for group workshops, one-on-one mentorship, and an inside peek behind the veil of the company.
Opening this Friday: KITH Toronto flagship
The store is set to open its doors on September 22nd, and it will stock a wide range of clothing, accessories, and footwear for men, women, and children, featuring both KITH’s in-house and multi-brand collections.
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Designed by Fieg himself, this flagship KITH store in the Yorkville-area of Toronto, spans two storeys, with KITH’s signature retail concept in mind–and likely one of the largest retail stores along Yorkville Ave. However, Fieg has added unique details that complement its bespoke setting. The design of the space reflects the clean and modern aesthetic of Toronto, using materials like Venetian Plaster, Alba Chiara, and Verias Green Marble to create a vibrant and elegant atmosphere.
The first floor is said to be dedicated to premium apparel and accessories for both men and women. On the second floor, you’ll find footwear, an exclusive KITH Kids collection, KITH Treats, and Sadelle’s at KITH.
The store’s ambiance is said to be ‘elevated with a thoughtfully balanced color scheme of white, blue, and brown, complemented by carefully placed greenery throughout the space.’ And even the change rooms and elevators are said to be adorned with the KITH classic logo vegan leather wallpaper. Meanwhile, the KITH Treats and Sadelle’s at KITH area is said to be enhanced with Rosa Aurora Stone and features a blend of wood, stone, and metal accents, creating a sophisticated and stylish setting. We can’t wait to get a closer look.
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Limited edition collab: KITH Toronto x New Balance 1700s
But it doesn’t stop there…Fieg has clearly been itching to share not only the new location, but their extra special collab sneakers. Taking to Instagram yesterday ahead of their official press announcement, the brand leaked photos of their KITH Toronto exclusive New Balance sneakers. KITH/Fieg worked with New Balance to reinterpret their 1700-silhouette in two new colourways inspired by Toronto. Each colourway featuring a ‘premium’ pigskin leather upper with a padded collar seen on the interior. The KITH classic logo is also seen at the rear of the sneaker while each style retains its key elements such as side-panel N logos, branding at the tongue and a rubber outsole.
The ‘Roccoco Red’ colourway will be available this Friday, September 22 exclusively at the Kith Toronto flagship. Followed with dropping it online the following Monday (at Kith.com, EU.Kith.com, & CA.Kith.com — no word yet when this launches, but we’d assume Friday too).
The Marshmallow colourway will be more widely available at all KITH shops, and online (at Kith.com, EU.Kith.com & CA.Kith.com).
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Calling all sneaker and KITHheads: Stay tuned for the opening play-by-play
Keep your eyes peeled over on our Instagram @ViewtheVIBE this week for the latest updates, as we get a look at the space, and get up close and personal with the New Balance collab, and more. You won’t want to miss the inside scoop!
Hero image: Design by View the VIBE, using photos courtesy of KITH and Ronnie Fieg's Instagram. Contributors: Steven Branco, Erin Davis.
