Imelda’s and Louie’s Shoes

I just checked out Imelda’s for the first time yesterday. Despite living in the neighborhood for two years, I had avoided actually going in to this point because, I always thought that it was the sort of store that I’d just have to look longingly but not be able to afford. However, yesterday it was freezing out and I was waiting for a friend, I stopped in just for a minute…
First, I’m someone who appreciates shoes that are that perfect intersection of cute yet walkable, and I don’t like to compromise on either of those elements. Walking into Imelda’s, I felt that someone had gone shopping with my tastes in mind and then put them all on display in one place for me to peruse at my leisure, thereby saving me from wasting time going through 100s that aren’t quite right.
Now, the price… surprise, surprise: The Danskos I looked at were very reasonable, not out of line from what I normally pay at Nordstrom’s or even online. Turns out they don’t throw a huge markup on things (in fact, I price checked on Zappos and the shoes I fell in love with at Imelda’s were exactly the same price!) thereby giving me even more reason to buy local and keep my money circulating in PDX!
I personally appreciate good customer service and I felt they had it in spades. They were friendly, personable, and helpful. The sales staff (particularly Stefanie, who went out of her way to help me) struck me as enthusiastic, but not at all pushy (maybe a little geeky — which in my book is a good thing!) about quality shoes. Which I think is very ‘Portland’ in the best sense.
I too am not a fan of places that only give store credit instead of full-​money back guarantees, but I’m also not going to throw a temper-​tantrum about it. I do understand that it’s part of the package with supporting local business and helping them to survive and enrich my community. This is a fairly universal policy in small stores, and helps to encourage me to ensure that I only buy what I know I’ll love.
The store has a small footprint (ha ha, pun intended…), and yet they still employed two staff members clearly out of a effort to provide great service.
Bottom line: There’s passion for doing things the right way at Imelda’s both in quality of shoes and customer service. So for those reviewing on here who are hoping to be ignored by disengaged staff maybe they should try Macy’s or some other indifferent corporate box chain. Imelda’s is a different experience and in my mind that’s a feature, not a bug!

The gals were incredible! I’d been looking all over the country for a very specific boot and they had the last pair in my size. Awesome service and fast shipping. Funny and helpful emails keeping me up to date on the process. Though I live in a different state, I’ll be ordering from them again and definitely visiting the stores if I ever get to Portland. Thanks for a wonderful shopping experience!

It’s very difficult for me to find winter boots that fit my small calves… but here at Imelda’s this problem was fixed with the combination of a wide selection of shoes/​boots and the attentive, personalized service.
This has been the only shoe store where I have had options to choose from boots that fit well… a rare and wonderful winter boot occurrence for me! :)
Left the store feeling wonderful wearing my fashionable and practical new boots!

great selection!
friendly, patient, and helpful staff
i’m VERY happy with my frye boots and love that i got a referral to a cobbler to protect the soles

I really like to support local business and I am a shoe splurger, because I believe in good footwear. The lady who sold me the (beautiful but expensive) boots was very friendly and helpful. So, 10 days after I bought my boots the toe of one of them completely collapsed in and rubs on the top of my toes. Not only are they aesthetically unappealing now, but really unwearable. I took them back for an exchange and the manager said that I damaged the boots perhaps by «crawling around on the floor»? Um. No. I wasn’t doing any crawling recently. She offered no exchange because I guess $ 200+ shoes shouldn’t be expected to last more than 10 days with normal usage??? So, my feeling is that if you sell a cheap and faulty product and are unable to stand by the quality with a basic guarantee of merchantability, you shouldn’t be in business.

When I first started going here I liked it, then I realized that they rarely get in new stock and what they do get all looks the same. Every time I go in I feel like Im looking at the same shoes over and over again. Please please replenish with new styles so the store stays fresh and current. Also, the store on Hawthorne is better.

That’s IT: I am never shopping at Imelda’s again. I’ve been a pretty frequent customer since the olden days, but man, the relentlessly pushy, unhelpful and condescending «customer service» makes me feel completely unguilty about buying footwear online. Would you like a tip, Imelda’s sales staff? MANY OF US ARE NOT GULLIBLE SUCKERS WHO WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU LIKE WE KNOW WHAT WE LIKE AND WHAT WE LIKE IS TO LOOK AROUND A LONG TIME WITHOUT YOU STALKING US LIKE A NUTCASE AND BULLYING US TO TRY ON EVERY DAMN SHOE WE PICK UP WE’LL ASK IF WE’D LIKE TO TRY SOMETHING ON OR HAVE A QUESTION UNTIL THEN GO AWAY. My eight-​year-​old even complained about our harrassing saleslady yesterday, and he is a patient, shoe-​loving prince. Avoid!

