The 10 Best Shoe Stores In Chicago
By Lisa White in Best Of on Jun 3, 2015 9:00PM
City life can be rough on our feet— from long hours walking the sidewalks to jogging along the lakefront trail and hours spent balancing on the CTA during our daily commute, not to mention the many months when we need much warmth and traction in our footwear, Chicagoans spend a lot of time on foot. While there are many major chains offering up a multitude of options, our city is also packed with local boutiques dishing up a variety of stylish soles.
Today we share some of our favorite spots around Chicago to shoe shop. From functional to sporty, trendy to classic styles, we've got all types of options to keep your toes tapping.
Alcala's Western Wear
If you’re looking to invest in a swanky pair of perfect boots so you can be the most stylish urban cowboy around, travel over to Chicago Avenue and look for the pony in the sky. Alcala’s Western Wear has been a Chicago fashion staple since the ‘70s, serving up all types of Western stylings including belt buckles, cowboy hats and a bevy of boots stacked to the rafters. From the more affordable options to pairs clocking in with a price tag of a few thousand dollars, the variety of boots at Alcala’s is unheard of anywhere else in Chicago. You can keep it simple with classic leather motorcycle styles or go all out with brightly colored or embroidered pairs in range of exotic materials. Bright red lizard or emerald green alligator boots are sure to be a conversation starter for any ensemble. If you’ve got some beloved boots that are worse for wear, Alcala’s is happy to fix them up as well and clean them properly. Because its beautiful boots aren’t just a fashionable work of wearable art, they’re meant for walking too. — Lisa White
Alcala’s Western Wear is located at 1733 W. Chicago Ave.
John Fluevog
I know it’s hard to admit, but let’s just be real—sometimes Canadians do it better. They got that whole healthcare thing squared away, kill our side dishes with that magical dish poutine and they created crafty cobbler John Fluevog who offers little works of art with each of his shoe designs. From steampunk to victorian, pilgrim and witchy styles, his shoes (available in boots, loafers, heels) are iconoclastic and adored by folks from Alice Cooper to Madonna. There was even a Dandy Warhols collaboration a few years back. The Chicago store, one of the few in the U.S., has been around since 1999 and though pairs can get pricey, they are totally worth it not only for the great style but the long-term wear. The now-famous inscription on the sole might say it best: Resists alkali, water, acid, fatigue and Satan. — Selena Fragassi
John Fluevog is located at 1539 N. Milwaukee Ave.
City Soles
A Wicker Park staple shoe store for decades, City Soles most recently set up shop in the former set for High Fidelity's iconic record store on Milwaukee Avenue. It has received wide praise for its broad shoe selections, amazing sales and helpful staff. And as with many of Wicker Park’s storefronts, you can count on City Soles to house some of the trendiest brands and styles. —Rachel Cromidas
City Soles is located at 1514 N. Milwaukee Ave.
A Pied Shoe Boutique
Though A Pied is located in the heart of Roscoe Village and this shoe boutique has a distinct European feel. The cozy layout and friendly staff will make you feel like you’re picking out your dancing shoes with friends, even if you’re on a solo trip. Owner Trudy Robinson stocks her shop with boots, flats and clogs (yes, clogs!) from Frye, Hispanitas and Hasbeens. Special in-store events are held regularly, including philanthropic ones like A Pied’s recent “One Day With Shoes.” — Danette Chavez
A Pied Shoe Boutique is located at 2037 W. Roscoe St.
Akira
If you love digging through racks upon racks of brightly colored and trendy styles, a trip to one of Akira’s shoe shops is heaven on earth. The local boutique and brand has a strong fashion empire in Chicago, including multiple shop locations solely devoted to, well, soles. Online you can covet all sorts of candy-colored, eye catching footwear like quirky styles from Irregular Choice, bright bejeweled and studded pumps from Sam Edelman and towering platforms and angular edges from Jeffrey Campbell. Give them a whirl in the shops, where they also have a killer clearance section. Akira is also my go-to spot when I’m searching for comfortable and affordable summer flats, like options from Blowfish and Wanted. — Lisa White
Akira has five locations in the Chicagoland area. Find one near you here.
Belmont Army Surplus
You wouldn’t normally think a military store would know about shoes, unless it was a good pair of combat boots (which are still a must-have!), but Belmont Army Surplus is what you might call a national treasure. I’ve been going here since I was 16, and I about died a few years ago when I saw the insanely great new building they erected just a few storefronts down from the original shop on Belmont Avenue. (There’s also a second location in Wicker Park). Each of its four stories has a different department—fashion, military and vintage and a skate shop among them, but the shoe floor is the holy grail with a huge selection of everything from Doc Marten, Steve Madden, Puma, Ben Sherman, Sorel, Timberland and a large stock of indie brands, too. The prices are extremely affordable and the clearance area might even make you feel like a thief. The accessories section is a good spot too for some funky laces to play your pair up. — Selena Fragassi
Belmont Army Surplus is located at 855 W. Belmont Ave. and 1318 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Hanig’s Footwear
Comfort meets chic at Hanig’s, a longstanding local shop that focuses on fit and feel while not sacrificing style. If you spend a large portion of your day on your feet, have arch issues or other foot pains, Hanig’s is one of your best options for investing in quality footwear. Some of the prices are a bit high at first glance, but if you add up all the cheap $25 flats that killed your feet over the year, you’ll soon learn that quality over quantity is the key to keeping your feet happy. Many of the brands they carry are designed for the long haul and functional for everyday wear. The classic styles from ARA are great for the office while cutouts and mixed materials from Pas De Rouge are perfect for a night out that won’t leave your feet aching in the morning. — Lisa White
Hanig’s Footwear has three locations in the Chicagoland area. Find one near you here.
Saint Alfred
Wicker Park has over the years morphed into a shoe lover’s paradise, full of boutiques bursting with footwear options and even brands setting up entire shops to show off their fancy footwork. One of these speciality shops ahead of the pack when it comes to catering to a certain shoe fandom is Saint Alfred. The small shop on Milwaukee Avenue has seen many a line overnight with sneakerheads lining up for limited edition releases and regularly hosts events showcasing their carefully curated and stylish selection. Prices run the gamut, from retro Vans Vault, Chuck Taylor and New Balance styles under $100 to impeccable designer options from Visvim. Besides a variety of clothing and headwear options, the shop also offers their affordable house brand full of basics with sleek designer touches to give a bit of minimalistic style. — Lisa White
Saint Alfred is located at 1531 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Fleet Feet Sports
Chicagoans who train for marathons or just enjoy long runs on the beach know that you can’t throw on just any pair of shoes—which is why they go to Fleet Feet Sports. What started off as a single storefront in Old Town has turned into a community for runners, sprinters and weekend lake path warriors alike. Owner David Zimmer once used a handheld camera to analyze a runner’s stride, but now it’s an iPad that helps determine the best shoe for you. And the experience doesn’t end there—Fleet Feet holds regular group runs and workshops to help you get the most (fun) out of your exercise. The flagship store is at 1620 N. Wells St., but there are five other locations in the city and suburbs. — Danette Chavez
Fleet Feet Sports Chicago has six locations in the Chicagoland area. Find one near you here.
Succezz
Another mainstay for sneaker collectors in Chicago, Succezz is your go-to spot if you love everything bright and bold. Their shop is full of ultra-bright options in a variety of styles with the focus clearly on a love of all things Nike. Limited edition, customized shoes and every pattern, color and combo you can dream up are on display. Make sure to follow them on Instagram, where they show off some of their favorite styles in store as well as customers who rock some supremely awesome kicks. — Lisa White
Succezz is located at 1329 S. Michigan Ave.