TRACY, Calif. — A Tracy sneaker enthusiast is making a name for himself by turning a business he started in his garage into an online success.
If it’s got a sole and laces, chances are Jorge Cornejo can find it.
“All the Jordans, all the Nikes, everything. You name it, we have it,” said Cornejo.
He’s the CEO of sneaker reselling business Raw Kickz 209.
"We deal with a lot of the hyped and new released sneakers,” said Cornejo. "Jordan models are like hottest shoes right now. We have all the Jordans you can think of.”
He even gets his hands on some of them before they drop. It’s more than just a job for him; it’s a passion.
"I've always loved sneakers even when I couldn't afford them,” he said.
He turned his hobby to a business in 2018, working out of his garage with his friend and co-owner Daniel.
"I just got tired of not being able to get shoes, just like everybody else. Some of these shoes sell out immediately or in seconds or in minutes, and it's very hard to get these shoes so I'm like man, I need to start doing something to be able to afford my habit of sneakers, so it kind of turned into this thing where we just built out,” said Cornejo.
Now, in 2023, he's making a name for himself by working with celebrities like pro basketball player Draymond Green from the Golden State Warriors and country singer Kane Brown.
"It's been a dream come true to be honest with you. I never really thought it was going to turn into something like this,” he said. “It's just recently that it's blown up like crazy, but before it was just me answering DMs like I was selling cookies online."
As for his most coveted pair of kicks?
"My Jordan 1 Chicagos from 1985. The leather is from 1985. They're original Michael Jordan shoes, and I actually traded a PS5 for it so it kind of worked out in my favor,” he said.
They went for $65 back in the day and now sell for as much as $40,000 online. As his business grows, he remembers to keep one foot rooted in his community.
"The 209 is a big part of my life,” he said. "I've been speaking at schools, talking to kids and just letting them know, 'Hey, it doesn't have to be sneakers. It can be anything you want it to be, but you have to consistently work to get there.'”
Cornejo has acquired and sold thousands of sneakers. You can find more information about Raw Kickz 209 here.
WATCH MORE ON ABC10: Meet the Tracy High School Bulldogs
