Columbus is rewarding when you leave room for its independents. Sole Classics has been part of the city’s sneaker culture since 2006, while 614Sneaker grew from event reselling into a Short North shop. On the same stretch of North High Street, Columbus Running Company adds a running-and-fit focus. Easton and Polaris offer a different kind of day: several brands and retail formats in one shopping area.
This guide keeps those city stops separate from Gahanna, Worthington and the Tanger outlet trip. Tanger Columbus is in Berkshire Township with a Sunbury mailing address; Tuttle Crossing has a Dublin mailing address but is within Columbus. Those distinctions matter more for planning than the market name printed on a store page.
Short North and High Street: boutique, resale and running
Start with Sole Classics for boutique retail, 614Sneaker for new and pre-owned pairs, and CRC for running or walking shoes. Downtown 614Sole is a separate business on South Front Street. Heat Archive’s current visiting details remain unconfirmed, so it is not included in the suggested route.
Sole Classics — Short North
Established in 2006, Sole Classics combines sneakers, apparel and accessories with a longstanding interest in local artists and community projects. Its wider catalog spans footwear, clothing and home-and-lifestyle goods, giving it a broader fashion point of view than an athletic chain. The Short North shop remains listed at 846 North High Street despite Kingsrowe messaging on the ecommerce site. Hours are Monday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–7 p.m., and Sunday, noon–6 p.m.
Address: 846 N High St, Columbus, OH 43215
614Sneaker — Short North
614Sneaker began with reselling in 2021 and opened in Short North in 2023. Today it handles new and pre-owned sneakers, streetwear and collectibles at 970 North High Street. You can bring pairs to sell or trade without an appointment; offers may be cash or store credit. Order pickup is restricted to the purchaser with matching government-issued photo ID, so a friend cannot collect on your behalf.
Address: 970 N High Street, Columbus, OH 43201. Read the buying, pickup and final-sale FAQ before arranging a transaction.
Columbus Running Company — Short North
CRC’s Short North store offers a free visual gait assessment and fitting without an appointment. Staff observe movement, measure feet and compare shoes for walking, running or other activity; customers can test options in the store, on a treadmill or on the sidewalk. This is retail fitting, not a medical diagnosis. Hours are Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., and Sunday, noon–5 p.m.
Address: 765 N High St, Columbus, OH 43215
Heat Archive: confirm before visiting
Heat Archive appears in earlier Columbus guides as a North High Street resale shop, but current first-party confirmation of its address, selection and visiting hours was not available. Treat it as an inquiry before traveling, not a confirmed stop or a confirmed closure.
Previously listed address, not reconfirmed: 1593 N High Street, Columbus, OH 43201.
614Sole
614Sole’s downtown buy/sell/trade business is distinct from 614Sneaker. Its catalog covers Jordans, Dunks, Kobe and LeBron basketball shoes, clothing and gently used designer accessories; it also lists ASICS pairs. Local pickup is advertised. The mix makes this a worthwhile downtown resale lead, especially if basketball footwear and streetwear are both on your list.
Address: 20 S Front St, Columbus, OH 43215
Easton: brand stores and athletic comparisons
Easton mixes dedicated brand stores with multibrand athletic and skate retailers. DICK’S at Easton Gateway is a separate part of the development, while REI on Worth Avenue adds outdoor equipment and services. The stores do not all follow the same Sunday schedule.
Nike Easton
Nike Easton is a regular Nike store on Townsfair Way, with online-order pickup and Nike Experts for sport-and-style guidance. Its hours are Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m., and Sunday, noon–6 p.m. This is the city retail stop, not a Factory Store.
Address: 3964 Townsfair Way, Columbus, OH 43219
Golden Goose — Easton Town Center
Golden Goose brings its deliberately distressed, craft-led designer sneakers to The Strand. This directly operated boutique lists reservations, pickup, appointments and a personal shopper; use its local service page to arrange a visit. Easton lists Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m., and Sunday, noon–6 p.m.; the brand page’s Sunday “12:00am” entry is inconsistent with that noon opening.
