I've got a confession to make; before we opened Shibe Sports in 2014, I did not really know the difference between a good shirt and a bad one, I just bought whichever one was on sale. Boy did I have a lot to learn.
The education came quickly. The first shirts we ordered were by a cheaper brand and they weren't very comfortable. Neither Brian nor myself felt good about selling a crappy product, so we looked into higher quality tees. We started ordering Next Level and Bella Canvas tees, and soon noticed customers all saying the same thing, "These shirts are EXTREMELY comfortable." We were on to something.
Another lesson that I learned took a bit longer...that these shirts weren't just comfortable, but they lasted a long time. Like, a really long time, years longer than the parking lot tees I had bought before opening Shibe. I've got shirts in my wardrobe from the first year we opened, and they still look and feel the exact same they did in 2014.
One thing we DID know when we opened: we believed in keeping things local, and in being not just a store but part of the community. Our first screenprinter, Alex, operated out of his South Philly basement. We've spent as much time talking to our Chief Artist, Keni, about the Eagles QB situation as we have about t-shirt design. Our brand ambassador, Reef, has lived here his entire life. We've raised thousands of dollars through the years for local youth sports programs like the South Philly Sharks and Anderson Monarchs.
So when you purchase a shirt from us, you're not just buying a t-shirt, you're buying into Philadelphia. It's a responsibility we take seriously, and in the spirit of the town we call home, it's one we work hard to earn.
Thank you for your patronage, and thank you for supporting not just us but the city of Philadelphia.
Sincerely, 
Johnny Goodtimes
Co-owner, Shibe Vintage Sports
