A skate shoe on Mission Street, a daily trainer on Sacramento Street and a collectible on Haight call for different stops. San Francisco’s shoe stores include running specialists, secondhand shops and DSW’s broader footwear range; sneaker stores such as Nice Kicks add the boutique perspective. Start with the pair you need, then build a neighborhood route around it.
The 15 locations below are in San Francisco proper. The selection combines specialty shops with useful brand stores and mall options. It leaves out Bay Area outlet trips and does not send you to a familiar name solely because an old sneaker directory still lists it.
If your trip includes more than one city, use the U.S. sneaker-store guide to compare chains, boutiques, outlets and specialist stores before choosing each local route.
Compare the stores for your purchase
If the brief is simply a comfortable everyday pair, Stonestown lets you compare DSW’s broader footwear selection with Sports Basement’s athletic focus and Vans’ single-brand range. Haight is a different outing: Nice Kicks, FTC and 2nd STREET put boutique, skate and secondhand shopping on one street. For a fitting conversation, choose A Runner’s Mind or On The Run deliberately rather than assuming either cluster offers the same service.
Match the shop to the purchase
For sneaker boutiques, start with Nice Kicks on Haight or Valencia. FTC and DLX put skateboarding at the center of the purchase. A Runner’s Mind and On The Run are fitting-oriented alternatives; Sports Basement adds three geographically distinct locations. Nike, On and Vans are the brand-operated stops. The two 2nd STREET branches bring secondhand shopping, while DSW provides a broader footwear comparison.
Selection and verification
We checked retailer and landlord sources on October 13, 2026. Inclusion reflects a confirmed physical address, a useful shopping role and geographic coverage, rather than customer-star scores or an in-person test. This is an editorial selection, not a universal ranking. Store listings establish an operation’s advertised presence; they cannot confirm today’s shelf stock.
Sneaker boutiques and skate shops
1. Nice Kicks — Haight
Nice Kicks Haight has a documented connection to the neighborhood’s release culture. Its February 2016 store-launch announcement introduced a collaborative adidas NMD whose tie-dye design drew on local art and concert posters. That is historical context, not a suggestion that the shoe remains available. Today the branch makes a useful starting point for comparing a sneaker boutique with FTC’s skate focus and 2nd STREET’s secondhand format on the same street. The retailer’s wider catalog includes Nike, Jordan, adidas, New Balance and ASICS. Check the rules behind any planned purchase: its FAQ distinguishes online credit from credit usable in a physical store.
Address: 1420 Haight Street, San Francisco, CA 94117
Area: Haight-Ashbury
Public phone: 415-861-0353
2. Nice Kicks — Valencia
Choose the Valencia branch when the Mission is already on your route. It gives you another physical Nice Kicks option without assuming the two stores carry identical sizes or releases. The operator confirms 877 Valencia Street and the phone number; its published ZIP code conflicts with other records, so that ZIP is deliberately omitted here. Use the street address and verify any intended pickup with staff.
Address: 877 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA
Area: Mission / Valencia corridor
Public phone: 415-550-8655
3. FTC San Francisco
FTC is a reason to include actual skate culture in a San Francisco sneaker itinerary. The brand traces its beginnings to 1986, with skate equipment inside a ski-and-tennis shop. Owner Kent Uyehara’s Hoodline interview separates two later moves: Shrader in 1994 and Haight Street in 2003. FTC’s own history links the business to street-skating communities around places such as the Embarcadero and Pier 7, alongside video, art and music. Vans corroborates the current address as a dealer. The useful distinction for a visitor is the purpose of the stop: footwear belongs here to a skating practice and local history, not only to a collectible model list.
Address: 1632 Haight Street, San Francisco, CA 94117
Area: Haight-Ashbury
Public phone: 415-626-0663
4. DLX Skate Shop
DLX’s current contact page points to 2330 Mission Street. Older reopening coverage names 1831 Market Street, which is not the address used in this guide. The current online assortment includes Vans, Nike SB and adidas skate footwear alongside gear. Bring the exact model name and explain whether you will skate it: a lifestyle look and a purpose-built skate construction are not interchangeable buying criteria.
Address: 2330 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
Area: Mission District
Public phone: 415-626-5588
Brand stores: Nike and On
5. Nike San Francisco
Nike’s official Post Street store is the straightforward Union Square option when you want to stay within the brand. Its location page lists order pickup, making a confirmed reservation or completed pickup order more useful than a general website search. Wait for the ready notification. If you are comparing basketball or running models, ask for the relevant performance category rather than assuming every familiar silhouette serves that purpose.
