Shoe and Sneaker Stores at Queens Center Mall

Steve Madden is a company out of New York that sells both women’s and men’s shoes. It began in 1990 in Queens and, therefore, makes the location in the Queens Center Mall particularly fitting for the company. Madden focuses upon bold, fashion-forward shoes for both women and men. Women’s shoes include heeled boots, sandals, flats, and sneakers, while the men’s shoes selection include loafers, Chelsea boots and other casual shoes. Bags and accessories are also available from the brand. In addition, the company releases seasonal collections of shoes that reflect current fashion trends. Overall, the brand has developed a loyal customer base amongst those that desire fashionable shoes at a relatively low price. Shoes are available in leather, faux suede, and synthetic materials, as well as in the Madden Girl line of shoes, which targets younger customers and offers more playful shoes at lower price points. Finally, the stores is typically well-organized and display shoes according to category and heel height. 

Aldo is a Canadian shoe company that sells fashion shoes, boots, sneakers, and accessories for men and women. Founded in Montreal in 1972, Aldo now has hundreds of stores in locations around the world. The Aldo store located in Queens Center Mall displays current fashion trends while honoring the classic designs of shoes in its inventory. Aldo features pump shoes, heels, sandals, and boots for women as well as dress shoes and sneakers for men. In addition to selling shoes, Aldo also features handbags, belts, and sunglasses for customers to purchase as accessories to their ensembles. Aldo has also begun to feature sustainable materials in its shoes. These materials include recycled components and responsibly source leather. Aldo releases new seasonal shoes multiple times during the year. Aldo shoes are positioned in the mid-range price segment for shoes, falling somewhere in between fast fashion and designer shoes. Aldo shoes feature a classic design that can be worn from dinner events to the office. The store features separate areas for shoes categorized by style for ease of browsing. 

Few shoe brands have a history as prominent as Clarks, which was established in Somerset, England in 1825. For nearly 200 years, the company has been perfecting its production of comfortable, durable shoes. Located within Queens Center Mall, the Clarks store features a selection of shoes for both men and women, including the brand’s line of comfortable dress shoes, oxfords, loafers, sandals, and boots. The brand is most famous for the production of its Desert Boot model, which was introduced in 1950, as well as its Wallabee shoe model, which was released decades later and has remained a favorite among the residents of New York. Most of Clarks’ shoes use high-quality leathers and suedes, as well as technologies like OrthoLite footbeds for comfort. The brand also offers a variety of casual, women’s shoes and sandals on its shelves, including wedges. Clarks also offers shoes for children, as the brand has a longstanding tradition of providing appropriately fitted shoes for children. Many of the shoes in the store follow the brand’s classic design features and lack bold designs. This shoe brand continues to be popular with customers who are in search of a pair of quality shoes that are suitable for everyday or workwear. 

Dr. Martens is a brand whose silhouette is some of the most recognizable in the footwear industry. Dr. Martens developed in postwar Germany by Klaus Märtens, who would create the original sole for the shoes. However, the Griggs family in England would license the rights to the shoes under the Dr. Martens brand starting in 1960. The iconic 1460 model features eight eyelets and remains the best-selling shoe that the company produces, and is available in a variety of colors and finishes at the Queens Center Mall location. In addition to the 1460 model, Dr. Martens also produces shoes like the 1461 model with three eyelets, the Jadon platform boot, Mary Jane styles, loafers, and chunky sandals. Once popular within specific sub cultures like punks and laborers, Dr. Martens has become a staple in mainstream fashion. The brands offer shoes with a variety of leathers, from smooth Polished Smooth leather to Nappa leather to the textured Wyoming leather. Dr. Martens has also collaborated with various other designers and musicians to create limited edition shoes that remain within the brand’s signature aesthetic. In addition to the classic designs, the Queens Center Mall location of Dr. Martens also features limited edition designs that are available only for specific seasons. In addition to selling shoes, the store also features accessories for the shoes, like different colored laces, shoe care products, and bags. Due to the construction of the shoes, a break-in period is necessary prior to wearing the shoes extensively; however, fans of the brand consider this part of the experience of purchasing and wearing a Dr. Martens boot. 

