Shinola's Creative Director: I Want a San Francisco Store

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Twenty years ago, Steven Alan opened a store in downtown Manhattan. And now, twenty-two stores later, Steven Alan (the man himself) hit the road with creative director at Shinola (a watch, bicycle and leather goods brand out of Detroit) Daniel Caudill, and A Continuous Lean's Michael Williams to visit eight cities and to celebrate the anniversary of that first NYC store. San Francisco was the second stop, and we checked in to toast the retailer's milestone and to learn more about Shinola, the Detroit-based brand that popped up at The Station earlier this year.

Caudill told us Shinola is all about skill at scale, the preservation of craft, and the beauty of industry. In a time when manufacturing is leaving Detroit, Shinola is committed to keeping it there. The brand's modern, handcrafted goods are built to last. It's just the type of brand and principles that align well with the Bay Area. Read on for what Caudill had to say about Shinola's future plans.

What is San Francisco style to Shinola?
Caudill: "Well I think that San Francisco style is classic, a little bit more relaxed and comfortable. I think that's why the brand resonates so well with consumers here. Our consumer wants a product that has great material and construction methods that will last for years."

Does Shinola plan to open a brick and mortar here?
Caudill: "We are looking to open [in] San Francisco as soon as we can identify the right area."

What new products are on the horizon?
Caudill: "There are a lot of exciting things that we're working on. We just opened our own leather factory in Detroit [last] week where we will start with watch straps and then begin manufacturing small leather goods and handbags. It's super cool to see the brand build a really strong manufacturing base that can make quality product and ultimately create jobs."

Steven, are there any plans to open another outpost/outlet in SF?
Alan: "We are very happy with our two locations in San Francisco and have no plans to open additional stores at this time."
· Shinola [Official Site]
· Steven Alan [Official Site]
· Bicycle Brand Shinola Pops Up Inside The Station SF [Racked SF]