Where to Buy Kids' Shoes

Archived Q&A and reviews ▼

Archived Q&A and Reviews

Questions

Where to buy quality kids' shoes

July 2011

I'd appreciate recommendations for where to buy good quality shoes for younger kids. - Thanks

Hi, Kid Dynamo at 1481 Shattuck Ave has an awesome selection of kids and baby shoes. They also do a great job measuring kids feet. Anon

I wish I had a recommendation for a local shoe shop, because I would prefer to shop locally, but I haven't found a convenient shoe shop with the selection we need. I now order shoes for my kids from Zappos.com. It works out really well- -I choose about 4-5 pairs for each kid, in brands that tend to work for them andstyles I approve of--no worries about my daughter falling in love with the pink sparkly heels at the shoe store. The kids then try them on in the comfort of our own home, and we keep the pair that fits the best and send the rest back (Zappos has free shipping AND free return shipping). Online shoe shopper

I buy shoes for my son at REI. He's 9 now but I've been buying shoes for him there for years. There's a very good shoe salesman there, his name is Gene, he's there Tuesday and Friday evenings, and he's very helpful with kids. Sally

I highly recommend Happy Feet in Alameda. Small but well-stocked with knowledgeable staff. The salesperson was helpful, attentive, listened to my criteria, and helped me find the perfect shoes for my daughter. Laura

Where to buy high quality kids' shoes?

Jan 2009

Now that Cotton & Company is gone, where do you buy your children's high-quality shoes? I am looking for an alternative place to buy Naturino, Ricosta, Geoxx or similar brands for my 2.5 and 5 year olds. Strite Ride does not fit them. Any leads? Thanks!

A new shoe store recently opened in Alameda, called Happy Feet. I think they have all the brands you mentioned. I'm so excited they are there now! 2311 Santa Clara Ave Alameda, CA 94501 (510) 748-0524 Courtney

Actually we've gotten most of our shoes for toddlerhood-preschool at Stride Rite, which doesn't help you. But another place we've gotten high-quality shoes, in our case mostly when our kids were babies just starting to walk, is Nordstrom. Matt

I'd like to second (or third?) the recommendations for Carlin's in Alameda. We went there today to get shoes for my girls (1 & 3). I loved that we weren't presented with just shiny pink/princess shoes. Also, the salesman was really good about helping us find very soft/flexible shoes for the 1-year old and really nice about helping her be comfortable with the shoe sizer, etc. Sofia

Dec 2008

Hi, I've always got my children's shoes from Cotton and Company on College. They've now closed and I'm looking for a store which will carefully measure my children's feet (ages 18m to 7 years) and have a good stock of shoes (Stride Rite has worked well in the past). I've seen a store in Walnut Creek, but wondered if there was somewhere nearby that was a favorite? I'm not looking for an online thing or Target. Thanks Shirley

For kids' shoes try Alameda. There's a great mom and pop shop in SouthShore shopping center (back behind TJ's) and a brand new store that looks great just off Park across from the Beauty College, near the theater I think. Sorry I can't remember names! Good luck! shoe fiend

Hi Shirley, We were also loyal customers of Cotton & Company, and were saddend and at a loss when they closed. I can recommend Howard Shoes for Children in the Broadway Plaza behind Nordstrom's in Walnut Creek.They are a family run store with a large assortment of good quality shoes(ie.Stride Rite) for babies to adolescence.The staff is very nice and attentive,(we recently purchased shoes there for our 4 and5 yr old children.)Although I didn't notice any ongoing sales, so we had to pay full price. Oh well, my kids are worth it. Hope this helps. Denise

Happy Feet in Alameda a half a block off Park Street. It is a children's shoe store that has great shoes and good customer service. 2311 Santa Clara Ave Alameda, CA 94501 (510) 748-0524 Alameda Mom

Carlin's Shoes in Alameda Town Centre. One of the best kid shoe stores in the Bay Area. They carry Stride Rite and other great kid brands and definitely know how to help you find the right fit. You can find the mall online for info on how to get there and for more info on the store. Carlin's fan

The shoe store you are thinking of in Walnut Creek is Howards (in the outside/walking mall near Nordstroms). I believe they have a second location, but I am not sure where. I have had a lot of luck buying shoes at Nordstroms for my toddler daughter, and you can frequently find sales. Nordstroms has a good selection, and they know how to measure children's feet. If you get on Howard's mailing list, they do send coupons. I also frequently buy at Striderite and have been happy with the selection and quality. Careful about shoes also

May 2008

Are Cotton and Company and the Stride Rite at Hilltop the only places around Berkeley to buy kid shoes? I just can't find anywhere else and these two places never seem to have a good assortment of sizes and styles. Any recommendations for anywhere else for kids aged 2 and 7? Also, I prefer to have help getting fitted. I do not have the confidence to fit my kids myself. Thank you.

