Tony Fernandez: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[File:Tony Fernandez Frame.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Memorial]] | [[File:Tony Fernandez Frame.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Photo courtesy of The Chicago Hip-Hop Heritage Museum - Memorial Wall exhibit.]] | ||
'''Juan Antonio “Tony” Fernandez Jr.''' (August 26, 1966 – August 11, 2021) was an entrepreneur in Chicago, Illinois. He founded Tony’s Sports, a streetwear clothing and sneaker chain active from the mid-1980s through 2020. Fernandez took over a family shoestore in 1985, rebranding it (originally known as La Moda Sports) and expanding to eight locations across Cabrini‑Green, Hyde Park, the West Side, and Addison Mall. | '''Juan Antonio “Tony” Fernandez Jr.''' (August 26, 1966 – August 11, 2021) was an entrepreneur in Chicago, Illinois. He founded Tony’s Sports, a streetwear clothing and sneaker chain active from the mid-1980s through 2020. Fernandez took over a family shoestore in 1985, rebranding it (originally known as La Moda Sports) and expanding to eight locations across Cabrini‑Green, Hyde Park, the West Side, and Addison Mall. | ||
Latest revision as of 17:05, 29 July 2025
Juan Antonio “Tony” Fernandez Jr. (August 26, 1966 – August 11, 2021) was an entrepreneur in Chicago, Illinois. He founded Tony’s Sports, a streetwear clothing and sneaker chain active from the mid-1980s through 2020. Fernandez took over a family shoestore in 1985, rebranding it (originally known as La Moda Sports) and expanding to eight locations across Cabrini‑Green, Hyde Park, the West Side, and Addison Mall.
Tony’s Sports became a cultural hallmark, drawing hip-hop artists like Mary J. Blige, Busta Rhymes, DMX, and Common. The stores were recognized as lively community hubs, often featuring DJs and bringing together youth from across Chicago.
Fernandez died at age 54 in Texas due to a drowning in a hotel pool.[1]