1. Name, position at True & dates worked there?
Todd K. Nichols. Sales Clerk, Visual Merchandising, Head of Security. I worked at True from 1999 – 2004 (roughly).
2. Work experience prior to working at True & what is your current occupation and employer?
Prior to working at True I was a Front End Manager at the Whole Foods on Van Ness in SF, and I’m currently the Lead Radiologic Technologist / Supervisor at Kaiser Permanente in Redwood City.
3. Fondest memory of your time working at True?
My fondest memory? That’s a tough one as I have so many from my time on the block at True. When I initially got hired, I was just stoked to have landed a job at my favorite shop. I was unaware that I was simultaneously being adopted into a family. And in general, just interacting with the other True family members at work on the daily are some of my favorite memories. The everyday shenanigans, busting each other’s balls, crackin’ jokes. It wasn’t work to me, it was fun. Rockin’ out to the latest DJ Supreme mixtape, and especially people watching. I could watch people all day on Haight and be entertained. Getting first dibbs on all the latest gear and sneakers was always an added bonus. And lastly, the True sales…they were crazy! There would be a line of people wrapped around the corner waiting to get in and catch a deal on some gear. And during my generation, we were allowed to drink during those sales, which made them sort of a party for us. When the sale was over and all the customers were gone, you had to be aware because anybody caught slippin’ would get hockey checked into a pile of t-shirts. And we would dress up in the whackiest combination of gear possible.
4. Worst memory of your time working at True?
I guess the occasional theft attempts are some of my worst memories. I always took it personally. I knew there were times when dudes would come into the shop with bad intentions and they would size me up thinking they could get over on me. There’s a few stories of me running up and down the street with my shirt off chasing thieves to recover stolen items. I was always proud of myself when I was able to re-obtain what was taken. And to a certain extent, part of me wanted to show Mike and everybody else I was willing to defend the shop. I had a pretty good record and I took pride in that.
5. Tell me about some of the people you met while working at True, customers & co-workers. Any good stories?
The True Crew from my generation included: Josh Fishel aka Quatto, DJ Supreme, Aaron Read aka Spank Pops, Dheen Weening aka Saltdheen, Janelle Sinclair aka Poops, Pam Bryant, Jordan Viray, G. Singh, Carlos Gallegos, Erica Lee, and Alex Mitchell, and of course Dark Money himself. Some of the celeb types I remember coming thru included: Goapele, Lil John, Rappin’ 4tay, and Shock G from Digital Underground (I know I’m forgetting some people). I remember when Shock G came thru I asked him “Where’s Humpty at?”. And he replied “Oh he at home hiding in the closet.”
6. What did you learn (if anything) during your time working at True that continues to be useful to you today?
(1) The importance of the sneaker in regards to self expression. Especially now that I’m a healthcare worker and I wear scrubs to work every single day. One of the only ways to express yourself in the hospital in thru your sneakers. I still have about 150 pairs of sneakers from those days, and I still got some gems. Every once in a while I’ll pull out a pair and rock them to work, and I’ll snap some necks in the hospital.
(2) Age ain’t nuthin’ but a number.
7. Any advice to future employees or customers of True?
To the future customers of True: If you come in and unfold every t-shirt, at least buy one. To the future employees of True: By any means necessary, try to avoid having Mike B. creating your nickname.
Sincerely, Baby Condor
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