Direct Kicks was founded in 2013 by native New Yorker Louis Lacarbonara, starting out of a small dorm room at Oklahoma State University. What began as a modest operation quickly grew into a trusted platform for sneakerheads and enthusiasts to buy, sell, and trade both pre-owned and brand-new sneakers.

In May 2015, after graduating from Oklahoma State, I returned to New York with the vision of opening a brick-and-mortar store in the neighborhood where I was born and raised.

In October 2016, Direct Kicks physical store officially opened in Mamaroneck, NY, after many months of preparation and looking for the perfect location that fit the vision.

Direct Kicks quickly became a staple in Mamaroneck and Westchester County for buying, selling, and trading of both brand new and pre owned kicks!

For the first few years after opening its physical location, Direct Kicks flourished on all fronts—successfully managing both its in-store experience and its growing online presence.

The launch of DK Steals events became a major highlight, offering unbeatable deals and exclusive pricing, while also bringing the sneaker community together under one roof.

Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, Direct Kicks adapted and persevered—leaning back on its online roots as the world shut down. Despite the challenges, the business continued to grow, showing no signs of slowing down.

On September 1st, Hurricane Ida tore through the Eastern Seaboard and eventually struck New York, bringing widespread damage. Our Mamaroneck location was hit hard—over eight feet of floodwater filled the basement, which housed our inventory, supplies, and other critical materials. The damage led to nearly $200,000 in losses and forced us to temporarily shut down that location.

Fortunately, at the time of the storm, Direct Kicks was preparing to open a second location in The Westchester Mall in White Plains. This new store allowed us to maintain operations and continue serving our customers, helping to stabilize the business while we worked through the aftermath in Mamaroneck.

Once the Mamaroneck store was back up and running full-time—alongside our location in The Westchester Mall—Direct Kicks steadily worked its way back to where it was before the flood.

But as things improved, it became clear that the direction of the business needed to shift. The goal was simple: return to our roots. That meant bringing back the unbeatable deals, focusing on our loyal community, and staying true to the values that got us started.

With that vision in mind, I made the strategic and best decision to close our Westchester Mall location in July 2024 and refocus entirely on our original Mamaroneck store. This change brought us back to what made Direct Kicks successful from day one—authentic culture, great prices, and a strong connection to our customers.

Business at Direct Kicks has never been better. With major improvements across the board—in inventory management, shipping, customer service, and beyond—we’re firing on all cylinders and continuing to grow stronger every day.

As more inventory comes in and sales increase both in-store and online, the momentum keeps building. Our signature DK Steals events have reached new heights, offering unbeatable deals to hundreds of loyal customers, both locally and across the country.

The future is bright, and the journey is far from over. Direct Kicks continues to evolve, and it’s all thanks to the incredible support from our community. To everyone who’s been a part of the story—thank you. Your love, loyalty, and support are what make this all possible.