Address: 4159 The Strand, Space 225, Columbus, OH 43219
Foot Locker — Easton Town Center
Foot Locker Easton covers basketball, running and everyday sneakers in Suite A116. It is separate from the children’s shop at number 171. Hours are Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., opening an hour earlier than Nike on Sundays.
Address: 170 Easton Town Center, Suite A116, Columbus, OH 43219
Champs Sports — Easton Town Center
Champs Sports pairs athletic footwear with sportswear and accessories. Its branch profile names Nike, Jordan, adidas, Under Armour and New Balance, making it another multibrand counter on Gramercy Street. Hours are Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Address: 4031 Gramercy St, Suite A121, Columbus, OH 43219
Vans — Easton Town Center
Vans Easton is the dedicated Vans footwear-and-apparel shop in Suite C-110 and explicitly offers online-order pickup. Its own schedule is Monday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–8 p.m., and Sunday, noon–6 p.m., shorter than several neighboring chains.
Address: 98 Easton Town Center, Suite C-110, Columbus, OH 43219
Zumiez — Easton Town Center
Zumiez combines skate footwear with boards, clothing and accessories. Its Easton profile names Vans, Nike SB, adidas, Thrasher and Primitive, so the appeal is a wider skate-oriented selection than the single-brand Vans stop. It opens Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
Address: 100 Easton Town Center, Suite C-108, Columbus, OH 43219
Kids Foot Locker — Easton Town Center
Kids Foot Locker is a separate store for children’s sneakers and sportswear, with Nike, adidas, Champion and Vans named in its profile. Hours are Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Address: 171 Easton Town Center, Columbus, OH 43219
DICK’S Sporting Goods — Easton
DICK’S Easton combines running and athletic footwear with equipment for other sports; the local listing includes a batting cage and soccer department. The retailer’s directions use 4280 Easton Gateway Drive, while Easton’s directory shows 4304. Confirm the arrival point rather than assuming a move. Store hours are Monday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–9 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
Address: 4280 Easton Gateway Dr, Columbus, OH 43219
REI Columbus-Easton
REI Columbus-Easton is the outdoor specialist, with hiking, camping and other activity gear alongside footwear. The branch lists a bike shop, used gear, trade-ins and online-order pickup, including curbside service.
The store opens Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Curbside pickup ends an hour earlier each day, an important distinction when collecting an order late.
Address: 4150 Worth Avenue, Columbus, OH 43219. See REI’s local services and pickup hours.
Polaris and Tuttle Crossing: two different mall choices
Polaris combines JD Sports, Sole Stop and Lucky Shoes, covering athletic retail, sneaker-focused shopping and broader comfort footwear. Tuttle Crossing is a different mall choice. Its Dublin postal label should not turn it into a separate Dublin-city stop in your itinerary.
Sole Stop — Polaris Fashion Place
Sole Stop is Polaris’s sneaker-and-streetwear specialist, on the lower level near Saks Fifth Avenue. Check its current opening hours before a dedicated visit.
Address: Polaris Fashion Place, lower level near Saks Fifth Avenue, 1500 Polaris Parkway, Columbus, OH 43240.
Lucky Shoes: Polaris Fashion Place
Lucky Shoes occupies the former New Balance store at Polaris, but it is now a multibrand footwear shop. The local page names New Balance, HOKA, Brooks and On among its selections, alongside comfort-focused labels such as Vionic, Aetrex and Birkenstock. Staff help with fit across shoes and boots for men and women.
Regular hours are Monday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–8 p.m., and Sunday, noon–6 p.m.
Address: 1500 Polaris Parkway, Suite 1008, Columbus, OH 43240.
JD Sports — Polaris Fashion Place
JD Sports is the current retailer in Polaris Suite 1102, with sneakers, sportswear and online-order pickup. An older Finish Line reference to this unit does not add another shop. Hours are Monday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–8 p.m., and Sunday, noon–6 p.m.
