First, let me start by saying that this review is based on the boutique and not the brand itself. You have to get buzzed in before entering which has a cool feeling to it. Alot of people are complaining about the customer service, but it's a Streetwear brand that sells apparel and rare sneakers located in the LES....get real. If anything, it's true to the New York spirit. Guy behind the counter keeps getting flustered because you keep asking prices (most sneakers don't have price tags here) then it is what it is. If you want customer service, go to Foot Locker. Although I've never attended, I do know that they throw some pretty dope events as well. read more

Not a huge fan of Alife the brand, but I'll always have good memories of this place. Found it on my third try after dim sum at Joe Shanghai's in nearby Chinatown. The day I went, they opened up the back and had a sample sale going on. The store itself is small, with the merchandise lovingly displayed on the left wall and a wood grained interior with benches. They stock limited edition AF1s, Air Max, Dunks, Jordans, and Vans. read more

I guess when I was a shoehead I would have appreciate this place more. Another typical sneaker boutique that don't say hi/hello/good bye...cool ring the doorbell to give you the whole club and exclusive feel, but wares out very fast once you enter the shop.....as much as I love the brand I wasn't too impressed with their shop. read more

I thought this place was going to be much more awesome than it was. The selection was small and I didn't see prices on anything. I must say I do love the Alife sweatshirts that feel like the old school college sweats. They are thick and heavy and come in cool colors. I don't think I would go back here unless I struck it rich, because I know they stuff is really expensive and I feel like I should buy something when I go in. They have a separate store for shoes next door, which I did not venture into, it probably was pretty sweet. read more

I'm a sneaker person- meaning I wear sneakers all the time, unless I'm forced to do otherwise. But usually, I'm good with a pair of Saucony or Converse sneaks. Seriously, sneakers are made for easy walking...so what the heck is this fancy sneakers business? Wtf. A bit of a condescension in this place. Esp. if you walk in, not knowing the history of each and every pair of sneaker. read more

Like the store concept but wasn't really impressed with the selection, etc. Based on all of the stuff I read, I wasn't really sure what all the hype was about with this place and after visiting, I still can't figure it out. If you've never been before, it's worth checking out -- the decor/interior are great, but if you're looking for a friendly staff and great selection of kicks, etc., I would go to Goliath RF. read more

If dope kicks are your stiggy and you got the trust fund or hustle to match, come here to get your wheelz rollin' : Godfather style. Otherwise you'll probably think this is one of the most retarded places alife...I mean, alive. www.alifenyc.com read more

YES! Got a sick pair of shoes for half off normal price and it was a pretty sweet deal. I'm no expert but my friend is, and he was totally ogling the sneaker selection. I'll be back. read more

Really cool atmosphere that is worth checking out. The shoe selection is limited and are pricey, but that is what you would expect from a high end sneaker boutique in NYC. read more

Alife - Shoe Stores Near Me - New York, New York

I can understand a lot of the hate re:Alife Rivington Club, because yes they are incredibly pretentious. But if you know your sneakers and know what you're looking for, they can be really helpful and sometimes even friendly. The selection is good, but you know this is NYC and Alife is not exactly a secret, so a lot of the really great stuff does sell out. That's what happens when something is limited edition. But like anything, its all about timing. And Alife is always one of the first spots in town to get those limited, quickstrike kicks. read more

first time i have ever been to a store where i needed to be buzzed in. i am from seattle sorry i love this store the guy working was super friendly and helpful we talked for like 15 just about music and fashion and whatever. i think we talked about pc vs mac cuz his ipod was acting up. selection was huge for a smaller high end fashion company they had more of their own clothes than some boutiques have of like 12 brands. if that makes sense. prices are a little steep but cmon its ALIFE its a staple in the urban fashion scene and hopefully we will never see it in the malls. read more

Exclusive store: tiny and if you don't know it's there you may walk past it. Ring the bell and enter a world of rare sneakers, Alife brand clothing and have a nice chat with a fellow prince fan..got hot sear sucker Nikes here in 2008 read more

I remember I walked pat this place about 14 times before I finally found it. I hate the location (lower east side is a pain in the ass for me + kind of dicey) but the store is worth it. When I went in I did not know much about sneakers, but I did know that Q-Tip has a ALIFE shirt, so I had to get it. The store is rather cramped and I thought it was closed when I had to be buzzed in, but the people who work there are nice. The shirt selection and shoes are fantastic! read more

