Movin’ Shoes opened their first store on State Street back in the fall of 1973. Before this time, the only way to purchase running shoes was by mail order. The owners Roger and Herb each pitched in $500 to start the store and were only open 4 hours a week. Each customer was a friend to these men and they knew just about all of them by name.
In 1976 Movin’ Shoes moved to South Park Street and has remained there ever since. Karl Harter was hired and later became the store owner, which he prided in staying a small independent business. He felt, just like Roger and Herb did, that each person who walks in the door is a friend. Never has Movin’ Shoes sold a shoe for suggested retail and shoes are always slightly below this price.
Movin’ Shoes moved to a new location at 528 South Park Street in July 2006, now in a bigger and better store that Karl once called “The Movin’ Shoes World Headquarters.” In 2016, the store came under new ownership by Jim Van Boxtel, a local Madisonian whose entire career has been in shoes. His experience has spanned from Store Manager and Buyer to Sales Rep and finally to Owner of Movin’ Shoes. Movin’ Shoes continues to be “Madison and Wisconsin’s foremost running specialty store, providing shoes, support, and service for all kinds of runners!”
Everything old is new again – Isthmus Newspaper – 10/26/2006
Madison store 40 years old and still running strong – 5/9/2013
