(1/2) The only time I had a real 'plug' experience it was a total fluke. I had just moved to Manhattan and was out walking around just exploring. This was 2004, so no iPhones and nobody really googled

(1/2) The only time I had a real 'plug' experience it was a total fluke. I had just moved to Manhattan and was out walking around just exploring. This was 2004, so no iPhones and nobody really googled things like ‘best sneaker store Manhattan’. You just had to find it for yourself.  
 
On this day, I’m walking through the garment district when I see a few pairs of shoes nestled in between African Hair products and tribal print of this totally non-descript shop on a non-descript street. It’s a super hot and humid July day and I can feel the air conditioning slipping through the glass door, so I decide to pop in.  
 
As soon as I step in, this older African man begins talking to me. He’s all smiles as I’m checking out the Maxes and the Jordans. He had a really respectable stack of inventory - EU exclusives and mostly sold out runners. I’m scanning the wall when something catches my eye near the floor; it's two pairs of dunks - one all black, the other all puke brown. There’s a hand-written sign that says $45/pair and I grab 'em. The man is observing me…’of all the shoes to pick up, this white boy picks up the ones on sale?’ I was relatively new to SBs but I recognized the insole and the puffy tongue; Definitely SBs. I had never seen 'em before, though.  
 
I excused myself, went outside, whipped out my fliphone and called my cousin (who is not a shoe guy) in California; ‘Hey man, are you anywhere near a computer? Can you search up ‘brown dunks’ and tell me what you find?’ We go back and forth for 10 minutes before giving up. I scroll through my phone and decide to hit up @danposite - who I had just met - a call. He seemed to know everything about Dunks. I start describing the situation to him and then silence...‘Oh sh!t, J, those are the Carhartt dunks!’ Bingo. I didn’t even know they had dropped yet but here they were...in front of me. For $45/pair. 
 
I make my way back inside and dude is watching me like a hawk. I pick up the dunks, turn to him and say…’if I bought 20 pairs of these - cash no tax - would you sell them to me for $20 each?’ He laughs for a second, realizes I’m dead serious then shakes his head vigorously - “YES”.  
 
TBC...