Supreme’s first store was in SoHo, the Manhattan neighborhood where the brand began.
James Jebbia opened the shop at 274 Lafayette Street in 1994. SoHo was already known for cast-iron architecture, galleries, boutiques, and a strong downtown cultural identity, making it a fitting setting for a skate shop with ambitions beyond ordinary sports retail.
The store’s location helped connect Supreme with New York’s skateboarding, art, music, and fashion communities. Its physical design also reflected skate culture: the shop was arranged so skateboarders could ride inside.
The neighborhood is sometimes described broadly as “downtown Manhattan,” but SoHo is the more specific answer. Williamsburg, Harlem, and Tribeca are also well-known New York neighborhoods, but none was home to Supreme’s original Lafayette Street shop.