Yann Niteka, a 29-year-old entrepreneur, combines his love for art, fashion, and marketing to create a thriving vintage clothing brand in Fargo.
FARGO — Yann Niteka, a 29-year-old entrepreneur, has embraced a career that combines his passion for art and fashion with his skills as a marketer. Known for his work in creating music videos, album covers, and promotional art, Niteka has found a niche in the vintage clothing industry through his brand, Tastee Vintage.
Tastee Vintage operates through various platforms, including online sales, pop-up events, and its latest venture, a collaboration with 701 Kickz, a high-end sneaker and collectibles store located at 1414 12th Ave. N., Fargo. This partnership has established a “shop-within-a-shop” format, enhancing the visibility of Niteka’s vintage collection, which includes an array of T-shirts, racing jackets, macrame sweaters, and jeans placed alongside collectible sneakers and caps.
Speaking about his journey into vintage fashion, Niteka reflected on his lifelong love for clothing and thrifting. “I’ve always loved clothing, and I’ve always loved thrifting,” he remarked during an interview on February 11, 2025. He noted that vintage clothing provides an exhilarating experience rooted in community identity, where like-minded individuals bond over shared interests. “Vintage has a very unique community of people. People that just love clothes. You have something in common instantly,” he stated.
The collaboration with 701 Kickz emerged out of a meeting between Niteka and the store’s co-owner, Allen Peyerl, during a pop-up sales event. The partnership has flourished, and co-owner Jordan Anderson described the experience as “awesome,” emphasizing the synergy between the two businesses. Both owners recognize the demographic overlap of sneakerheads and vintage clothing enthusiasts, making them a complementary duo. Anderson added, “Shoes and vintage items go really well together. … It’s like an all-in-one stop.”
Niteka’s journey to becoming a business owner has its roots in his early life. Immigrating to Fargo with his family from Africa as refugees when he was three years old, he pursued an education in marketing at North Dakota State University after graduating from West Fargo High School. In the years following his graduation, he worked extensively in event planning and video production, before launching Tastee Vintage three years ago. What initially began as selling excess clothing through Snapchat soon revealed an unexpected trend: the majority of his sales were from customers in the Midwest, particularly Fargo.
Following a brief visit to Fargo while working as a consultant for a Minneapolis firm, Niteka decided to extend his stay, feeling a renewed connection to his roots. “I was truly enjoying being back among my Midwest people. I moved back by accident,” he explained, noting how the experience was healing for him, leading to his permanent return.
In the past six months, Tastee Vintage has experienced significant growth, participating in events such as a recent fashion show with a packed audience and a successful pop-up vintage sale at Fargo’s Ivy and Rose Warehouse in early February.
Looking to the future, Niteka has a vision for expanding beyond clothing, expressing interest in potentially incorporating furniture into his offerings. “I think as I get older, I will move into furniture, cool furniture,” he mused, signaling a willingness to evolve and grow within the retail landscape.
However, at its core, Tastee Vintage is not just a business for Niteka; it’s a deeply personal endeavor. He stated, “It’s way more than fiscal for me; it’s very social. It’s emotional. It’s so much deeper than clothes.” The community aspect of vintage fashion and the relationships he builds along the way continue to be a driving force behind his passion.
Source: Noah Wire Services