Crocs built one of the most unlikely comeback stories in the footwear industry by transforming their once polarizing foam clog into a globally recognized shoe brand. Founded in 2002 in Colorado, Crocs created their Classic Clog using proprietary Croslite foam. These shoes quickly gained popularity for both commercial and cultural reasons. The Queens Center Mall Crocs store offers the full line of Classic Clogs in a wide spectrum of colors as well as a variety of other Crocs products, including sandals, slides, boots, and wedges. Another major part of the Crocs experience in their stores are Jibbitz charms that can be clipped onto the shoes to allow customers to customize their pair of Crocs. They have collaborated with numerous other organizations, from Popstar Post Malone and Bad Bunny to Balenciaga. Crocs shoes are known for being lightweight, water-resistant, and easy to clean and are worn by a variety of different demographics. The LiteRide and Classic Crush platform lines of shoes are among the most popular among Crocs shoppers. The Croslite foam molds to the customer’s foot over time to provide maximum comfort in Crocs shoes. Finally, Crocs shoes come in a variety of colors and designs throughout the year to keep customers interested in their products. 

Journeys is a footwear specialty store that caters to teens and young adults with a variety of brands that reflect this demographic. The store at Queens Center Mall offers a wide selection of brands such as Vans, Converse, New Balance, Timberland, Dr. Martens, and UGG. Overall, the brand aims to focus upon the shoes that are popular among teenagers, reflecting current trends in skate culture, streetwear, and pop culture. Vans Old Skool, Converse Chuck Taylor and New Balance running shoes are some of the brands that are represented in the store’s inventory. Seasonal shoes, such as UGG boots and platform Chelsea boots are also carried by the store. The store often offers sales and deals, such as buy-one-get-one promotions and loyalty promotions, which encourages teens and young adults to shop at the store. In addition to offering shoes, the store also offers a selection of socks and accessories. The employees are generally very knowledgeable about the shoes that are trending, the popular brands, and the availability of those products in the store. The store decorations include shelves and displays of the top and new brands and shoes, encouraging customers to browse the store for these products. Overall, the brand has been active in several decades and has maintained its focus upon youth culture and trends. 

Timberland is an American brand that manufactures outdoor and lifestyle footwear, most famously its 1973 introduction of its yellow wheat-colored waterproof boot, the Timberland 6-Inch Premium Waterproof Boot. Though originally a brand without a connection to music or street culture, the Timberland boot became a staple of hip-hop and street fashion during the 1990s in New York. In the Queens Center Mall, Timberland stores sell its full line of boots and sneakers, including lifestyle shoes for women and men, and even clothing and accessories for both genders. Timberland offers a variety of boots for women, including heeled boots and slim silhouettes, and men offer boat shoes, field boots, and Timberland’s line of outdoor hiking shoes. Timberland also sells clothing items like flannel shirts, puffer jackets and pants, and bags and accessories. Its commitment to sustainability incorporates initiatives like Earthkeepers and Nature Needs Heroes, where the brand utilizes recycled and sustainably sourced materials in its products. Timberland’s premium boots are constructed with waterproof full grain leather and seam sealed constructions. Timberland’s connection to New York City and its streets makes its location within the Queens Center Mall a fitting spot for the brand to have a retail location, as its signature wheat boot is an essential addition to many wardrobes in the area. 

Skechers is one of the largest footwear companies in the United States in terms of overall sales volume. The company manufactures a wide variety of shoes, including casual shoes, athletic sneakers, work boots, and sandals. Founded in Manhattan Beach, California in 1992, Skechers manufacturers footwear for men, women, and children. Some of the brands within the Skechers store at Queens Center Mall include GOwalk shoes, D’Lites shoes, Arch Fit shoes, and GOrun shoes. Memory Foam insoles are one of the most recognized features of Skechers shoes and are present in many of the company’s different lines of shoes. The company also manufactures a line of Hands Free Slip-ins shoes that feature a patented heel design that allows the wearer to put on their shoes without the use of their hands. Skechers also manufactures light-up shoes and sporty shoes for children that are among the most popular lines within the store. A variety of celebrity shoes and advertising campaigns have helped to maintain the Skechers brand’s presence within pop culture. The store features a variety of sizes and styles of shoes that are accessible to customers of all age groups. Additionally, the store caters to those in specific industries that require slip-resistant footwear.

Adidas is a German athletic and lifestyle company founded in 1949 in Herzogenaurach by Adolf Dassler. Adidas is one of the world’s most recognized sportswear brands. Adidas stores like the one in Queens Center Mall offer athletic and lifestyle sneakers for consumers. Adidas offers sneakers for running with Boost technology from its Boost and Solar Boost lines. For basketball fans, the Harden and Dame basketball shoe lines are available. Adidas originals offer sneakers like Stan Smith, Superstar, Gazelle, and Samba sneakers that have enjoyed long lasting popularity within the sneaker culture. The Samba shoe, in particular, has seen a resurgence in Adidas Originals sneakers popularity in recent years. In addition to Adidas’ footwear brands, the store also offers Adidas apparel like tracksuits, hoodies, shorts, and athletic wear. Adidas has collaborated with artists like Pharrell Williams, Beyoncé’s Ivy Park label, and Stella McCartney. Adidas’ three-stripe logo is one of the most recognized brands in the fashion and sportswear world. Adidas also offers sneakers in kids sizes for those looking to provide sneakers for the younger generation. 

