Niche Footwear

doesn’t exist. Couldn’t find it. Called the number and guess what it is? City Soles! Don’t mess with my heart Niche Footwear, just don’t.

I’ve been in twice now and they always have a tempting pair of shoes. My preference is comfortable but good looking. I wait for the sales ’cause the original sticker prices are usually too much for my budget. Note that they also carry awesome handcrafted jewelery. The two sales people that i had direct contact with were awesome. Friendly but not pushy. Too bad that on my last visit, another sales person behind the counter was giving me the icy, disdainful stare.

Its dangerous to walk in here with extra cash in your wallet. I love this place. I love Chie Mihara and Coclico. All my favorite pairs of shoes are from here. Even though they are expensive, they are the highest quality and the most confortable. I have never had an issue with the staff. They are usually nice and attentive. Some of the styles aren’t for everyone, but they carry sophisticated shoes for any urban warrior.

We ducked into Niche, really only wanting to find some warmth for a second during a long January walk. I left with what I believe might be the coolest pair of boots EVER! I wore them proudly all over Chicago for the next couple of days… unfortunately once I got back to KC I worried they may be a bit too trendy for this cowtown. Looks like i need to move someplace bigger where they’ll appreciate my boots!

Danger, danger!!! Approach with caution and a full wallet. You’ll fall in love with several shoes. This is a full service shoe store with great designers you won’t find practically anywhere else. If you get on their email list and become a facebook fan, be careful not to get clammy hands and a racy heart. This store is my weakness, my addiction. Great service and don’t feel guilty if you try on 15 pairs of shoes and walk out with nothing. It’s ok, you can think about it. Take all the time you need. You know eventually you’ll be back for the obsession and make a purchase.
Oh yeah, they do take lay away.

Eh… Isn’t this place just city soles with a different door?
They have some great bands of shoes, but they are way over priced. Also some of the actual styles they carry in those brands (like Cydwoq, chie mihara, etc) are like the weirdest, most uncomfortable ones in the line. If I am going to spend a lot on hand made shoes, I need to be able to walk in them.
I also don’t like coming here because of the sales people. They are either really pushy and make you feel bad for not buying a pair of shoes every time you come in, or they don’t even bother to acknowledge you. What’s their deal??? Can’t I have service that is somewhere in between that?

Great selection on shoes. Every shoe I saw there that I wanted, I bought somewhere else or online for a fraction of the price I prefer to go there and try them on to make sure I like them and then buy them elsewhere where they arent marked up! the sales people are extremely abrasive and aggressive, so practice your strong, stern no thank you before entering!

You can usually tell the greatness of a place by their customer service. I have only bought one thing here and it was an umbrella. 4 months in and the clasp to close the umbrella has never worked. So on my way to lunch one rainy day I stopped back in to see if it could be repaired or exchanged. The manager attempted to fix it but with no luck. 2 minutes later I am handed a brand new umbrella of the exact same kind that works. This is what customer service is all about. I will definitely consider buying other products at this store in the future! Great Job Niche!

The good things:
— Good selection of hard to find, well designed shoes
— They have Cydwoqs
— They have Campers
— It’s steps off the Damon stop on the Blue Line
— They have some pretty good sales
The annoying things:
— Expensive
— THE MOST ANNOYING SALES PEOPLE I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED
Let me explain. The few times that I have been here, the salespeople have been completely overbearing. The last time I was here, the sales guy followed my friend and I around the store like we were shopping at f-​ing Cartier. At first I thought «does this guy think we are going to run off with some shoes and a few handbags?». But then I quickly realized that he was absolutely desperate to make a sale and had no clue how to read people or be a decent sales person. I don’t know if they work on commission or what, but they would not leave me alone and I began to feel guilty for just looking at their merchandise. Like I should have come in there with $ 400 in my hand, ready to walk out with some leather sandals made by hand in Peru.
Because I have felt so uncomfortable shopping here, I will never go back. All those shoes they sell there are also available in online stores.

Somehow I am lucky enough to speak to Scott, the handsome owner, each visit to Niche. He is obviously passionate about the many stores which he owns including Psycho Baby and City Soles on Southport.
Let’s focus on this shop though. Sexy and spacious, Scott buys a nice variety of unique, quality shoes. Styles range from sexy to fashionista to almost organic. But you can be assured that they all have distinguishing features which are sure to grab everyone’s attention on the street!
Intermixed with the fab selection of shoes are a boatload of handbags and manbags. Again, the quality of each piece is top-​notch. I found myself caressing each one and dreaming that I could make it my own. Once I realized how strange this may seem to the other shoppers, I laid off and moved on to the gorgeous cases of jewelry.
Scott said he chooses to stock Chicago artisians, but has international designs on sale as well. The designs were fairly simple and, again, I found some to even have an organic feel to them. Very modern and sophisticated, I was sad that they don’t really carry any designs that I can afford right now. Guys, don’t miss the case of leather and metal pieces which would make for a strikingly sexy addition to your wardrobe.
It won’t be long until I am back in the swing of things and when I am I hope to find a brilliantly smiling man named Scott at the door of Niche.

