Known for its comfortable footwear, Skechers has taken a bold step into the culinary world, leaving patrons with more than just happy feet. The Californian shoe retailer recently unveiled its “Food Spot,” a Costco-esque concession stand, drawing crowds and admiration from eager customers.
Nestled within a Skechers store in Gardena, the “Food Spot” is an outdoor dining oasis, complete with a straightforward menu and a familiar blue-and-red color scheme reminiscent of the popular Costco food court. Its simple yet enticing fare includes all-American classics like hotdogs, burgers, churros, and even pizza.
While the culinary offerings at Skechers’ “Food Spot” have been dubbed “a bit tastier and a touch more expensive” compared to Costco’s by KTLA, there’s a significant distinction – no membership requirement.
Skechers’ menu features all-beef hot dogs priced at a wallet-friendly $2.50, a hearty double smashburger for $5, slices of pepperoni pizza for just $3, and indulgent soft-serve sundaes for $4.
This ambitious venture quietly took root at a Skechers store on the corner of Vermont Avenue and West 190th Street, launching on May 3. The transformation began with the conversion of approximately 900 square feet of retail space into a full-fledged commercial kitchen.
Accompanying this expansion were the welcome additions of experienced restaurant and food industry professionals, ensuring a seamless culinary operation.
Joe Fields, Senior Manager of Domestic Retail Operations for Skechers and the Food Spot, emphasized the restaurant’s commitment to quality. “Everything the restaurant serves is made to order,” Fields told Fox Business, except for their highly-praised french fries.
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Skechers CEO Michael Greenberg, a visionary in the world of business, saw this concept as a natural progression. “Years ago, we thought, wouldn’t it be great to have a food concession?” Greenberg recounted to Eater. “I thought we could make shopping for shoes like a family outing. It does a tremendous amount of volume and has a lot of foot traffic.”
For Greenberg, a self-professed “foodie,” the quality of the food was paramount. “First and foremost, the most important thing to me was the quality of food,” he emphasized.
“Because I relate the quality of the food, it’s got to be as good as the product that we sell, whether you wear our product, or you ingest and chew our product,” he continued.
This innovative initiative aligns with Skechers’ broader business philosophy of building lasting customer relationships. Greenberg explained, “The praise that we’re getting, that’s sort of like sugar on top. That’s music to our ears.”
Notably, Greenberg’s own investments in restaurants, including Rock & Brews, the Shade Hotel, and Fresh Brothers Pizza, reflects his passion for the culinary world. He also acknowledged that the Food Spot’s design took inspiration from Costco’s food court, even though the beverage offerings differ, with Food Spot exclusively serving Coca-Cola products.
Eater’s Matthew Kang observed, “Food Spot offers food that is ‘affordable enough to take a chance.’ Locals have responded to the sneaker store’s culinary addition with enthusiasm. On a recent weekday in August, the Food Spot had a dozen people in line to order and another dozen or so waiting for their food. Almost every seat at the small outdoor dining area was taken, and most of the standing room counters were occupied too.”
Greenberg reflected on the venture, stating, “It was much more about the overall experience and the atmosphere of being at that Skechers store.”
Founded in 1992, Skechers has become the third-largest shoe company in the United States. With the Food Spot, they’re proving that they can cater to more than just the soles of their customers’ feet.
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