Kids Foot Locker is a store dedicated to footwear for infants, toddlers, and children that stocks brands like Nike, Adidas, Jordan Brand, Puma, New Balance, and others. The Queens Center Mall location features Nike, Adidas, Jordan Brand, Puma, New Balance, and other brands in kid sizes. The store features Jordan Brand items for kids in the Grade School and Toddler size for some of the most popular retro Air Jordans, the same as are available at the nearby Foot Locker store. Nike offers kids’ shoes, including the running and lifestyle shoes in kid sizes, including the smaller sizes of Air Max and Force shoes. New Balance offers the popular 574 and 990 models in kid sizes. Adidas features kids’ shoes, including the classic Superstar and Ultraboost shoes in smaller sizes for kids. In addition to footwear, Kids Foot Locker features apparel for kids, including jerseys, shorts, and hoodies in kid sizes. The store features accessible layouts for kids and parents with strollers. Footwear is available for kids to try on and fit for those younger children. The FLX program for customers at Foot Locker locations is also available at Kids Foot Locker locations. 

Champs Sports is an apparel and footwear retailer that exists as part of the Foot Locker Inc. Portfolio, but features a slightly different type of selection within the store. The Queens Center Mall Champs Sports store features Nike, Adidas, Jordan Brand, Under Armour, Puma, and New Balance brands. In addition to these brands, the store features a selection of apparel from various sports teams (both men’s and women’s) across multiple different leagues, including NBA, NFL, and MLB jerseys and apparel. Furthermore, the store features a wide selection of accessories for those who visit the store, as well. The store stocks various types of socks, gym bags, water bottles, and other accessories for those who visit the store and wish to purchase products that can be used to complete their athletic kits. Champs Sports was founded in 1984 and has expanded to many different locations across the United States. 

JD Sports is a British sportswear retailer founded in Bury, England in 1981 with a growing presence in the United States market. The Queens Center Mall location of JD Sports features a selection of brands like Nike, Adidas, Jordan Brand, New Balance and The North Face. JD Sports features exclusive shoes and products that are not sold at every sneaker store in the area. Much like stores in the Foot Locker family, JD Sports features releases from brands like Nike Air Max shoes, Air Force 1 shoes and Adidas Originals shoes. Both New Balance retro shoes, such as the 550, 990 and 574 models are also available at JD Sports. In addition to sneakers, JD Sports also features apparel from Nike, Adidas and other athletic brands. Each JD Sports store features a design that includes brand features and elements that create a feeling of premium quality and features a layout that is more elaborate than most sporting goods stores. JD Sports has expanded to many states across the United States, both through organic expansion of the brand and through the acquisition of other athletic shoe and apparel brands. Finally, many JD Sports locations feature youth shoe sizes in addition to adult sizes of their popular shoes. 

Snipes is a European retailer of streetwear and sneakers that started in Germany in 1998 but has expanded to the American market through acquisitions of multiple brands and the opening of new stores in areas like New York. The Snipes store in Queens Center Mall features brands like Nike, Adidas, Jordan Brand, Timberland, New Balance and Puma for those who seek both sneakers and streetwear apparel. Snipes aims to curate street fashion and sneaker brands with items trending in the industry rather than sport related brands and products alone. In addition to the brands listed above, Snipes has also featured products from its own line of apparel. Products from brands like Nike’s Air Force 1 sneakers, Adidas’ Gazelle and Samba sneakers and Jordan Brand retro shoes are available at the store. New Balance sneakers are also featured in the store, reflecting the growing presence of the brand in the streetwear fashion world. In addition to Nike’s and Adidas’ manufacturer of Timberland’s 6-inch boots, another brand available at Snipes is Puma. Snipes has also partnered with several hip-hop artists and figures in the industry to include music elements to enhance the Snipes experience in the stores. Furthermore, Snipes stocks accessories for customers to purchase, such as caps, backpacks and socks. Additionally, Snipes entered the United States market via the acquisition of Kicks USA and Dr. Jay’s, both of which have numerous locations in major American metro areas, including New York. 

