What is style? How do you differentiate between the good and the bad? Can it be taught, or is it innate? Style is one of those anomalies that can be intensely personal and at the same time be universally acceptable. It is also so much more than the way something looks. It’s an air, a persona, a presentation, a manner, a trademark, a way of life. Style can also be highly debatable, which is where it can get dangerous, and dare I say, exciting. In my short time here at cityhomeCOLLECTIVE I've been exposed to near-toxic amounts of style. Under the close watch of my boss and mentor Cody Derrick, I have assisted in the creation of some incredible spaces that many designers would kill to be a part of. I have learned things that can't be taught in a classroom. I have seen how an idea can light up like a spark and spread like raging wildfire through homes, restaurants, shops, and offices. One such spark I bore witness to is the new Zuriick store on 9th and 9th.
The Zuriick boys have style. It’s not forced. It’s not in your face. It just is. Mike McCaleb and Chad Tovey are building a better [and more beautiful] boot right here in Salt Lake City. Due to a “hole in the men's shoe market that needed to be filled,” Zuriick was born of necessity. The market for high quality, American-made foot candy appears to be booming. Now seven years strong, Zuriick has evolved as a company and they needed a space to reflect that.
The Zuriick style is rugged Americana. It's the well-made, iconic, long-lasting footwear of decades past in the midst of a passionate love affair with motorcycles and girls and whiskey. This 'life imitating art imitating life' has been well documented by Zuriick’s go-to photographer Steven Stone, whose photos serve as a visual journal into the mind of the company’s creators. “I specifically wanted Stone because his style of photography comes across the way our company comes across. I've never wanted to put Zuriick in anyone's face. I want people to appreciate what we do for what it is. We make shoes. Stone creates a visual of our lifestyle. Like it or don't, but if you see it, you probably will love it.”
When asked why McCaleb chose cityhomeCOLLECTIVE and Cody to find and design the new Zuriick space, he broke it down like we dreamed he might: “I don't think it was a choice. It was fate, if you believe in that, which I do. I've seen and been in spaces that Cody has owned and created.* His taste is impeccable and his eye for design is rare. Chad and I felt lucky to have the opportunity to work with Cody and the COLLECTIVE on this project. Our new space...it's badass. Our previous space was raw and we loved it, but we stepped up our level. It has a similar vibe, just a hell of a lot sexier and more mature.”
After months of searching for the perfect location, Cody helped Chad and Mike nab a prime location in the heart of 9th and 9th as their leasing agent. A few days after gaining possession of the space, we met with the Zuriick boys to do a walk-through. The bones were beautiful: vaulted ceilings, exposed brick walls, floor-to-ceiling windows. The sienna paint and fluorescent lighting left something to be desired. Two minutes into our meeting Cody said, “wouldn’t it be rad if it were like a gallery in here, but instead of art on the walls, there would be boots?” The spark. And just like that: the wildfire. The painting, the special order art lights, the fanning of the flames with custom shoe displays from McCaleb and our creative brothers over at Project Sunday. The new store is evolved. It is mature. It is sexy. They trusted in the vision wholeheartedly, and it was beautiful to watch. This space is the style equivalent of a haymaker to the jaw. Stunner.
Nothing left, but to invite you to be a part of the creation, to experience the vision first-hand. The grand opening of the new Zuriick store is happening in t-minus seven days at 875 East 900 South, and it'll be a beautiful day in the neighborhood. Friday, November 1st from 5:00 to 8:00pm, come meet the faces, have a whiskey, and pay mad homage to the evolution of design. Oh, and enjoy a jaw-dropping 25% off when you tell ‘em cityhomeCOLLECTIVE sent ya. See you in a week.
Zuriick | 875 E 900 S | 801.400.2557
*Click around for a peek at more of Cody Derrick's design/interior work: The Maryland | Pallet | Eastwood | Apollo | Westgate | Press