Address: 1500 Polaris Pkwy, Suite 1102, Columbus, OH 43240
Finish Line — Tuttle Crossing
Finish Line Tuttle Crossing is a separate multibrand athletic retailer in Suite 103. It opens Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m., and Sunday, noon–6 p.m. Keep its Tuttle address distinct from JD Sports at Polaris when selecting a store for an order.
Address: 5043 Tuttle Crossing Blvd, Suite 103, Dublin, OH 43016
Running specialists beyond the Short North route
Hamilton Quarter is within Columbus. Second Sole in Gahanna and Road Runner Sports in Worthington serve neighboring municipalities, with different strengths: competition footwear at Second Sole and a technology-assisted fitting at Road Runner.
Fleet Feet — Hamilton Quarter
Fleet Feet Hamilton Quarter is the running-specialist option on North Hamilton Road. It occupies Unit C at 5792 North Hamilton Road. Contact this branch before traveling specifically for a fitting, since its current service details and appointment requirements remain unconfirmed.
Address: 5792 N Hamilton Road, Unit C, Columbus, OH 43230.
Second Sole — Gahanna
Second Sole Gahanna has served local runners since September 2001. Its range runs from daily trainers to track and cross-country spikes and carbon-plated road-racing shoes, giving it a clear competition focus. It opens Monday–Thursday, 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Friday until 6 p.m., Saturday until 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon–4 p.m.
Address: 1245 N Hamilton Rd, Gahanna, OH 43230
Road Runner Sports — Worthington
Road Runner Sports Worthington advertises a free in-store fitting without an appointment, including video gait analysis and a 3D foot scan. It covers running, walking, training and trail footwear; custom heat-molded insoles are a separate product, not a free item included with the assessment. The fitting is a retail service, not a diagnosis or a promise to prevent injury.
Address: 535 Lakeview Plaza Blvd, Worthington, OH 43085
Convenient alternatives west, north and in Whitehall
DTLR Soldano serves the west side, Hibbett Bethel the north, and KC Sports publishes a downtown address. Great Eastern SNIPES is in Whitehall, even though the retailer uses Columbus in its mailing address.
DTLR — Soldano Boulevard
DTLR Soldano combines sneakers with streetwear and boots. Its branch description names Nike, Jordan, adidas, Timberland, UGG, The North Face and PUMA. Hours are Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m., and Sunday, noon–5 p.m.
Address: 3650 Soldano Blvd, Columbus, OH 43228
Hibbett — Bethel Road
Hibbett Bethel offers athletic sneakers, running shoes and streetwear for adults and children. Alongside pickup of prepaid orders, members can reserve up to five items to try before paying in store. Hours are Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m., and Sunday, noon–6 p.m. The branch does not offer curbside pickup.
Address: 851 Bethel Rd, Columbus, OH 43214
KC Sports — Downtown / Corporate HQ
KC Sports lists 195 South High Street as its downtown store and corporate headquarters. Its published footwear mix includes Nike, Jordan, adidas and Timberland, but the release calendar is dated and does not establish current arrivals. Confirm visiting hours and current activity before making this your main downtown stop.
Address: 195 S High St, Columbus, OH 43215
SNIPES — Great Eastern Shopping Center
SNIPES Great Eastern offers sneakers, streetwear and online-order pickup in Whitehall. Its schedule is Monday–Wednesday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Thursday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m., and Sunday, noon–6 p.m.
Address: 932 S Hamilton Rd, Columbus, OH 43213
Tanger Columbus: the Sunbury-area outlet excursion
Tanger Columbus is in Berkshire Township, north of the city, with a Sunbury postal address. The four profiles below share the center at 400 South Wilson Road. Use the Tanger store directory for the center map and branch updates; an outlet location alone does not establish the lowest price.
adidas Outlet — Tanger Columbus
The adidas outlet in Suite 520 sells the brand’s athletic footwear, apparel and accessories and lists Click and Collect. Hours are Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
Address: 400 S Wilson Rd, Suite 520, Sunbury, OH 43074
ASICS Outlet — Tanger Columbus
ASICS occupies Suite 1065, with a performance-sports brief spanning running, training and court footwear. Its current weekly schedule was not confirmed, so check this branch rather than applying another outlet’s hours.
