DETROIT — A red ribbon-cutting marked the grand opening for the Two18 store, an extension of the iconic Burn Rubber Sneaker Boutique brand in Royal Oak. Customers lined the entry way in anticipation of the business debut.
“I came out to get shoes,” said Charles Jones, one of the first customers inside the new retail. “I came out to support a Black-owned business.”
The new shop by rapper and entrepreneur Roland ‘Ro Spit’ Coit, owner of Burn Rubber Boutique and Two18, is an investment in Detroit. The new clothing and fashion apparel will anchor the corner of Brush St. and Fisher freeway in Eastern Market.
“We’re a Black-owned business but we do good business,” said Coit. “It’s all about growth.”
Two18 is the culmination of fifteen years of growth, hard work and dedication. Continuing the legacy of the Burn Rubber brand, Two18 will feature a similar concept as its predecessor but will usher in a new era. Featuring a new look, Two18 brings a fresh approach to fashion.
“We’re looking forward, looking into the future. What you know about Burn Rubber, we’re leaving that as nostalgia for our customers and supporters. We’re looking to move forward with new branding, which is the Two18 branding,” said Coit.
The Two18 grand opening weekend was marked by a special Spirit of Detroit recognition. “I believe the future of our city is going to be driven by small businesses,” said Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield. “We welcome this new addition to the community and are excited to witness its success in our neighborhood.”
From caps to jackets or sweaters, to the coolest of sneakers the thriving businessman is hoping his vision and work ethic inspires others.
“Being from Pontiac and growing up not having a business background, and getting to this point where I’m finding myself through this world. It gives the next young kid, black or white, it gives them hope.”
Two18 promises to maintain the integrity, appeal and prestige shaped by Burn Rubber while creating its own identity. The name Two18 carries a special meaning as it is derived from the shorthand of Burn Rubber or BR, the second and eighteenth letter of the alphabet respectively.
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