A woman melted hearts with the adorable moment she surprised her concierge with a pair of sneakers for his birthday—and his reaction was everything.
Having lived in her building in Toronto, Canada, for three-and-a-half years, Katherine Johnsen, 30, has formed a wonderful friendship with the concierge, Ridge Levene. She loves to share fun moments with him and show appreciation for everything he does.
For Levene's birthday on October 18, Johnsen told Newsweek she "wanted to celebrate him" and do something special. She knew how much he loved the Nike Air Max 95 Toronto sneakers and wanted a pair of his own, so she decided to finally make that happen.
Johnsen is the co-founder of Common Ace, a marketplace for women's sneakers, and she often collaborates with various brands for marketing. She spoke to her contacts to see if anyone could help her find this special pair just for Levene, but it wasn't easy, as she "had to pull some strings" just to find ones in his size.
However, as soon as she surprised Levene with the box and saw the delight on his face, it was worth every second.
"The Air Max 95 Toronto were a special release done earlier this year for the city we love, with a lot of fabulous people involved and a custom box, celebrating the unique voices of Toronto," Johnsen said.
"I know the story carried meaning for Levene, so I wanted to get him his own pair. He was so appreciative and genuinely excited. It means a lot for people to feel seen and heard like someone listened when you said something was important to them."
It's always been important for Johnsen to show how much she appreciates the people in her life, and she loves surprising them with thoughtful gestures. Levene has been "a wonderful friend" to her since she moved in, and seeing how grateful he was for this present was a memory she will cherish.
Of course, Levene didn't waste any time donning his new sneakers. He put them on and wore them out that night.
Levene told Newsweek that he knew Johnsen had got him something as she'd mentioned getting him "a little gift." But what she actually got him was more than he could have ever imagined.
"I love the sneakers, not just because they're Nikes, but because they tell a story about the city I'm from," he said. "I love my city, and to have a show that represents that is honestly so beautiful. The fact that she went out of her way to get me something I was looking for is truly amazing and a testament to her kindness."
Levene loves forming bonds with the residents in the building as he sees them every day and becomes a part of their lives. Putting them at ease and interacting every time he sees them is what he loves about his job, and he's created some wonderful friendships along the way.
"Katherine made me feel loved, and I can't thank her enough for the effort she put into this gift. She didn't have to do this, but she did it anyway just to see me smile," Levene said.
The TikTok Reaction
Johnsen shared a video on TikTok (@beachykj) showing Levene's heartwarming reaction to the birthday surprise, and it delighted social media users. The video went viral with over 1.2 million views and 144,900 likes in just a number of days.
She's been amazed by the overwhelmingly positive response to the video, and she hopes it will highlight the importance of these small acts of kindness to show appreciation.
"I think we should take more moments to appreciate the people who make our lives so special, who we maybe take for granted sometimes," Johnsen said. "It doesn't have to be by giving gifts, but just taking a moment to check in with someone, thank them, and make them feel appreciated.
"I'm happy that this video can be a reminder of that. Ridge is an awesome human and he's always such a bright personality in the building. I'm so happy more people get to see his fabulous energy."
With over 1,200 comments on the viral TikTok video, many people praised Johnsen's generosity, while others hailed Levene's undeniable gratitude.
One comment reads: "Ridge was tearing up before he knew what was in the box. We love him!"
Another person wrote: "Doormen and doorwomen are some of the best people on this earth. They never fail to make my entire day."
"Group hug for Ridge, everyone get in," one TikToker said.
While another TikTok user wrote: "That's not a doorman, that's family."
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