Triple is a three-in-one shoe store, gallery and music venue

Does a pimpin' pair of sneakers make you weak in the knees? How about underground hip-hop and indie rock? Provocative pop art? If you're defenseless in the face of any of these, then you should consider Triple armed and dangerous. The new Ballard shoe store functions not only as a temple to sneakers but also as a gallery for awesome art and a showcase for local music.

The retail portion of Triple represents the third shop from the three owners of Market Street Shoes and Market Street Athlete, and the retail space is divided into three sections. "The Street" brings you the best of what the kids are kicking around in, like retro Reeboks and Onitsuka Tigers. "World Traveler" offers luxe and limited-edition shoes from international designers such as Jhung Yuro and Feit. At "The Shop," you can check out Anon sunglasses and custom-made Triple T's, or just sit back and relax with rare old-school soul and funk records.

A separate room is dedicated to rotating art installations, and yet another corner will soon host a revolving cast of designers, who will take over and deck out the space however they see fit.

This Ballard Avenue culture feast is made possible by the Market Street team, Belltown-based BLVD Gallery and local indie record label Light In The Attic. The semihidden shop tucked above King's Hardware is a light, airy fortress that looks like an artist's loft straight outta Brooklyn -- the perfect place to launch an assault on your senses.

Check the store's blog to see what's in the works. It could be a brand launch with entertainment from local hip-hoppers the Saturday Knights, a painting frenzy by current installation artist Nhon Nguyen or a British mod party with ska bands and DJs. Whoever said bad things come in threes hasn't been to Triple.

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