When shopping for premium brand athletic wear and shoes, you might not put "feeling a sense of community" or "joining a game of pool with friends" on your shopping list. But a new location of Centre in Dallas' Bishop Arts aims to make customers feel like they can accomplish both.

Centre's third retail store opened June 25 at 250 N. Bishop Ave., Ste. 140.

The company's flagship store in Mockingbird Station has been open for 16 years, and a Fort Worth location followed in 2019. Devoted Centre shoppers know they're great spots to find Nikes, Jordans, and other coveted kicks for men, women, and kids. Sports apparel and accessories from brands like Les Tien and Cotton Citizen are in the mix, as well.

The Centre brand fills in all the rest, with everything from boxers and sports bras to basketball and tennis shorts to windbreakers and hoodies. The locally owned company is looking to add lifestyle and home goods products and additional brands in the future, they say.

The store is a progression of co-owner Nick Sunderman's passion for professional sports -- he signed with the Cleveland Indians right out of high school and played pro baseball for five years -- into a love for athletic fashion. While his career evolved through sports marketing and other ventures, Sunderman never forgot his love for sneakers. The Highland Park resident reportedly owns more than 600 pairs.

It was a childhood friend who came up with the idea for Centre, but Sunderman has been at the helm since 2011. During that time, he's launched the retail stores to streetwear stardom, fostering partnerships with iconic brands such as Nike, as well as pro-athletes and artists.

The company's roots in Dallas are obvious in the signature Skyline Tee, with an iconic image up front and "From Dallas to the World" embroidered near the hemline.

"Our skyline tees echo our Dallas roots and commitment to the city - which acts as a constant inspiration to us," says brand director Reid Glaze. "Dallas plays a strong role in our identity and our in-house branding and merchandise often reflects this. As you might be able to tell, we’re proud to be a part of the Dallas community."

In addition to their merchandise mix, Centre stores are known for their unconventional shopping environments, which they took a step further in the new store.

"We intentionally design each Centre storefront to feel unique and authentic to the community in which it lives," Glaze says. "Our newest Bishop Arts location is designed for people to stay, mingle, and enjoy the neighborhood. Whether that’s strolling across the street to see what’s new in store, post coffee at La Reunion, or playing a quick game of pool before heading to dinner at Casablanca, Centre’s new locale is a community-focused hub with curated lounge spaces that lends itself to locals while staying genuine to the Centre brand."

Shoppers will discover those lounge spaces, as well as an expansive patio and a custom billiards table, on the second floor of the 4,000-square-foot space. Situated between Go Easy and De Novo, and across the street from La Reunion and Tribal All Day Cafe, Centre is blending right in to the neighborhood full of independent retail stores, coffee shops, and restaurants. (Glaze offers the pro tip that nearby vintage store, Hideaway, is a popular place to top off a wardrobe shopping haul at Centre.)

“We’re extremely excited to expand our Dallas presence into the historic Bishop Arts area, and we’re so grateful for the warm welcome we’ve received from the neighborhood," Glaze says.

Hours at the Bishop Arts store are 11 am-7 pm Tuesday through Friday, 11 am-8 pm Saturday, and 12-6 pm Sunday.

Photo by Chase Hall

Take a load off in one of the comfy lounge areas at Centre.