Complex- Starbury is back.
Well, not quite yet.
Yes, we talked about his first sneakers that changed his life, the Air Jordan 3s.
Because after 2025, going into 2030, were going to see a whole new breed of athletes.
Once every few months I’m reminded of a magical place called Steve & Barry’s.
Steve & Barry’s moved in where the indoor skate park used to be.
Almost certainly the largest piece of available real estate in town.
T-shirts were $5.
Sweatshirts were $10 (I think.. they may have even been less).
They had the most random colleges and universities you could imagine.
Almost every shirt and sweatshirt was the same.
But I remember one time I scored a sick $5 black Texas Longhorns t-shirt with the actual logo.
Like this but with the colors reversed.
There was also a leather jackets section.
If my memory serves me correctly, they also had jeans.
And I’m sure I’m missing some other signature Steve & Barry’s items as well.
But Steve & Barry’s was primarily about the t-shirts and sweatshirts.
Everybody in town had a collection.
Sorry I got distracted by nostalgia there for a second.
They hit the shelves of Steve & Barry’s for $15 a pair.
I can’t exactly speak for how they were received by the rest of America.
I wasn’t even on the internet enough to know what the national reaction to the Starbury was.
But in my small town of Bowling Green, they were nothing more than a punchline.
Nobody was wearing Starbury’s to school.
They were never cool.
We probably weren’t quite the demographic.
They never fully broke into the mainstream shoe market.
But now Stephon Marbury wants to bring them back.
I swear when I saw this story I was having deja vu.
Because in 2016, Stephon Marbury made this exact same announcement.
Putting food on the table was more important than owning a pair of pricey shoes.
My brand is for the people who can’t afford, and those in need."
Did that ever happen?
Did Starbury’s ever hit the market again in 2016?
Those aren’t rhetorical questions.
I’m genuinely asking.
So I’m assuming Stephon never quite got around to it.
But according to him, the re-launch is still in the works.
He plans to bless the streets with another round of affordable Starbury’s in Summer 2026.
Part of me thinks Starbury round 2 could be a hit.
But I’m not sure his desired demographic is going to be who he thinks it will.
Even kids growing up in poverty who play basketball.
They may wear Starbury’s for a time, but they won’twantto be wearing them.
But a guy like me?
A guy who doesn’t play basketball but remembers the Steve & Barry’s Era fondly.
I’d buy a pair.
They’re a fun conversation starter.
I can almost see them catching on in weird fashion circles.
Or people like ESPN analyst who think wearing loud colorful basketball shoes with their suits is a normal look.
Of course that’s all contingent on Stephon Marbury ever actually getting around to launching them.
If only he could bring Steve & Barry’s back along with them.
I know nowadays you might get everything Steve & Barry’s sold (and more) on the internet.
But it’s not the same.
There was something magical about walking into a S&B’s.
I miss it dearly.
Good luck with your shoe Stephon.
Here’s a highlight reel.