They have a different and unique shoe/​boot collection. Generally a little too «earthy» for me but it’s a great store.
Very friendly and accomodating staff.
Niche also carries Tsubo brand for men, which I adore because it’s a grown up version of Diesel’s (which I like too.) Tsubo offers styles that are more appropriate, in my opinion, for older men. The shoes are really well made and are very comfortable, I just love them for men!
I bought a cute pair of rain boots here that were ridiculously well priced and I recieve compliments any time I wear them!

My happy place.
Love the styles. Kate & Harrison are great partners in making selections and getting to know the brands. Yes, it is a bit expensive — but I never worry as my feet feel soooo good and look damn good too. I’m skimp on something else perhaps, but I buy my shoes at Niche.

Best. Sales. Ever.
Yeah, stuff is expensive. Until it winds up in clearance! Or they have a midnight or 5¢ sale. This actually happens quite often. Some of the sale items can still run you $ 200, but for a pair of handmade Cydwoqs that you’ll own for the rest of your life, is that such a big deal?
I don’t like to spend money on clothes. I’m a habitual thrift shopper. I make an exception for shoes at Niche, and I only average one pair from here a year so it never feels excessive. The salespeople are great, too. They also make very good recommendations and can tell you just about anything about the shoe you’re buying.
It also helps if you’re a size 10 – 11 like me, so I concede that it may be harder to find something great if you wear a common size.

I have been here a couple times and it’s just so difficult to shop here when the sales items are still too expensive for me. I saw some quite heels here and bawked at the sale price. If I bought them, they’d be the most expensive pair of shoes that I’ve bought and I couldn’t justify that. They also carry some stylish jewelry pieces here, but they are also pricey. A bracelet and a pair of earrings here can easily put you at the price of an expensive pair of shoes. I’d love to make enough money to be able to just buy a pair of shoes here without sweating it. The staff is very friendly and helpful, and not pushy at all. I could potentially wander back to see if the shoes come down in price a little later.

Niche is a dangerous, dangerous place if you have a shoe addiction.
I am currently lusting over a pair of size 6.5 cranberry pumps by Costume National. There’s only one pair in the store, and I’m fairly certain that a few rounds of drinks at The Tavern will convince me that dropping $ 600 for beautiful red shoes is a great idea.
The sales people are über-​helpful, and they really, really love shoes. While I was drooling over the cranberry pumps, I got to learn about how they’re constructed, why a wider pointed toe is more flattering than a narrow one, and how the owner of Niche is also in love with Costume National shoes.
Next time I have a bad day? I’m coming here. The shoes will make everything right in the world.

Niche carries some beautiful and well-​made shoes. I have yet to find anything in the few times I’ve been in there, but that’s mostly due to my mutant size 5.5 feet. The shoes are also a little pricey, although I would definitely splurge on a pair or two if they carried my size.
The service is amazing. Much of my experience with the Wicker Park boutiques has been somewhat negative as I don’t look like a hipster/​trixie. However Niche’s employees are always super friendly and helpful, even when I don’t buy anything. This is where I want to spend my money. .. when I have some.

Yes, they have some REALLY nice shoes. And yes, the sale they have is fabulous. However, I could do without the the bored and too-​cool-​for-​school staff. Also, the owner is a prick. He commented on my flip-​flops (while I was minding my own biz-​nass at Pontiac) and he said, «why don’t you come into my store and get some real shoes.» Well Mr. Niche, why don’t you get your head out of my ass and leave me the eff alone.

Niche/​City Soles is a GREAT place to find shoes for men and women (more for women, but the men’s selection is still quite good). If you do manage to buy 10 regular priced shoes (My girlfriend and I have over the years) you can save $ 100 on a pair of shoes… That is a nice touch.
They have very nice brands… and they keep the number they buy in any size at a minimum… so if you have a pair of shoes you probably will not run into anybody else in the city wearing them.
The prices are a bit steep, but you are paying for extremely good quality and style… and their previously-​mentioned nickel sale is a great deal.

Today I was informed that I finally hit the 10 shoe mark. Translation: I’ve purchased 10 pairs of shoes here, which means I’ve probably spent a shamefully large amount of money on shoes, many of which have long been chewed into shreds by my dog. For my heroic effort over 4 years, I get a 100 dollar discount on my next purchase. Bonus! So what if it is probably the equivalent of a 2.5% rebate? I’m happy, and you can be sure I’m gonna put that discount to use.
Damn, I love this place. And so does my dog, who loves that she can come in with me when I’m shopping. Hooray for dog-​friendly shoe-​shops.
With their always changing, extremely quirky, and never dull selection of amazing women’s shoes, Niche/​City Soles has become my go-​to-​place for work-​friendly but fashionable European footwear. They have designers you’d be hard-​pressed to find anywhere else — Moma boots from Italy, Chie Mihara from Spain, Costume National from France, Paul Smith from the UK, and new designers who I have yet to discover.
The service is friendly, attentive and persuasive. Prices can be high, but if you subscribe to their mailing list, you’ll find out about all their great sales, including my favorite, Midnight Madness, which is a buy one, get a second (already reduced pair) for .$.05. Do you shopping during the quarterly sales when anything in the store is up to 15% off.
Love these guys. Especially Lori (or is it Laurie or Lorrie or Lory or?) who has gone the distance every time I’ve come in. I’m an impossible shopper, so I appreciate her patience.

Buy a few pairs of shoes at Niche or pay the mortgage.
Tough choice.