On Saturday, December 14, We Don’t Run From Adversity (WDRFA), co-owned by Mike Gillis and Aaron “Stan” Staten celebrated a major milestone with the grand opening of its new storefront at 871 Massachusetts Ave. The lifestyle brand had recently graduated from St’Artup317, the City of Indianapolis’ retail accelerator program, which connects local entrepreneurs with prime real estate opportunities.

WDRFA’s diverse catalog includes apparel, headwear, accessories, commissary items, and drinkware. Since launching as an online and pop-up shop in 2016, the brand has built strong local partnerships, including collaborations with People for Urban Progress, James Dant, and Tinker Coffee Co. Earlier this year, Mayor Joe Hogsett, DMD, and Cat Consulting welcomed WDRFA to the historic Stutz building as part of St’Artup317, where their opening weekend drew over 1,000 visitors.

The new 1,000-square-foot retail space was secured in September through a partnership with Cat Consulting and RDOOR Housing Corporation. Beyond retail offerings, the storefront incorporates art installations reflecting WDRFA’s deep ties to the Indianapolis community. “St’Artup317 exists to build our bench of retail brands and creative economy here in Indianapolis,” said Catherine Esselman, founder of Cat Consulting. “The program provides an incredible opportunity to amplify young entrepreneurs, scaling brands, and creative leaders in our local economy.”

With its latest expansion, We Don’t Run From Adversity is poised to further connect with Indianapolis shoppers, offering a unique blend of fashion, artistry, and community engagement.