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The Men Behind the Eastbay Catalog | Art & Rick Tell Their Story

By Nick Engvall·April 20, 2026·2 min read

If you grew up flipping through the Eastbay catalog, this one’s for you.

Mike sits down with Art and Rick, the two men behind one of the most beloved institutions in sneaker and athletic culture. Born two days apart in the same hospital, lifelong friends, and eventual business partners… their story is one of those rare ones that almost sounds made up. They break down how a simple idea rooted in getting the best athletic footwear to young athletes turned into a cultural phenomenon that shaped how a generation discovered sneakers. They also talk about their new book, The Book of Eastbay, which chronicles the whole journey… and yes, the proceeds go to childhood cancer research through the Little Water Foundation. Check out the book and read the prologue at bookofeastbay.com.

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Written by
Nick Engvall
Nick Engvall has worked in sneaker culture professionally since 2007. He built the original Eastbay Blog during his time at Sole Collector, led Complex’s first dedicated sneaker team, launched the first UGC and seeding programs at Finish Line, was employee number nine at StockX, and served as Senior Director at Stadium Goods. He hosts the Sneaker History podcast, with more than 600,000 downloads, and is the author of Small Luxuries: Sneakers, out in 2026 from Motorbooks.
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