OffGrid sneaker store collaborates with The Bok Shop fried chicken on new Southampton concept

London sneaker boutique OffGrid is teaming up with south coast fried chicken restaurant The Bok Shop on a new retail concept combining food and footwear at the Westquay shopping and leisure destination in Southampton.

Opening on 31 March 2022, The Bok Shop restaurant will host a bespoke limited edition sneaker display, allowing customers to dine while purchasing the latest Yeezy and coveted Air Jordan Dior sneakers from OffGrid’s trainer experts.

OffGrid has a designated section next to the main entrance of the restaurant which will display roughly 60 pairs of sought-after shoes at any one time, including rare Nike Dunk, Air Jordan 1 and Off-White collaborations.

Owner of OffGrid, Hassan El Zein, said: “When The Bok Shop guys gave me a shout about the concept of having a sneaker boutique inside the restaurant, I thought it was one of the craziest ideas I’ve ever heard. And I loved it. We think this is going to be a huge success as our brands and communities have a huge crossover.”

Jamie O'Mara, Co-Founder of The Bok Shop, commented: “We’re bringing our love of fried chicken together with ultra-rare sneakers in a way that hasn’t been done before, and we can’t wait to bring this exciting concept to the people of Southampton.”

The new 3,700 sq ft restaurant will be The Bok Shop’s fourth and follows its success in Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings. The brand plans to roll-out 10 new sites in the next two years, and there are plans to collaborate further and incorporate more OffGrid sections within The Bok Shop roll-out - in select sites.

Harry Badham, Chief Development and Asset Repositioning Officer at Westquay landlord, Hammerson, said: “This collaboration and partnership is a sign of how retail and dining are changing and coming together in new ways to create special places for our customers. The Bok Shop’s innovation and ethical credentials are aligned with our own ambitions.”

Evenings and weekends will also “come alive” at The Bok Shop, with regular music-led events celebrating this new unique “cultural collision”.