“I always wanted a store,” Derrick Williams the new co-owner said as people were cycling throughout his new VII Grand Premium Streetwear & Sneakers, 178 E. Broadway. The store opened on Feb. 15, but the buzz and excitement had to wait for Williams as it usually does. “Coming back to Tucson,” Williams said,” fans love me here.” There was a DJ playing hip hop as hundreds of people finally had a chance to get an autograph and picture with their favorite Wildcats Solomon Hill, Kevin Parrom, and Derrick Williams. The store is filled with hats, shirts, sweaters, socks and even plan on adding sneakers in “early summer.”
Around a hundred people from senior citizens to babies waited outside in the cold until nearly 9:00 pm to get a chance to have a picture with Williams. The flyer said they would arrive at 8, but who expects professional athletes to be on time? Nearly no one left the line as the temperature dropped and the sun set.
Also in attendance were fellow Minnesota Timberwolves Ricky Rubio, Greg Steimsma, and J.J. Barea. The Williams brand essentially consist of 3 themes, “IMKING”, “Seven Grand”, and “RAW”, a very basketball and hip hop brand that describes Williams game and style. It’s a nice addition to the downtown area where Williams said he spent a lot of time, “always over here, better spot [for the store].” He wanted the store isolated and separated from something like a shopping mall where every store is compact.
The interior is spacious with a few islands in the middle for sitting, a huge flat screen weds the wall with high definition ESPN; the rest of the brick walls are lit up with posters with the likes of Michael Jordan, Deion Sanders, and Ice Cube.
Derrick commented on the lack of visits to Tucson from the NBA Wildcats saying, “It’s tough for all the guys to come back, especially during the NBA season.” He also mentioned, “It [store] wasn’t too much [money], it’s not about money, it’s about the kids getting what they want.”
Williams also has high hopes for this year’s University of Arizona basketball team, “They can make a run like we did,” he said, “Good freshmen, leadership.” He also added a little encouragement for the freshmen, “you struggle as freshmen, but it’s about how you respond.”
The store is a great addition to revitalizing a downtown area that for too long has been all tumble weeds. The connection between Tucson and Derrick Williams now has a building to keep the tradition alive. “Not too many stores like this,” Williams added as the special event came to a close.