Address: 400 S Wilson Rd, Suite 1065, Sunbury, OH 43074
New Balance Factory Store — Columbus
New Balance Factory Store combines running and lifestyle footwear with apparel in Suite 1040. It accepts eligible New Balance shoes for trade-in vouchers, a different transaction from returning a purchase. Hours are Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
Address: 400 S Wilson Rd, Suite 1040, Sunbury, OH 43074
Under Armour — Tanger Columbus
Under Armour’s Factory House adds performance footwear, apparel and accessories for men, women and young athletes. A reliable current weekly schedule was not available; confirm the branch hours if this is the reason for the outlet trip.
Address: Tanger Columbus, 400 S Wilson Road, Suite 500, Sunbury, OH 43074.
Keep the route manageable
For a first sneaker-focused outing, start with Sole Classics and 614Sneaker in Short North; add CRC when running or walking fit is part of the plan. Downtown 614Sole is a separate business on South Front Street, not another name for 614Sneaker on North High Street. Add it for a specific resale comparison rather than navigating with the shared “614” alone. Heat Archive remains conditional and is not part of this route.
Choose Easton for the broadest mix of athletic, skate and designer formats in this selection. Polaris is the smaller comparison of JD Sports, Sole Stop and Lucky Shoes. Tanger is a separate outlet outing, while Gahanna and Worthington make sense for a purposeful running-store visit.
Questions about sneaker shopping
Which shoe stores should I start with for walking comfort?
CRC Short North offers free visual gait analysis without an appointment. Road Runner Worthington adds a 3D scan and video analysis to its free in-store fitting. Lucky Shoes Polaris is useful for a broader comfort-footwear comparison. None of those services establishes that a particular shoe will suit every walker.
Should I compare resale and regular retail in Short North or Polaris?
Short North gives you Sole Classics and 614Sneaker, while Polaris groups JD Sports with Sole Stop and Lucky Shoes. 614Sneaker’s final-sale policy is especially important when comparing its offer with conventional retail. Match the style code, size, condition and included box or accessories, not just the name of the model.
Are Sole Classics and Kingsrowe two stops?
The physical shop is still listed as Sole Classics at 846 North High Street. Kingsrowe is part of the ecommerce messaging; it does not establish a second Columbus store. The retailer also lists an Inglewood shop, which is outside this guide.
Is there a Nike outlet at Easton?
No. Nike Easton is the regular Nike store at 3964 Townsfair Way, with pickup and Nike Experts. Tanger Columbus is the separate regional outlet destination, in Berkshire Township rather than Easton.
Where can I compare New Balance, HOKA or On?
Lucky Shoes explicitly names those brands on its Polaris page. Second Sole’s broader running catalog also includes them, with a particular interest in training and racing footwear. For a dedicated New Balance outlet, use Tanger Suite 1040; do not confuse it with the former New Balance name at Lucky Shoes.
Do I need appointments?
CRC’s visual assessment and Road Runner Worthington’s in-store fitting do not require appointments. 614Sneaker also accepts walk-in selling and trading, though it asks for advance notice for a large collection. Golden Goose lists appointments and a personal shopper on its branch page; those services should be arranged with that store.
Where should I look for adidas and ASICS?
Zumiez Easton offers a skate-oriented multibrand comparison, while the ASICS and adidas outlets at Tanger are dedicated brand stores. Second Sole and Road Runner serve performance-running needs.
Where can I search for a collectible Jordan or Nike pair?
Sole Classics is the boutique-retail lead; 614Sneaker and 614Sole offer resale and buying/trading formats. Foot Locker Easton and JD Sports Polaris add conventional retail comparisons. For the differences between editions, the Air Jordan 1 history provides context. Heat Archive’s present operation has not been confirmed and should not anchor a rare-pair search.
Before you set out
Our sizing and fit guide can help structure a fitting. For a trip covering more than Columbus, the US sneaker-store guide explains the differences between chains, boutiques and outlets.
A quick note before you go: These photos are undated references. Stores and selections change, so check current hours and your desired pair before heading out.
