Suite 160
• Address: 3930 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Suite 132A, Las Vegas
• Phone: 702-304-2513
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: suite160.com
• Hours of operation: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. daily
• Owned/operated by: Jeff Brown
• In business since: 2001
Describe your business.
Suite 160 is a lifestyle sneaker, streetwear and accessories boutique. We offer everything from Nike Free Runs for all of our tourists with tired feet to exclusive Jordan releases for our sneakerhead customers.
Who are your customers?
Being in a tourist based area, a majority of our customers are tourists. The cool part about being on the Strip is our customer base is now worldwide.
In general, people who shop with us are into up-and-coming fashion, and things that they won’t see other people wearing. In other words, trendsetters.
What sort of unique offerings does your store have?
I wouldn’t say we are always on the cutting edge of fashion, as we mostly focus on our brands that have stood the test of time. Nike, Jordan, and Stussy have been with us for a long time and are not going anywhere. They control their distribution for the most part and are good partners to have.
Where did the name Suite 160 come from?
When the store was at its inception stage at our first location on Sahara Avenue and Fort Apache Road — empty and bare — 160 was the suite number. There was a Suite 160 sticker on the window, and it was a right-place-at-the-right-time type of situation. The shadow of the suite number on the window reflected onto one of the bare walls inside the store. Ever since then, the suite number of the first location has been the name of the business. It probably is not the the best name for a shoe store but it stuck because it was unique.
What’s the most important part of your job?
The most important part of running any business is trying to stay relevant. So much of the brick-and-mortar retail has moved online but you still get the people who are old-school and like to touch and feel and try on things before they buy.
What is the best part about doing business in Southern Nevada?
The best part about doing business in Las Vegas is the same as the hardest part. The constant influx of tourism brings in such a diverse range of customers — ethnicities, ages and styles. Also, because we’re in “the city that never sleeps,” we have an extended range of hours that allows us to be open longer than people usually expect.
How can Nevada improve its business climate?
Nevada is doing a good job of reinventing itself. As more states legalize gambling, the state has been forced to become a nightlife, shopping and culinary destination as well as a gambling state. The hockey team and talk of an NFL team would be great for the city.
What have you learned from the recession?
It is important to save money for a rainy day so when business is slow or the trends change, you have time to adjust.