Public Shoe Store

Although this place is closing at the end of May, go here and often till it closes. Doc is a sweet man and their selection is high quality stuff. There inventory his starting to go on sale do shop shop shop!

I want to give this place my business because it is conveniently located, and I am always in need of new shoes, but I just can’t. If you are used to retail shoe chains, don’t bother coming in.
First, they have a narrow selection that is very difficult to browse. Many of their styles are not on display, many boxes don’t have pictures, and boxes are stacked together without any immediate rhyme or reason. Lastly, I got the sense that my size was missing from a lot of the styles. After giving my size (9 — not uncommon) to the gentleman helping me, half the shoes I was presented with were not right (9 narrow, 9.5), as though «close enough» was the best the store could do.
Second, the business seems to be in a state of stagnation. Their inventory looks badly outdated — shelves full of faded, crumpling boxes with peeling, yellowed labels and brands I’ve never heard of. Appearance-​wise, the interior and exterior of the store are in dire need of remodeling and the dirty-​looking furniture should be replaced.
Third, I am almost insulted by some of the prices. When everything else I described screams «bargain,» I don’t understand how they dare charge what they do. $ 100 price tags for men’s dress shoes seem indiscriminately applied.
My poor customer experience here has given me a new appreciation for the bigger retailers, soulless though they may be. This place has been around since 1938, and it shows. The owners should hire a consultant and overhaul the business to get with the times or sell out.

This is a real treasure and I only recently discovered it. They have a great selection of shoes and accessories for problem feet. The proprietor, Dr. Friedman (Doc), is a podiatrist and if you have tricky feet, it’s worth waiting for him to take a look at your foot and make suggestions. He will also adjust the shoes as needed to make them fit as good as possible.
This is not an in and out kind of place. Put plenty of money in the meter and be patient. It’s worth it for the outstanding service and great selection. They carry more than a lot of specialty shoe stores in the area and will make sure you’re happy. They will not push you to get something that’s not right for you.
Beth, one of the other employees, was very sweet and helpful as well. I was encouraging her to learn whatever she can so she can take over when Doc retires. It’s not going to be around forever so get in there while you can!

Their owner Mr. Joel Friedman used to boot cars inadvertently parked in the wrong space number on their lot–

This is an excellent, excellent shoe store. Doc is outstanding, really knows his business. Personal attention from all 3 clerks, good selection of comfortable shoes, and they’ll order your size if they don’t have it in stock. They saved me and my very weird– and hard-​to-​find-​size feet!
They don’t make stores like this anymore. Luckily, this one is still around.

I have terrible feet and a ton of trouble finding shoes to fit, so when I found out that there was a specialty shoe store just a few blocks from my office, I had to check it out. However, I was incredibly disappointed with the service I received.
The salesman (who I think is the podiatrist referred to in other comments) was very rude to me, essentially making me feel like an idiot for not immediately knowing exactly what I needed. Even though I was the only customer in the store, he acted as though it was a huge waste of his time to wait on me. He outright ridiculed my desire to find shoes that would not hurt and also would be appropriate for a young woman in a business-​dress workplace. He told me, basically, that if I didn’t want to wear sneakers to work, I was just being vain. He told me explicitly that it was my fault that my feet hurt.
I don’t doubt that this is a good store for people who have been buying the same pair of hard-​to-​find orthopedic shoes for years. However, if you’re looking for new shoes for problem feet and don’t want a side of condescension and rudeness, stay away from this store. I’d stick with ordering online from places with free return shipping so that you can try on as many pairs as you want without being made to feel as though you’re wasting the salesperson’s time.

If you’re in Clarendon and want to time travel step inside this place. My grandmother used to bring me here as a lad back in the mid 1980’s, and I swear it hasn’t changed a bit. There is even a large banner announcing new rules for special orders effective January 1985! This place is so retro without even trying. It’s run by two older gentlemen who know a helluva lot more than you do about feet and shoes. They don’t really have anything I’d buy in here, but I love to walk in and remember what it was like to be 7 years old, and being dragged around Clarendon when it was the hip shopping spot for 70 year old women.

I really object to the review that called this a money laundering operation. The owner is an elderly podiatrist who (unlike most of the family businesses in Clarendon) has not been squeezed out by greedy landlords because he owns his own store. It is great that Public Shoe can continue in business even with low traffic. People come here from far away.
The proprietor carefully and courteously deals with problems that many Unilocalers don’t have, like diabetic feet. Public Shoe fits space shoes. They handle odd-​size feet, heel spurs, and the full range of foot problems that can be addressed by getting a better pair of shoes.

This used to be a thriving family run business that gave super service. They stayed and stuck it out in Clarendon during its decline when many merchants fled to the malls.
The sales people would measure your feet and could make recommendations based on any foot issues. My podiatrist recommended this place to me over 30 years ago when it was a thriving business. Amy Carter shopped her when her daddy, Jimmy was President. The store has an in-​house podiatrist («Doc») who is part of the family who owns the business.
Sadly, due to deaths in their family, the surge in stores like PayLess and the decline in people wishing to pay for good customer service, this place has declined. They now deal mainly in comfort shoes for problem feet. If you need orthopedic shoes or athletic shoes that won’t hurt your feet, go there. If you want glitzy trendy shoes made outside the USA, go elsewhere.