Once you find a good shoe store, it’s hard to shop anywhere else. If you’re new to Calgary, you may be wondering where and how to start a new relationship with a new store. Here are a few of Calgary’s best – ready to help you put your best foot forward.
Arnold Churgin
Often, Arnold Churgin’s reputation precedes itself. When travelers arrive, there are several must-visit locations, including the Stampede, the Calgary Tower and Arnold Churgin. This high-end home grown shoe empire opened in Calgary in 1964, the same year the Beatles took North America by storm. Fashion footwear and handbags are their forte with an extensive collection of Canadian-made shoes for women in sizes 4 through 12. You will find a selection of international brands but its Arnold Churgin’s own exclusive high fashion label that lures customers back to the store. The original flagship location is downtown on the Stephen Avenue Mall but you will also find them in Southcentre Mall, Market Mall and in Cross Iron Mills.
Checkmate Shoes
This shoe store was opened more than 25 years ago by Ambra Hudson. Her mission was to open a shoe store for people with hard to fit feet. She wanted to carry wider shoes and bigger shoes and she was highly successful in targeting this group of shoe shoppers, both male and female. Part of her success was sourcing out suppliers and wholesalers that manufactured or sourced out those odd sizes but also made sure they shoes were stylish. Well designed, attractive yet sturdy. One of Checkmate’s top brands is Clark’s but there are plenty of other famous names on the shelves of this excellent shoe store. You’ll find Checkmate in Willow Park Village in the South East and in Dalhousie Station in the North West.
Shoe Muse
This quaint little five-star boutique shop is relatively new to Calgary with a highly passionate owner who comes from a family of shoe entrepreneurs. In fact, she is the daughter of Ambra Hudson and she lives and breathes shoes just like her mom. This store, located in Calgary’s far western suburbs, is known for creative, unique and uber-trendy styles. No mass-produced shoes, no boring shoes. The sales staff are hand picked by the owner with an intuitive process that helps them guide their customers to the perfect style. If ever you are looking for super-cute shoes, Shoe Muse is highly-rated. They’re located in the Aspen Landing Shopping Centre.
Fluevog
This high-end shoe retailer is not unique to Calgary but it is uniquely Canadian. The brand was born in 1970 in Vancouver, conceived by John Fluevog. One of the very first designs to come out of his workshop was a shoe called The Pilgrim. It was unconventional for the time. A point-toed pink loafer with a buckle – very Victorian and very anti-mainstream. His shoes designs were so cool, so desired that they have caught the attention of Hollywood over the years. The Fluevog name has spread across Canada and the U.S. Slowly and methodically. The Calgary store opened in 2010 on the Stephen Avenue Mall.
O’Connors
This fashion-forward store is mostly known for apparel. Very conservative some will say. Very substantial, very classic. This is where corporate Calgary shops. Very high quality goods with impeccable service; so much so that their shoe selection must be included in a blog about shoe stores. At 2 St SW and 7 Ave SW downtown and at the corner of 12 Ave and 1 St SW in the Beltline.
Alberta Boot
It is simply not possible to have footwear and Calgary in the same sentence and not talk about Alberta Boot. As you may have guessed, they make western boots – a.k.a. Cowboy Boots. Every pair is made in house with the finest quality leather. It’s been in business since 1978 and have become a legend in Calgary. Alberta Boot is on Macleod Trail and 50 Ave S.W.