A Sneaker City, based in Albany, New York, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Friday, July 10 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of New York over a dispute with landlords. 

According to court papers obtained by SGB Executive, A Sneaker City now reportedly operates only one store in Albany and the asneakercity.com website after recently closing several locations. The retailer also offers trade and sale options. 

Brandon Gutierrez, president, A Sneaker City Albany, Inc., said in filing that the company began operations in September 2021, selling sneakers, apparel and accessories. A Sneaker City Albany had multiple corporate entities and, at one point, operated 16 ‘A Sneaker City’ locations across the U.S. As part of multiple lease agreements, A Sneaker City Albany served as a corporate guarantor. 

“Most of those related entities have since failed, and many of the landlords commenced action against the debtor for its corporate guarantee,” wrote Gutierrez. “Debtor is now cash flow positive and believes it can keep its ongoing expenses current and formulate a plan of repayment that satisfies liquidation value, pays priority claims in full, and allows the debtor to continue operating.” 

Former landlords at Concord Mills, Newport Centre, Grapevine Mills Mall, and Woodfield Mall had sued A Sneaker City Albany prior to the bankruptcy filing. 

Sales increased from $392,000 in 2024 to $479,000 in 2025 but have since fallen to $162,000 to date in 2026, reportedly due to store closings. The filing lists seven “affiliated ‘A Sneaker City’ store entities,” including locations in Charlotte, Chicago, Dadeland, Dallas and Newport, all marked as “defunct,” plus locations in Houston and Tampa marked as “Related Entity,” all sharing the Albany address, each tied to a mall-landlord creditor.” 

The filing lists liabilities of $2.38 million and assets of $47,600. 

Most of the largest unsecured claims are held by landlords, including Roosevelt Field, Garden City, NY, owed $970,657 (listed as dispute); Mall at Concord Mills, Concord, NC, $606,200; Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, IL, $256,299; Mall of Georgia, Buford, GA, $168,251; Newport Centre, Jersey City, NJ, $111,755; Grapevine Mills Mall, Grapevine, TX, $92,701; Florida Mall, Orlando, FL; $66,518; Sawgrass Mills, Fort Lauderdale, FL, $43,542, and Dadeland Mall in Miami, FL, $35,731. 

Image courtesy A Sneaker City