This is one of the best sneaker stores in the city. Classic looks and great quality are its recipe for success. They make their own kicks, this store doesn't sell Nikes. If you're lucky you can pick up some old styles at their sales but the good stuff usually sells out fast. read more

To me this place is less about the sneakers and more about the experience. The entrance is almost camouflaged -- if you didn't know what you were looking for you could walk right by it and never be the wiser. Hell, I KNEW what I was looking for and I passed it by...three times. The inside is furnished like some kind of gentlemen's sports club, with wood paneling, custom lighting, a reception area, wall furnishings -- the works. My favorite part is the large back patio, where they host occasional events (the daily parties during the World Cup were amazing and drew in some serious sports fans from all around the world). Alife's Rivington Club represents one of the things I like most about New York City: people's innovative use of limited space. You never really know what might be hidden behind a building's shoddy facade! For shoe connoisseurs, sports lovers, or people just looking for a good time, definitely check this place out if you're in the neighborhood. read more

No need to write a long review to say what can be said in only a few words: This place is the best of the best!!!!!

I love the ALIFE. You gotta know where you're going or you could easily miss it. You have to be buzzed in, and once you're inside you won't be disappointed if you like your exclusive kicks. The floor is covered in wall to wall carpeting and an elegant chandelier hangs overhead. On the left wall is a glass case of the hottest quick strike Nikes on the planet. Yes, I can see how some of the other reviewers find the vibe a bit pretentious, but what do you expect. That's kind of the point. It helps if you know a thing or two about kicks so the staff doesn't look down on you. Wear some hot shit goin in there and you may even get a compliment from the cute girl working the register. The prices are VERY reasonable. Everything is sold for Nike's suggested retail price. The thing is, the selection sells out fast, and sometimes you can find the very same kicks in one of the ghetto LES stores on Houston if they've run out at ALIFE. read more

I came with my son to New York for the March break. I went to the store twice but it was closed. The sign is still on the building but a neighbor said Alife is no longer there. I called the phone number and was informed that it was temporarily disconnected. I called the store in Vancouver and was told that they thought the store in New York was closed temporarily for renovations. If that is the case would a simple sign on the building have been too much to ask for. This is no way to run a business. read more

Elitist Sneaker Boutique. This is where the sneaker snobs come to turn their noses up at a select display of about 30 pairs of carefully chosen kicks. Unless you know where you are going, you will have a hard time finding this place. It's very hidden nondescript from the sidewalk..and that's how they like it. You enter through huge cherry wood doors into a small room that resembles a wealthy man's walk in closet. The red carpet, the brass library ladder that swivels around the perimeter of the room to help the staff pull sizes down from above, everything is old school and somewhat opulant. You will find 'hard to find' retro Adidas, Nike, and limited editions of the same. The guys that work here are a cross breed of skateboarding, hip hop heads that also follow the punk rock scene. They also have a bit of an elitist attitude, which is kind of ironic, considering these are the same dudes who quite often get snubbed in other high end boutique situations. Regardless, this place has cool factor, and they have found their niche, so I say good for them. read more

sneakerheads, your stairway to heaven has arrived!

yo, you got them bright orange joints in an 11? the best sneaker store in the country.

i cant believe i spent so much time trying to find this store last year while in nyc....every shoe they had in the store i had already,and the employees were mad rude you walk in and it like you have to fined sizes yourself, its like you have to be famous for them to speak...and lets talk about location, its like hid between two buildings and if you walk to fast you'll miss it.... read more

I went for their courtyard sale recently. I should've known what I was in store for when I had to wait in line for about a half hour to get in. Once I got into the back, there were shoe boxes lined up all along the perimeter of the yard sorted by size. TOns of shoe boxes. Yet nearly every pair in my size was ugly. I did manage to score two dope pairs of shoes for half price, but only after I spent about 30-40 minutes going through every box trying to find a pair that didn't look like a pink elephant hadn't vomited on them. read more

Pretty good place to find the limited AF1s, etc. I guess you need to hit it regularly or else finding your size is a hassle - limited runs, mean limited sizes. Oh, and their collabs lately have been bunk! Always came away with finding something to buy though. Concept is pretty cool, but as far as being touted as the best sneaker spot in the world...I prefer Bodega. read more

Decent selection of sneakers, always come through with sick designs on their tee's but that whole movement is not so much my style anymore. Tees can be a bit over priced, none the less a classic NYC store. I always pass by if im in the LES. read more

Different type of sneaker store...boutique style. Expensive, but they have a few nice exclusive items. They stock mostly their own brand which was along the same vein as Vans. read more