Laced Up is a sneaker boutique that features products with the sensibility of an independent retail store that focuses upon limited and premium sneaker releases. Stores like Laced Up serve a specific segment of the sneaker market that exists beyond the available offerings of mainstream athletic shoe retail stores. The sneaker store aims to serve sneaker enthusiasts and collectors, who are often the target market for sneakers that have developed a culture within the sneaker community. The Queens Center Mall Laced Up store makes its premium offerings accessible to a broader market by locating it within a major shopping mall. The store features sneakers from brands like Nike, Jordan Brand, Adidas, and New Balance, with an emphasis on limited releases. Retro Jordan silhouettes are a component of the typical inventory for stores of this nature. Other brands that may have limited releases and collaborations with New Balance and Adidas offer additional value to sneaker enthusiasts who visit the store. The boutique offers apparel and accessories in addition to its footwear offerings. The concept of a boutique retail store offers customers a different shopping experience than the larger, chain-operated sneaker retailers. The presence of a boutique sneaker retailer at Queens Center Mall alongside the larger chain stores provides sneaker enthusiasts with a variety of options to explore while visiting the shopping mall. 

Zumiez is a retailer that specializes in products related to skate, surf, and snowboard culture. The brands that Zumiez stocks include brands that are related to skateboarding culture or action sports wear. Zumiez offers footwear from brands like Vans, Emerica, etnies, Converse, HUF, and DC Shoes. Each of these brands have some relation to skateboarding culture. For instance, Vans is a brand whose footwear is typically featured as part of Zumiez’s sneaker offerings, including skate shoes like the Sk8-Hi, Old Skool, and Era skate shoes, each of which have vulcanized soles. Additionally, brands like Emerica and etnies offer skate shoes with reinforced toe caps, suede uppers, and either cupsole or vulcanized soles. Zumiez also offers apparel from brands like Thrasher, Independent, Primitive, and Element, all of which is associated with skate culture. Additionally, Zumiez also offers skate-related hardgoods, such as skate decks, trucks, wheels, and bearings in one of its stores, making it one of the few retail locations within a shopping mall that offers all of the products necessary to purchase a complete skateboarding setup. Zumiez also features graphics-heavy displays throughout its stores to represent its association with skate culture. Zumiez originally began in 1978 in Bellevue, Washington, but now has hundreds of locations throughout the United States. However, each Zumiez store’s sales representatives are typically individuals that are both skilled skaters and participants in various action sports cultures. 

Charlotte Russe is a retailer dedicated to offering fashionable and affordable clothing and accessories for women. The clothing and accessories that Charlotte Russe offers include footwear. Charlotte Russe specifically targets young women who are looking for fashion trends at affordable prices. The Charlotte Russe location at Queens Center Mall offers women’s sandals, women’s heeled shoes, platform shoes, women’s flats, and women’s boots. All of the footwear items at Charlotte Russe are relatively low priced, which is another reason that younger customers of the store are drawn to Charlotte Russe. The store features a selection of shoes that women can wear to attend night events or parties, including strappy heeled sandals and dressy boots. Charlotte Russe shoes also feature the growing trend of platform shoes and chunky heels, which are targeted towards the current trend in heels that are popular within the fashion world at the time. Charlotte Russe also sells clothing, bags, jewelry, and accessories in addition to its footwear. The fashion brand first launched in 1975 in San Diego, but has since expanded to many other locations. However, Charlotte Russe has also recently undergone a closure and relaunching of its stores. The shoes that are sold at Charlotte Russe are also continually changing and evolving to incorporate the new fashion lines for clothing that are launching for the brand. Charlotte Russe offers footwear sizes that range in standard women’s sizes. 

PacSun, short for Pacific Sunwear, is a lifestyle brand with roots in California that has been selling clothing, accessories, and footwear targeted toward surf and skate culture since 1980 in Anaheim, CA. The Queens Center Mall location of PacSun sells footwear alongside its apparel brands, including both Vans and Converse sneakers, which are brands that appeal to the brand’s target demographics of young adults and teens. Both men’s and women’s footwear is offered within the store, as are apparel items. Beyond its apparel brands, PacSun has collaborated with a variety of other brands over the years, including Playboy, Grateful Dead, and a variety of streetwear brands. These collaborations have included accessories and footwear brands. Additionally, PacSun has worked to incorporate digital culture into its branding, as well as target consumers within the Gen Z demographic. The stores feature a brand and aesthetic that is casual and reflects the brand characteristics of PacSun. Overall, PacSun maintains both physical and digital retail locations.