City Gear
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Predecessor | Shelmar Retail Partners LLC |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Headquarters | Memphis, Tennessee , United States |
Area served | Central United States |
| Products | Lifestyle apparel and footwear (including Nike, Jordan, Levi's, Grindhouse) |
| Website | citygear |
City Gear is a U.S.-based retailer operating more than 130 outlets across the central United States.
Established in 1978 as Shelmar Retail Partners LLC, the company originated and was managed from Memphis, Tennessee. In the spring of 2025, City Gear merged with DTLR and Shoe Palace.
The retailer specializes in lifestyle apparel and footwear, featuring brands such as Nike, Jordan, Levi's, and Grindhouse.
Acquisitions
In recent years, City Gear has actively pursued growth through mergers and acquisitions. In 2011, it purchased the Deveroes chain, which included 14 stores located in Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Dayton, and Columbus. Within a year, City Gear expanded further by acquiring a 16-store chain primarily based in Atlanta, along with a smaller three-store chain operating in Kansas City.
Endorsements
City Gear maintains multiple endorsement agreements. One notable partnership is with The Deveroes Summer League, a basketball league held in Cincinnati. Additionally, the company supports several NBA franchises located in cities where it has retail presence. These include the Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, New Orleans Pelicans, and the Atlanta Hawks. As part of its endorsement strategy, City Gear acquired Deveroes—a Cincinnati-based retailer offering similar merchandise—enabling expansion into the Midwestern market.
Labor dispute
City Gear has faced a significant labor dispute involving several store managers who asserted that they were not compensated for overtime work. On December 11, 2012, a class-action lawsuit seeking $25 million was initiated against the company. The allegations contend that City Gear breached the wage-and-hour regulations under the FLSA by withholding rightful overtime payments from the plaintiffs and others in comparable positions. In response, City Gear's CEO stated that these accusations were "simply inaccurate." According to the managers, if they fail to record at least 45 hours in a workweek, they are reclassified as hourly employees and subsequently denied overtime pay for those hours.