Reyer’s Shoe Store: The World’s Largest Shoe Store
I need to stop looking at the brochure racks in hotel lobbies. I end up finding places we HAVE to visit on our trips which aren’t on our itinerary. These places usually involve retail, and they make Matt very nervous. Like our November detour to the world’s largest candle store in MA.
This time, it was the world’s largest shoe store, and I was able to convince him that it was on our way home from Pittsburgh. I wasn’t entirely truthful, but how could we NOT visit? I did it for YOU, dear readers. You’re here to read about world’s largest places, are you not? And so, we must make sacrifices.
Where we went, and who was coerced into going:
We headed north to Sharon, PA and spent an hour in Reyer’s Shoe Store. It was an add-on to our long weekend in Pittsburgh. Matt said he wouldn’t go unless I posted it on our Facebook page, and got at least 10 “likes.” We got 20 likes there, and another 17 on my personal account. Heh.
WHY did you go there, exactly?
The kids did actually need new shoes. Especially The Boy, who insists on growing. Rapidly. Matt needed sneakers. I needed nothing in the way of footwear, but that’s never stopped me before.
Okay, what was so cool about it?
At 36,000 square feet, Reyer’s Shoe Store is indeed BIG. The size doesn’t translate into the world’s largest selection, however. Although the brochure claims the store has over 100,000 pairs of shoes and boots, there was a lot of wide open floor space. The décor is a little timeworn, but The Girl was truly digging the pink shag carpet in the woman’s department.
The world’s largest Crocs? Possibly! (Hip extension added for emphasis)
The Girl enjoyed this place the most. She has an eye for glamour already, and wanted me to try on every pair of sequined heels she could reach. The last time I wore sequins, or heels, for that matter, was likely pre-kids.
She wanted a pair of Skechers “Twinkle Toes,” which feature a blinding combination of sequins, rhinestones, and lights. She told me her BFF has a pair, and I fell for it. (Yes, I’m aware that I’m doomed.) She tried them on, clomped around the store with heavy feet in order to make the lights flicker, then pronounced them “comfortable.” Only after we made the purchase did she confess…her BFF brings a second pair of shoes to their pre-school to change into, after her “Twinkle Toes” become “Tired Toes.”
The second my fingertips touched the first pair of shoes, an obviously-commissioned salesperson swooped in. And she didn’t leave our presence for the next hour. Matt nearly didn’t try on sneakers because she made him so nervous.
“Daddy, the green ones would go best with your zoot suit.”
For such a small town, I was surprised to find that Reyers carries such eclectic and expensive shoe lines, like Clarks, Rieker, and SAS. I found some lovely shoes, and unique styles, but the prices were too high for me. The “Rack Room” in the back is where all the sales merchandise is located, and there was a good selection there.
Head to the "Rack Room" for the sales!
The town of Sharon prides itself on being home to three “world’s largest” stores: Reyers; The Winner, the world’s largest off-price fashion store; and Daffin’s, the world’s largest candy store. We’ve already featured a guest post on Daffin’s, and were pressed for time, so we cut our losses and headed home.
How it rated on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 = snoozefest, 10 = add to your bucket list): [rating=6]
If you’re within an hour’s reach of Reyers, then stop in. Unless retail environments make your husband really cranky. Then I would skip it!
Hey YOU! Go BIG:
40 South Water Avenue, Sharon, PA 16146
800-245-1550
What's wrong with this picture? None of those shoes are for ME.
I’m a total sucker for those racks of cards in lobbies – sometimes I wish I could just get on the road with no plan, and go to places I only found on those cards! Actually, our Retro Roadtrips aren’t too far from that.
Did you register for Free Shoes For Life? 🙂
Like moths to a flame, we are. No, I didn’t register…my shoe racks are already overflowing!
That is one place we will not visit and I can only hope that my wife does not read your post this week. It will cost me dearly if she does 🙂 Fun post otherwise. Sorry you had to endure all that shopping Matt.
That is really cool! What a gigantic place. The picture of the gigantic Croc and those zoot suit shoes made me laugh out loud! I wonder what “world’s largest” things we have down here in Texas. Every restaurant claims to have the world’s largest chicken fried steak.
I really hope you bought those three pairs of shiny pastel dancing shoes! Those things are stylish!
Of course! He’s wearing the green ones today, as a matter of fact. 🙂
Oh, I need to visit that store :)))))
Oh I wish we had such a big shop of shoes in Georgia 🙂
I know, but it’s just too much temptation!!
He is just going green, matching the envoronment