Forest Bootery In Lake Forest Is Celebrating Its 70th Year

One of today’s oldest footwear dynasties in the nation began at the Forest Bootery in Lake Forest Market Square and is celebrating its 70th year. Second generation owners, “the Girls,” Cristina and Cara Garrison grew up in the fashion footwear industry learning at an early age from their parents. After graduating college the pair came home and found their father was planning on selling the store. Not wanting to let their heritage go in 1996 they became the fourth owners of the Forest Bootery that was established in November of 1949.

“I remember going to New York with our father when I was around thirteen”, says Cara, “and meeting some of the great designers like Ralph Lauren, Joan & David Helpern and I remember Sam & Libby Edelman when they were first launching their line in the 1980’s. We would help pick out styles that we liked and my dad would listen to us for teen direction.” That was what it was like for the girls growing up in a family business. Cristina remembers “when the store had parties we had to be there to serve refreshments.”

Historically every downtown across America had a store that sold family shoes and leather goods called a “Bootery.” Fast forward, today, the Forest Bootery’s assortment is much more than just shoes for the family. When the legendary outerwear store, the Outdoorsman, closed its doors they acquired the brand The North Face, in the past few years they started carrying women’s ready to wear. “It’s about having what our customers need so they don’t have to shop somewhere other than their home downtown” says Cristina “we are a local landmark and a leader. We put in clothing because the tenant mix in the Square was missing this, well, and it’s super fun to buy.”

What’s going to happen with the Forest Bootery? Cara says “We are just not sure with closed store fronts on Market Square and online footwear sales climbing, it’s true, our Lake Forest location has been struggling. Consumers have evolved and don’t always shop local before clicking online, it’s just too easy. It’s hurting retail and I worry gone will be the days of going out shopping. Shop less in stores and then stores will have to carry less and so goes the cycle. We plan on continuing our search of finding that special niche online to help preserve our brick and mortar footprint.”

The “Bootery” is rich in heritage and its flagship location is located in Historic Market Square Lake Forest Illinois. They have been serving the communities of Lake Forest and Lake Bluff for seventy years. Their Libertyville location opened its doors in 2005.