Our Story
How a Downtown Cincinnati storefront became a citywide staple — built on skateboarding, pop art and local history.
In 2008, a new experience landed in Downtown Cincinnati: a lifestyle boutique influenced by skateboarding, pop art and history. From the very first step into the store, locals knew this was something special — something they'd never seen before. They said it was UNheardof.
With original graphics that embodied graffiti artwork mixed with Cincinnati history, it didn't take long for word to spread. Word that a new brand was born, one that Cincinnati could call its own.
Now a staple in the Cincinnati shopping scene, Unheardof is a must-visit destination for tourists from all over — a genuine piece of the city's retail identity, not a chain import.
"Word that a new brand was born, one that Cincinnati could call its own."
A shoe wall built like a suspension bridge
Our store is carefully crafted with Cincinnati history in every stroke. The suspended shoe wall and fixtures are an ode to the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge — the landmark connecting Cincinnati to Northern Kentucky and a piece of engineering history the city holds close.
Local history, hand-painted
Artwork hanging from the walls depicts Avril's Meats, the Roebling Bridge, the Island Queen, and the riverfront stadium — informal pieces of local history for visitors to take in. Even the storefront's eye-catching mural, painted by Cincinnati artist "The Devious," was made to decorate the block with something the city hadn't seen before.
Artists behind the graphics
Over the years, Unheardof's original graphics and in-store artwork have brought in artists from Cincinnati and beyond.
Dalek
Contributing artist on Unheardof original graphics.
The Devious
Cincinnati artist behind the storefront's eye-catching mural.
Don Pendleton
Contributing artist on Unheardof original graphics.
Old-school retail, on purpose
Our mission is simple: bring back an old-school retail experience that online shopping does not offer. Customer service is a cornerstone value here — the kind of in-person, know-your-name service that built Cincinnati's shopping scene long before e-commerce existed.
A gallery of the space
