Two Morehouse Alumni and a Brand Built in Atlanta

Eastside Golf was founded June 1, 2019 by Olajuwon Ajanaku, with Earl Cooper as co-founder, according to the brand's website. Both are Morehouse College graduates who played on the golf team and won a national championship together, per WSB-TV, and Ajanaku grew up in East Atlanta. The brand has grown from that Atlanta base into a name with partnerships that include Nike, and the new store brings it back to the city where it started.

Cooper is a PGA Professional whom Golf Digest has ranked among the best young teachers in America, according to the brand's site. For readers following Atlanta entrepreneurs, the arc is simple: a college team, a company started in 2019, and a retail flagship in one of Buckhead's best-known malls. Yahoo News also covered the story of the Morehouse graduates bringing the brand home.

Morehouse College sits in Atlanta's West End, and the founders' college-golf background is part of the brand story: a national title at Morehouse, a company started in 2019 and, in 2026, a flagship at one of Buckhead's best-known addresses.

The Eastside Golf Board - Where Things Stand
Founder and co-founderOlajuwon Ajanaku and Earl Cooper
FoundedJune 1, 2019
FlagshipPhipps Plaza, second level, Buckhead
Officially openedOctober 20, 2026, per WSB-TV
Nike collaborationReleased October 30, 2026
Community DayNovember 1, 2026

The Phipps Plaza Flagship and the Nike Connection

The first flagship store is on the second level of Phipps Plaza, the Simon Property Group mall in Buckhead, and WSB-TV reports it officially opened on October 20. The brand's partnerships include Nike and a collaboration with comedian and actor Cedric the Entertainer, per WSB-TV. The opening was celebrated with a weekend of events, including the release of its Nike collaboration on October 30.

The brand held a Community Day on November 1, 2026, according to WSB-TV. Check the mall's store listing for current hours and what is in stock before you visit.

For shoppers, the practical details are simple. The store is on the second level of Phipps Plaza, so use the mall's own store page for hours and directions, and check the brand's channels for what is in stock from the Nike collaboration, which only launched on October 30. If you are planning a visit, build in time to browse, since a first flagship usually carries more of the line than a pop-up does.

Watch: the Eastside Golf story

CBS LA: Eastside Golf changing the look of the game

NBC News: Black-owned apparel brand Eastside Golf aims to make the world of golf more inclusive

What It Says About Atlanta's Independent Brands

Atlanta has always rewarded creators who build their own lane first and scale second. A golf brand that started in 2019 and now has a Phipps Plaza flagship and a Nike collaboration is a strong example of that path, from a campus team to a retail address in Buckhead.

That is the same path independent artists try to walk with Di-VerZe HitZ Radio. If you make music in Atlanta, submit your track free and get your work in front of the same local audience that supports home-grown brands.

Build Your Own Atlanta Moment

Whether you are opening a store, launching a collection or planning a community day of your own, the work does not stop at the ribbon cutting. Di-VerZe E.N.T helps Atlanta brands tell their story, with media packages, video and photography, and DJ services for events. Ready to plan yours? Book Di-VerZe E.N.T today.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Eastside Golf flagship store in Atlanta? Eastside Golf's first flagship store is on the second level of Phipps Plaza, the Simon Property Group mall in Buckhead, Atlanta, and it officially opened on October 20, per WSB-TV. Check the mall's store listing for current hours.
Who founded Eastside Golf? Eastside Golf was founded June 1, 2019 by Olajuwon Ajanaku, with Earl Cooper as co-founder, according to the brand. Both are Morehouse College graduates who played on the golf team and won a national championship together.
Does Eastside Golf have a Nike partnership? Yes. Eastside Golf's partnerships include Nike, and WSB-TV reports it released a Nike collaboration on October 30, 2026, as part of a weekend of events that also included a Community Day on November 1.
When was the Eastside Golf Community Day? Eastside Golf held its Community Day on November 1, 2026, to celebrate the new Phipps Plaza flagship, and WSB-TV Atlanta published its coverage of the store opening on November 8, 2026.

Sources

Reporting & References
WSB-TV AtlantaMorehouse grads bring their golf brand to Phipps Plaza
Eastside GolfAbout us
SimonEastside Golf at Phipps Plaza
WhatNow AtlantaEastside Golf joining Phipps Plaza