Supreme — Local services in New York

Let's just say I had the lowest expectations going in to the first in store drop. After not getting a line number for Thursday and having already made travel arrangements I almost cancelled my trip and chalked it up as a loss. I went to Williamsburg anyway and I'm glad I did. I still did not get in the store Thursday but neither did many people that still had line reservations numbers. I caught wind of a first come first serve line forming around 3 pm on Friday and immediately found the location and made my way there. Two lines were formed: one with barricades and one without. I tried going into the barricaded line as I thought that was FCFS but immediately got chastised by a security guard and told me to go away. I then learned that the other line across the street where random people were huddled in a group was the fcfs queue. About 3:45 they (security) lined us up single file and randomly chose people to go in the store. I ended up getting spot 42 and was elated. I queued up until I was given the opportunity to shop. It was cold, windy, rainy but WORTH IT! I wasn't able to get everything on my list but did get a decent portion of it. The staff wasn't congenial but they were helpful and efficient. I gave my phone to an employee and he took it behind the huge bowl and packed a clear plastic bin up with all my items. The security in the store was easy and pleasant to talk to while waiting to check out. Jeff Pang, store manager and skating legend, stopped by to say hi and to thank people for waiting and shopping. It was a nice touch as you read so many reviews of people getting the cold shoulder in the store that is very off-putting. While checking out the associate scanning my items even complimented me on my selections as his gear he was rocking was exactly the same that I chose! The associate working on cash register was very pleasant and thanked me for coming in. I walked out of the store grateful that I made the journey to Brooklyn. I checked out at 5:41 Friday night and haven't looked back since. Jeff and crew, thank you so much for helping me out and for the positive experience. I look forward to doing it again...

• updated review - I must have caught them at a bad time ... I've been back two more times for in-store releases and each time was a completely professional and positive experience and I think I actually like how they're handling things now ... shout out to Jefferson for his Ritz-Carlton management style approach to efficient service *

Brand is luxury now and I applaud them, they've been 'it' for awhile and its a cool combo of design, marketing, art, skate, hip hop, etc. Don't always have something you want, but usually have a great cut and sew piece in store cause the hypebeasts don't really get fashion. Supreme's cut and sew is office job good.

I've been to Lafayette Street, Fairfax Avenue, and now Grand Street. It is what it is inside a Supreme shop, better look online and check out the 'rules' - kinda like the 'Soup Nazi' had rules. Both are artists with in demand, limited product that is exceptional. So if you come correct, you'll find folks there to be pretty cool.

Now, the new thing is enhanced security every day of the week, right down to having NYPD. Luckily, I had the foresight to ask if I could take a picture of the storefront, it had a Santa Claus and 'Seasons Greetings'. Paid private security said no and so did the NYPD - and I was standing on the sidewalk outside.

If I didn't ask, then I think I was getting arrested or at a minimum spend time speaking to law enforcement. A store employee came outside, asked what's up, was told the situation and said yes, he can take a picture, just not on Thursdays - that's new release day.

Everyone, cop included, were respectful. Remember, show respect and you'll likely get respect. But not being able to take a picture of a storefront from a sidewalk - UNAMERICAN, maybe unconstitutional ... And for that, Supreme Brooklyn gets a score of 'ummm a have you lost...

If I could rate this store a negative I would - it was hands down the worst retail experience I have ever had. Our two teenagers wanted to visit this store in Brooklyn. We queued for about 30 minutes with about 12 other people, despite the store being virtually empty. When we were at the head of the queue (and there were 3 people behind us), the security guard instructed us to form 2 lines and he virtually measured us to ensure we were lined up to his satisfaction. What this achieved (apart from giving him a power trip) one will never know. Once inside the service got worse. I was told off for touching a folded piece of clothing. We were being watched by a sales assistant standing on a chair. My son wanted to try something on and I had to be ok'd by security before I could follow him to the change room. We took the item to the counter to buy (an over priced made in china t-shirt for US$79) and were told off because you aren't meant to take the item to the counter. You are meant to ask for your size. The sales assistant told us we had to take the item back and hang it up. He then realised that was the only item in stock so he got it back from the rack and begrudgingly sold it to us. This is not an aspirational brand and they are not selling a retail experience. It is just average overpriced clothing being sold by people who don't realise that without customers they...