Rack Room Shoes

The foundation for Rack Room Shoes was established in 1920 in Salisbury, North Carolina by Phil Levinson, and later passed on to his son-in-law, Mort Lerner. The period from 1920 until 1984 was one of modest growth. However, in 1984, the 22-store company was purchased by The Deichmann Group, a Germany- based shoe retailer, beginning a period of accelerated growth and infrastructure modernization.

By 1990, Rack Room Shoes was operating 100 stores and just 4 years later the 200th store opened. In 1995, the company relocated its United States headquarters to a 72,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility in Charlotte, North Carolina. Over the next ten years the Rack Room Shoes chain doubled in size, with locations in 24 states from New Jersey to the tip of Florida to the California borders.

Known as an innovator in the shoe industry for more than 80 years, Rack Room Shoes has earned the respect of its customers, vendors, landlords and other retailers. By offering the best selection, brands, service, convenience and value, Rack Room Shoes remains poised for great achievements in the years to come.

Great shoes for men, women and children in comfort, dress, casual, and athletic categories makes Rack Room Shoes the family footwear retailer of choice. The company offers a wide selection of nationally recognized brands known for their quality. Rack Room Shoes also offers an assortment of exclusive private brands commissioned from the best manufacturers in the business. These private brands offer the customer great styles and outstanding values, which translates into satisfied, loyal, repeat customers.
Focus on the Customer

Over 4,000 associates meet and greet our customers every day. Their dedication to service and customer satisfaction is what propels Rack Room Shoes’ forward. Our appreciation for our customers is evident through our celebration of our customers -- from our Models Wanted program, to customer’s participation in designing shoes and naming brands, to finding ways to surprise and delight them through contests and games and chances to win (everything from a summer vacation for the family to free shoes for a year), to our involvement in our communities.

Our mission: to be the family footwear retailer of choice by consistantly providing quality products, great styles, great prices and a sincere respect and appreciation for the customer.
About Deichmann Shoe of Germany

It all began in 1913 with a shoemaker’s shop in Borbeck district of Essen. Six years later its owner, Heinrich Deichmann, began retailing factory-made shoes. When the founder died, his wife initially took the helm, followed by their son Heinz-Horst Deichmann in partnership with his wife, Ruth. The first store outside of Essen was opened in 1949 and others soon followed. The design of the store was modern, and this growing company sought to move with the times. But Deichmann remained true to the business model of a family - run company.

In the post - war years the company’s network of outlets continued expanding in Germany. By 1963, the year of the company’s fiftieth anniversary, there were 16 stores; twenty - five years later the name Deichmann could be found on over 400 shoe stores across the country. Today, shortly after the 90th anniversary, there are almost 1,100 locations in Germany.

Globally, Deichmann now operates in fifteen countries, with over 2,200 stores and 22,000 employees, selling over 110,000,000 pairs of shoes annually. After Germany, the US has become the group’s second most important market.