Howard's Shoes in Walnut Creek! Hands down, they are the best. They are a family run store and there are two or three in the bay area-- this one's the closest. It's in the outdoor mall in the back end area near Nordstrom's. They have a huge variety, they measure your kids feet and they will send reminders to you to come in and have your kids shoes measured again. The reminder always has a coupon for a % off next purchase. They are slightly expensive, but so is Cotton and Co!! It is worth it to have good shoes on your kids feet! LogicalMama

Couple other options for kid's shoes. There is a Stride Rite store in the mall in Alameda, where Park St. hits the bay. Smallish store though. McCaulou's (sp?) has kids shoes as well. There is one in Montclair Villiage, but we find the one in Lafayette has a better selection. Bryan 

Great kids shoes for holiday gifts?

December 2006

I am looking to find great, reasonably priced holiday gifts for my young nieces and nephews and thought that sending shoes might be a good option. Any recommendations for affordable, cute, baby/kid shoes? melanie

hi melanie: the following site has unique and adorable baby/kids shoes sold by a group of bay area moms: www.livieandluca.com. my 1 1/2 yr. old has a pair of shoes from this company and they constantly get compliments. they are also soft and (from what I can tell!) comfortable. you can also see their products in this month's issue of Real Simple magazine where they are featured as a ''great gift for kids''. Vanessa

Sizing is so precise and demanding with shoes -- I'd skip it, or give Zappos gift certificates. Anon

I would definitely recommend shoes at www.livieandluca.com. I got two pairs for friends' kids and they're great--cute, flexible soles, and not too expensive. Friends said they get lots of compliments. Also nice that the company is run by moms, one of whom is a local--you can order on line or call 888.LIV.LUCA lisa

 

Where to buy childrens' shoes

June 2006

We would like to know where is a good place to buy children's shoes. We used to go to Cotton and Company but last time we were there, and after spending a considerable amount on clothes, the older lady who we believe is the manager asked not to return. She would not give us an explanation as to why, but obviously we have no desire to spend any more money there. kennerley

We buy our children shoes at Howard's in Walnut Creek (near Nordstroms). It is family owned. They measure and fit the shoes well, and are very customer friendly. Examples: One time my son's light up shoes stopped lighting up after a few weeks and they were very pleasant about trading them in. Other times we have found the style of shoes we wanted, but they didn't have the color in stock, so they ordered the shoes and mailed them to our home for no additional charge
mom of 2

We go to Howards Shoes in Walnut Creek. They also have a shop in Stonestown Mall in SF. They specialize in children's shoes and we've been happy with the service. They also send out coupons during the year, for $5. off, or ''buy one pair, get the second at half price'', etc. They also have a good selection of rain boots, umbrellas, rain jackets, and socks
Kim

Wow- that is bizarre, I really hope that there was a misunderstanding or something at Cotton and Co. But anyway, I like the shoes and service at Howard's Shoes for Children in Walnut Creek. They don't have a super large selection for toddlers, but the shoes they do have are awesome and they know them very well. My son's Perfection shoes by Jumping Jacks have held up for 6 months thru countless series of mud puddles, absolute drenchings in streams, hoses, and fountains, and they are still soft, flexible and wearable. My son also has long skinny feet, hard to fit in toddler shoes. The other place I like to go is the Children's shoe dept at Nordstrom's. It is hit or miss if you get a knowledgeable salesperson- the experienced ones are good. Just trust your own knowledge about your children's feet
I like good shoes, too

Where do you buy shoes now that McPhee's is gone?

Feb 2001

I'd like to know, too, where people are going after the demise of McPhee's. We went to the Corte Madera Nordstrom's, and it was actually fine. I didn't notice if they had shoes for smaller children, though. I'd imagine they do. --Chris

There's a Stride Rite shoe store in Walnut Creek at the Broadway Plaza mall, near Nordstrom. Christina

If you're willing to drive into the city, there is a store that sells nothing but children's shoes. It is called Tuffy's Hopscotch. Located at 3307 Sacramento in San Francisco. The woman who opened it did so because she was disappointed with the selection of children's shoes in the bay area. Shoshona

There is a fabulous new kids shoe store in San Francisco in Noe Valley. It is called Wavy Footprints and it is on 24th and Sanchez? (Next to a fabulous children's clothing store little bean sprouts). The owners are the nicest women who show genuine love for fitting children in shoes. Many times I have been in there and one of them will entertain my son with a puppet while he is being fitted. The carry all the top of the line brands like Stride Rite and Elfanten. The have the best selection I have seen in this area. Hadley

Cotton and Company's does carry shoes larger than size four. In their new location (across the street from the old ones), the infant/toddler and older children's shoes are no longer separate. Perhaps the old maternity/infant shop only carried shoes through size four. Gail

When at McPhee's final sale, I asked where else we could shop for children's shoes, and was told that there is a store just like it in the Coddingtown Mall in Marin (or is is already Sonoma County?). One of the women who worked at McPhee's also works there. It's a trek, but to have the range of styles and expert fitting, it might be worth it. Lorraine

I have always bought my son Elefanten shoes from Germany. You can buy them at any Nordstrom. I used to work in a kid's store and sold these shoes and can highly recommend them. They are extremely soft, both the leather (in and outside) and the sole. Both me and my son loves these shoes; they never give him any blisters or other discomforts. Sometimes his dad buys him other shoes and he always ends up with blisters on his feet. Since they are quite expensive ($40-$60), I only buy him one pair of shoes until he outgrows them.

Jannette (6/99)