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GREENWOOD Dist.–Four years after opening the acclaimed Silhouette Sneakers and Art, founder Venita Cooper is turning over the keys.
Cooper, a self-proclaimed sneakerhead, launched the store hoping to carve out a space for sneaker lovers in the city. Silhouette quickly became that and so much more. From Sneaker Soirees, to community outreach, to becoming a mainstay on historic Greenwood, Cooper’s store has already made an indelible mark on Tulsa.
Now, the store that sits on the footprint of Black Wall Street’s Grier Shoe Shop, will be owned by a third generation Tulsa.
Kellen James, the new owner of Silhouette, also serves the city as a firefighter and EMT. In a statement posted to Silhouette’s Instagram page, James says he is “grateful for this opportunity.”
“It’s important to me to be the one to take Silhouette into the future,” James said. “I’m passionate about this community and excited about building on Silhouette’s commitment to this city.”
Cooper shared a similar sentiment in her statement about James, writing she is “excited to share the news of Silhouette’s acquisition by my friend and fellow sneakerhead.”
“Kellen and his family have long dreamt of owning a business on Black Wall Street,” Cooper goes on to say, “and I’m honored to play a part in turning that dream into reality.”
Cooper launches new tech venture set to change the sneaker industry
Even as she moves on from Silhouette, Cooper is far from finished building on the legacy of Greenwood.
The nationally celebrated entrepreneur is leaping head-first into a new venture called Arbit.
Arbit is an AI-powered app that helps sneaker buyers get the fairest prices for their purchases. Currently, anyone looking for a unique pair of sneakers has to search multiple sites to find the best deal. Now, with Arbit, all they need is one single app.
Much like Silhouette, Arbit makes navigating the world of sneakers easier for hard-core sneakerheads and budding sneaker lovers alike.
Cooper has already secured more than $1 million in investments to launch the project. And now, with the sale of Silhouette, she will be able to focus on the venture full time.
In her statement announcing the change in ownership, Cooper emphasized her gratitude for the last four years.
“Thank you to the Silhouette community for creating something special with me,” she wrote. “I love you and I can’t wait to shop alongside you at the best sneaker shop in town: Silhouette Sneakers & Art.”