As the first Tailgate store front to be created right here in Iowa City, we are very proud of where we came from and how we came to be. What started as a father and son sharing their passion for collegiate sports with others turned into something that we not only are proud to call our career, but something that we too are passionate about.
Tailgate started with a man named Dennis Snyder, an engineer from Ames, Iowa, and his son Todd Snyder. At first it was just a hobby, a way for them to bond; making t-shirts for sports fans and selling them out of the back of a car during games. Soon though, the idea of collegiate sports fans selling t-shirts to other collegiate sports fans turned into a bigger idea, an idea of being together and sharing similar interests. Todd's passion for the company is how Tailgate got to where we are today. The goal of simply creating college sportswear for other like-minded people turned into a passion of creating clothing that shows off the story of America through its prolific icons.
Todd always dreamed of opening a Tailgate store, but he never thought it would truly be a reality, that is until Nate Kaeding, a former Iowa football player who went on to play in the NFL, ran the idea past Todd. Together, with Nate's know how behind the venture and Todd's designs, Tailgate was opened in July of 2014.
As part of the Tailgate community we are proud of how far our team has come. Getting to be a part of the adventure of a new store is an exciting and thrilling process. We want to share with you clothes that you will love to wear, just as much as we all do. With that, we want to show you just how trendy and stylish a graphic tee can be.