Unfortunately I have another bad review to add. I have loved Imelda’s in the past (despite horrible return policy and creepy salespeople the shoe selection is admirable). I bought my husband a pair of Earth shoes and after one year and 3 months the soles cracked wide open. He never even wore them outside — rides his bike to work and changes into them. There is virtually no wear on the soles, they simply cracked open. Imelda’s said they would only replace them up to 1 year and that I shouldn’t expect shoes to last longer than that. What? I buy quality shoes and I have many a pair in my closet I’m still wearing after 10 years.
The worst is that he admitted that they have had this complaint before! I said they have an obligation to warn people that it is a potential problem (or stop selling Earth shoes!). He refused to acknowledge that they have any responsibility. Why would I spend good money on shoes there when I know they don’t stand behind their products? I will take other’s suggestion and go to Zappos next time. Or even Nordstrom — at least they take responsibility for what they sell. Very disappointed.

I like the shoes but was really upset by their return policy. My fault for not paying attention when I ordered on line and had my husband pick them up at the store for me. They were too big and when I brought them back in 9 days they waived the 7 day No Return policy (unbelievable) — making a «one time exception.» They then told me they gave no refunds, ever. I’ve never heard of such a customer unfriendly policy. If I didn’t have to buy another pair now, I would never go there again. I agree with the other reviewer– why get treated like this when Zappos is so amazing?

Foot trafficked here. as us girls were out and about, having a drink, catching up.
My friend just had to go in here, she said she owed it to herself. Isn’t that always the rationalization?
Well, as soon as we entered it was like a big frenzy whirlwind. It should have been filmed. She must have touched every hat, every shoe in there. The staff was really having trouble following her around, keeping up with her. So was I! She’d throw on a hat and say, does this make me look fat? Only to turn around and grab some shoes and ask for her size in them, to picking up some yellow flats and wondering out loud which dress she could match it up with.
I was not as enthusiastic as her however, because, while she picks up the item, I have a tendency to FIRST look at the tag for the price and walk away fast. I did stop dead in my tracks though when I saw the sale sign which was off in the corner, and none of the sales folks bothered to mention this important point of sale.
My friend walked out with 2 pairs of shoes and her new hat on her head leaving the sales folks in her dust.

Bad experience every time.
I love shoes, and my dear friend who just visited from out of town loves shoes even more than I do, so she begged that we go to Imelda’s in the Pearl. I have never had a great experience here, but I decided I would try again.
My friend dug in and was trying on lots of shoes, and I was perusing and commenting on what she was trying on. I felt so incredibly unwelcome and followed by the 3 women salespeople (maybe 1 was the owner?) that I wanted to leave desperately. I endured, but when my girlfriend was commenting that the shoe she was trying on didn’t fit quite right, the saleswoman told her she could wear thicker socks, or slip something in the shoe and it would fit just fine. Really? A suggestion that was ludicrous and obviously showed that they did not have her best interest in mind at all.
Someone else commented that its run by «frosty bitches», and sad to say that that has been my experience every time I’ve gone in — I have now learned my lesson and will not bother trying to return.

Not so fun to shop there
I have been going to Imelda’s for years and every time I go in there I feel like I am followed around and watched like a hawk. The best part is this time when I asked to try on a pair of shoes the sales person brought me one shoe to try on. I had to ask for the other shoe.
What is up with that? Why would I want to try on one shoe.
I feel they always have poor sales people there and they forget that just cause you not all dressed up to go shoe shopping you can still afford to buy shoes.
They tend to be judgmental if you are not all dressed. They offer poor customer service for the prices of their shoes.
When I actually brought something it took them 10 minutes to ring it up. switch in Portland, Zappos and PED EX is way better. I keep thinking oh I am in the neighborhood, how bad could it be. It always bad.
I recently went in again because they were having a sale and have to say it was better. So I feel I should update my review. The sweet sales associate spent a lot of time with me and was not a snot. The selection is limited at this time, but none the less it was better even though I did not buy anything.

I’ve never been treated so rudely in any store. And if you’re shoes disintegrate and you bring them back the next day, tough shit. I will never ever shop there again

Although they might have a few cute things: shoes, hats, accesories… I would never purchase anything from them. From the moment you walk in, you feel one or more of their employees watching you, like you are chomping at the bit to steal their merchandise. It’s extremly annoying and a complete turn off to ever going back to the store again. I thought maybe the first time I went was an anomaly, but no, the second time was the same, if not worse. I wouldn’t recommend this store to anyone.

I love this little store!
Supafly funky shoes at fab prices. If you want some high-​end shoes for your urban feet, Imelda’s is definitely worth checking out.
Best of all, you probably won’t see everyone and their mama walkin’ around in your shoes. What more can you ask for?!

Damn I love this store! Both of them, actually (Hawthorne and the Pearl). They have a fantastic selection of nice, quality footwear for both men and women, a great sock selection and FANTASTIC handbags. I’m not sure there’s another store in town that sells quite so many of the HOBO International brand of handbags. Annnnd, they have a pretty great jewelry selection as well.
The previous review is correct in stating that this store is slightly smaller than the Hawthorne store but I also think their selection is slightly better. Last year I received an ACME computer bag that was purchased at the Hawthorne store for my birthday. The Hawthorne store didn’t have what I was looking for when I went to exchange it and suggested I come here. There was a broad selection of bags to choose from here. I have found the staff to be super friendly here, even more so than the Hawthorne store, and the items I’ve purchased here have been great quality and stylish too.
Their return and exchange policy is pretty strict so beware if you decide you have second thoughts about something.