Address: 278 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94108
Area: Union Square / Post Street
Public phone: 415-392-6453
Official page and location
6. On Store San Francisco Chestnut Street
On’s Chestnut Street store puts a brand-operated option in the Marina. The company’s opening announcement identified July 30, 2026, and the current store page describes running, outdoor and everyday uses. Come with a use case, not just the word Cloud: a training shoe and an everyday pair can answer different needs. This shop is separate from On The Run, the independent retailer on 9th Avenue.
Address: 2061 Chestnut Street, San Francisco, CA 94123
Area: Marina District
Running, fit and broader athletic footwear
7. A Runner’s Mind — San Francisco
For a running-shoe purchase built around fit, A Runner’s Mind offers gait analysis at its Sacramento Street location. Its stated policy is first-come, first-served, with no appointments accepted. Allow time rather than squeezing the fitting between fixed plans. Bring your usual socks and explain the running you expect to do; fitting advice in a shop should not be treated as a diagnosis for pain or injury.
Address: 3575 Sacramento Street, San Francisco, CA 94118
Area: Sacramento Street / Presidio Heights
Public phone: 415-800-7575
8. On The Run
On The Run focuses on athletic and comfort footwear, fitting and support products in the Inner Sunset. It is worth considering when your main question is how a shoe fits rather than which release is getting attention. The name does not identify an On-brand store. If inserts are part of the conversation, ask how they change the fit of the particular shoe and avoid treating retail claims as medical guidance.
Address: 1310 9th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94122
Area: Inner Sunset
Public phone: 415-682-2042
9. Sports Basement — Presidio
The Presidio branch occupies a former Army commissary, with the operator documenting its move into the building in 2003. It is the Sports Basement to consider for a north-side itinerary. The chain’s running selection spans road and trail categories, so narrow the purpose before comparing brands. Check the Presidio’s own inventory or pickup availability instead of assuming an online listing is stocked at every location.
Address: 610 Old Mason Street, San Francisco, CA 94129
Area: Presidio / Crissy Field area
Public phone: 415-934-2900
10. Sports Basement — Bryant Street
Bryant Street offers a different setting: a former brewery converted into a five-story store. Pick this branch when it fits your route around Bryant and 15th rather than crossing town simply to visit the Presidio location. Its value in this guide is access to an athletic and outdoor assortment, not a claim of exclusive sneakers. Confirm the relevant department or service if you are making a special trip.
Address: 1590 Bryant Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Area: Bryant Street at 15th
Public phone: 415-575-3001
11. Sports Basement — Stonestown
Sports Basement’s Stonestown branch is the chain’s first mall location, according to its own history. That makes it useful for comparing performance footwear against the other formats in the same shopping center. You can keep running and outdoor requirements central here, then look at a brand store, a broad shoe retailer or secondhand stock elsewhere in the mall. Do not mistake mall convenience for outlet pricing.
Address: 3251 20th Avenue, Suite 390, San Francisco, CA 94132
Area: Stonestown Galleria
Public phone: 415-934-2922
Secondhand pairs and Stonestown comparisons
12. 2nd STREET — Haight St
Secondhand shopping changes the questions you should ask. At the Haight branch of 2nd STREET, inspect condition, sole wear, lining and what accompanies the pair rather than expecting a complete size run. The company’s local-store profile highlights designer and streetwear shopping. If you also plan to sell items, its locator says buying ends one hour before the store closes; shopping hours alone do not tell the whole story.
Address: 1560 Haight Street, San Francisco, CA 94117
Area: Haight-Ashbury
Public phone: 415-651-7596
13. 2nd STREET — Stonestown Galleria
The Stonestown 2nd STREET is a separate physical shop in Suite 266. It is useful as the secondhand component of a mall trip, without a separate visit to Haight. Inventory is item-specific and should not be assumed to match the other branch. Before buying a collectible, clarify condition, the retailer’s authentication policy and the return terms for that exact item, especially when you will soon leave town.
Address: 3251 20th Avenue, Suite 266, San Francisco, CA 94132
Area: Stonestown Galleria
Public phone: 415-963-4886
14. DSW — Stonestown
DSW is the broad footwear stop, with sneakers among its categories rather than a focus on limited releases. Its official local page lists Nike, adidas, New Balance and Converse and supports store pickup. Use that tool to establish local availability, then wait for a ready email. A low marked price is only useful if the size and fit work; final-sale restrictions deserve a separate check.
