HFEC student and entrepreneur, 15, opens Ke Soles at Fairlane

When he was 10, Henry Ford Early College (HFEC) student Kassem Elkhechen wanted to make money so he could save up for a car when he was able to drive at 16.

To do that, Elkhechen, 15, started cleaning shoes for family and later friends for $10 to $15 each. He would use some of that income to purchase shoes from people he knew and from thrift stores, which he would clean and resell. After expenses, his profit margin would be up to $5 per pair of shoes.

“I didn’t need to use any expensive cleaners because all you really need is soap and water. And then, as long as you have good brushes and you know what you’re doing, you’ll be good,” said Elkhechen.

A lifelong Dearborn resident, Elkhechen is a sophomore at HFEC. He will graduate in 2026, earning his associate degree in business administration.

“One pair of shoes became two and three and so on,” said Elkhechen. “I got more than 700 shoes, purchasing them from people all around the world and from retailers. I attended sneaker events where I was a vendor selling shoes. It grew more than we expected and my basement was not a feasible area anymore.”

Opening Ke Soles in Fairlane

On March 12, Elkhechen opened a shoe store called Ke Soles on the second level at the Fairlane Town Center in Dearborn. The store has approximately 800 pairs of high-end, pre-owned sneakers in new or almost-new condition in stock.

Among the shoes for sale are original and subsequent generation Nike Air Jordans, the Adidas Cream Yeezy 350, New Balance, Converse All-Stars, and more.

“Things have been going well,” he said. “Fairlane mall has good foot traffic, which helps my business be seen and known.”

The most expensive pair of shoes Elkhechen has sold so far were Air Jordan 1 Retro High Off-White Chicago high-top basketball shoes to a rapper he declined to identify. He has sold shoes to several famous singers, rappers, and pro athletes but he keeps their names confidential.

Elkhechen promoted the Ke Soles brand on Instagram, which elicited significant attention. Ke Soles has more than 17,000 followers.

What he needed to learn about running a business

Elkhechen’s day begins at HFEC, which is a partnership between HFC, the Dearborn Public Schools, and Henry Ford Health. After school is finished, he heads over to Fairlane around 3:00 p.m. to work at Ke Soles. His father, Mohammed, opens the store and works with him.

“I am fortunate enough to have my dad’s support and time to help me while I am in school,” he said. “I do not drive yet, so it’s up to my dad and mom to help. My sister or cousin will come on the weekends and help if I need it.”

While many stories sell on consignment, everything in Ke Soles is owned. Elkhechen runs Ke Soles as a sole proprietor-limited liability corporation (LLC) and pays for his own business insurance, rent, utilities, and overhead at the store.

Running a business has been quite a learning experience for Elkhechen. Asked what he learned about running a business that he didn’t learn in school, he replied that it was a lot. He hasn't had a chance to study business yet. Fortunately, he has some great help to keep him on track.

“I am only in 10th grade,” he explained. “To me, customer service and making a connection is more important than making a sale." He learned from his parents and others the basics about paying and filing taxes, creating spreadsheets to track profits, and filing a lease agreement.

His ultimate career goal is owning multiple businesses and properties. He sees himself opening another Ke Soles in the next year.

“If you think you have a good business idea and have invested time and effort into it, take a chance,” said Elkhechen. “Take the first step toward running your own business.” Having knowledgeable people along the way to support and help keep it running is a major advantage.

NOTE: Because Kassem Elkhechen is under the age of 16, his parents granted us permission to interview him and to publicly share this story and the related photograph.