New business venture: Eastside Golf launching its first retail location
**Eastside Golf Expands Presence with Detroit Store Opening**
Eastside Golf, the golf-lifestyle brand co-founded by Olajuwon Ajanaku and Earl Cooper, has made a significant stride in its growth journey with the opening of its first U.S. brick-and-mortar store at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) in July 2025. This marks the brand's only U.S. standalone retail location at present, with additional outlets in Tokyo and 10 PGA TOUR Shops.
The Detroit store, operated in partnership with Paradies Lagardère, is a testament to Eastside Golf's rapid sell-through success in PGA TOUR Shops. The 300-square-foot retail space carries a selection of the brand's apparel and accessories, including signature Swingman sweatshirts, tracksuits, performance polos, and bucket hats.
The expansion is bolstered by key partnerships and licensing deals with major sports, automotive, and apparel brands. These collaborations have helped the brand transcend traditional golf audiences, appealing to fashion, music, and streetwear enthusiasts as well as professional athletes and celebrities. Notable partnerships include Jordan Brand, Nike, the MLB, NFL, NBA, PGA TOUR, PGA of America, Bridgestone, Mercedes-Benz USA, and strategic alliances with national retailers such as Nordstrom, Golf Galaxy, Dick's Sporting Goods, and House of Sport.
In 2024, Eastside Golf added women's apparel to its collection, further broadening its appeal. The brand's mission to make golf more inclusive and culturally relevant has resonated widely beyond the fairway, reflecting a strategic blend of retail growth, high-profile collaborations, and a vision that is resonating with a diverse group of professional athletes and influencers.
Eastside Golf's expansion is also a reflection of its founders' passion for the sport. Ajanaku and Cooper met at Morehouse College and won the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship in 2010. Ajanaku, who was working in finance in Detroit when the idea for Eastside Golf was conceived, sees the store as an opportunity to connect directly with the community and reach people from all walks of life.
Annette Parker, named as the first chief marketing officer of Eastside Golf in January, shares this vision. She states, "Eastside Golf is part of a growing trend of golf lifestyle brands crossing into mainstream fashion, and we're excited to bring our unique blend of style and inclusivity to Detroit."
As Eastside Golf continues to expand, it is clear that the brand is not just about golf—it's about connecting people, breaking barriers, and making a statement.
*Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4*
- Despite its initial focus on golf, Eastside Golf has successfully transcended traditional boundaries, partnering with major fashion, sports, automotive, and apparel brands like Jordan Brand, Nike, MLB, NFL, NBA, PGA TOUR, PGA of America, Bridgestone, Mercedes-Benz USA, and Nordstrom.
- Eastside Golf's mission to make golf more inclusive and culturally relevant extends beyond the fairway, reflecting a blend of retail growth, high-profile collaborations, and a vision that resonates with a diverse group of professional athletes and influencers.
- In addition to golf apparel and accessories, Eastside Golf now offers a women's collection, further broadening its appeal to a wider audience.
- The brand's expansion is not confined to golf-focused spaces; it also includes partnerships with national retailers such as Golf Galaxy, Dick's Sporting Goods, and House of Sport, and a standalone retail location at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW).
- The AI-driven fashion industry is witnessing a rising trend of golf lifestyle brands crossing over into mainstream fashion, with Eastside Golf leading the charge, as evident by their opening of a retail store in Detroit and their partnership with Paradies Lagardère.
- Olajuwon Ajanaku, co-founder of Eastside Golf, sees the Detroit store as an opportunity to connect directly with the community and reach people from all walks of life, demonstrating the brand's commitment to inclusivity and breaking barriers in the sport and fashion industries.