Address: 3251 20th Avenue, Suite 345, San Francisco, CA 94132
Area: Stonestown Galleria
Public phone: 628-303-1206
15. Vans — Stonestown Galleria
The Vans store gives Stonestown a brand-operated skate-and-lifestyle option. It serves a different purpose from browsing multiple brands at FTC or DLX: you can focus the fitting and comparison on Vans. Ask which construction you are trying, particularly if you need the pair for skating. Similar-looking casual and skate-oriented versions can make a label check more useful than selecting by color alone.
Address: 3251 20th Avenue, Space 151, San Francisco, CA 94132
Area: Stonestown Galleria
Public phone: 415-523-0802
Build a route around one priority
A compact sneaker-and-skate browse: Haight puts Nice Kicks, 2nd STREET and FTC on one street. These are three different formats, so there is a reason to visit more than one without expecting identical stock.
A Mission-focused trip: use Nice Kicks on Valencia and DLX on Mission Street. Sports Basement on Bryant can be an additional athletic-footwear stop, but check actual directions before treating it as a quick continuation.
A mall comparison: Stonestown contains Sports Basement, DSW, Vans and 2nd STREET. Use the current center map; suite numbers and a shared street address do not establish the floor or entrance. You do not need to visit all three Sports Basement branches unless a particular size justifies it.
Before you pay
Compare the exact model, size system and item condition. Ask whether a markdown or release is final sale. At resale and secondhand stores, inspect the pair you will actually receive and ask what the written authenticity policy covers. A shop’s reputation is not a substitute for knowing its remedy if a problem appears.
The 90Sneakers shoe-sizing and fit guide helps frame the fitting questions. Our explanation of legit checks is useful when shopping outside a brand’s own retail channel. For a broader way to compare purchases, use the buying guide.
Why some familiar names are missing
We did not count UNDEFEATED or BAIT as currently verified SF stops. The current UNDEFEATED location list omits the city, while BAIT’s historical address has conflicting evidence. The Darkside Initiative’s homepage and contact page disagree about temporary closures at Powell and Valencia. Confirm those branches directly before building a trip around them. None is quietly counted toward the 15-store selection.
Questions that change the itinerary
Which San Francisco shoe stores should I compare for everyday wear?
At Stonestown, start with DSW for broader footwear, then compare Sports Basement if athletic use matters or Vans if that brand is your priority. For athletic and comfort footwear with fitting as the focus, On The Run in the Inner Sunset offers a different kind of visit.
Should I choose Haight or Stonestown for sneaker shopping?
Haight suits a boutique-and-skate browse with Nice Kicks and FTC, plus secondhand shopping at 2nd STREET. Stonestown combines broader shoes, athletic footwear, Vans and another 2nd STREET branch. Choose by the formats you want to compare, rather than expecting the two areas to carry the same pairs.
Where should I look for a specific Jordan release?
Start by asking Nice Kicks for the model code and your size, and check the official Nike store as relevant. A retailer carrying Jordan does not establish that it has a particular Retro, collaboration or performance model.
Are these stores all inside San Francisco?
Yes. Bay Area outlets and shops in Oakland, Milpitas or the peninsula are outside this selection. Plan those as separate destinations.
Can I book a fitting at A Runner’s Mind?
The San Francisco page says gait analysis is first-come, first-served and that appointments are not accepted. Check again before arranging a time-sensitive visit.
Is On The Run the new On store?
No. On’s own store is at 2061 Chestnut Street. On The Run is an independent retailer at 1310 9th Avenue.
Is an outlet trip necessary to compare affordable pairs?
No particular trip guarantees savings. Check local sale terms and compare the same shoe before adding transportation costs. The 15 shops here provide different formats within the city; none is ranked as universally cheapest.
The useful stopping point
Pick one main purchase, choose the neighborhood that serves it and verify the few details that could waste the trip: current opening, exact size, release rules and return eligibility. That approach is more useful than visiting every recognizable logo on an old directory.
Supporting sources
- Nice Kicks FAQ
- Vans official FTC dealer page
- FTC US storefront
- DLX current footwear catalog
- On official California expansion announcement
- On The Run fitting approach
- On The Run orthotic products
- 2nd STREET Haight store profile
- 2nd STREET US categories
- Stonestown landlord directory: 2nd Street
- Stonestown landlord directory: DSW
- Nice Kicks — Haight history
- FTC owner interview: location chronology
