Troy Dempsey, owner and certified pedorthist at The Heel, shows off womens’ shoes at the new The Heel Next Door on Tuesday, June 18. Ben Rodgers Photo
By Ben Rodgers
Editor
ASHWAUBENON – Shoppers who want quality shoes at a discount have a new option in town courtesy of a shoe store that has been around since 1970.
The Heel Next Door offers shoppers a chance to find shoes at reduced price in an outlet setting.
“There’s some funky or cool things we wouldn’t carry at the other store with some drastically reduced prices, 50-70 percent off sometimes,” said Troy Dempsey, owner and certified pedorthist.
The original Heel relocated from Adams Street in Green Bay to Waube Lane in Ashwaubenon, next to Ashwaubenon Lanes. The Heel Next Door is, as the name implies, next to the new location.
“We opened this to get rid of our odds and ends and discontinued inventory,” Dempsey said.
There are roughly 17,000 pairs of shoes at The Heel, so The Heel Next Door carries new shoes that are no longer viable for the main location.
These shoes comes in all sizes and styles.
“We have a good amount, a sheer quantity of footwear,” Dempsey said.
At the regular Heel, shoppers can speak with pedorthists and get professional advice for comfort.
At The Heel Next Door, shoppers can browse for deals by size or style, as inventory is more limited than the main store.
The experience is similar to other store shoes, but with name brands at reduced prices.
“What they’re going to find here is a better quality product with a better shopping experience and similar or lower prices,” Dempsey said.
Shoes at the outlet are the same styles as sold at the regular store. They include shoes for comfort, fashion, work, occupational and dress.
The Heel Next Door also sells kids’ shoes, something Dempsey says the state doesn’t have north of Madison.
He would like to grow and offer a larger selection of kids’ shoes in the future as well.
“We’re looking at opening a store in the property we have,” Dempsey said.
Brands featured at The Heel and The Heel Next Door include Birkenstock, Keen, New Balance, Brooks, Vionic, Hoka One One, Alegria, Smartwool and more.
For children there are Keen, New Balance, Plae, Chaco, Pediped, Tsukihoshi and more.
Dempsey said he understands that to stay alive in retail, shoe stores need to carry numerous brands in all different sizes with quality service, too.
“Retail isn’t doing well, the internet is beating it up…” he said. “But we’re doing well because we offer a service, a service people need and that we can provide.”
His location on Interstate 41 and Waube Lane also helps attract customers from the Upper Peninsula, to Door County to Appleton.
“The location is so perfect because it’s easy to get to in any direction,” Dempsey said.
With the outlet addition, he encourages anyone looking for shoes, whether it’s for style or comfort or price to check out his stores.
“The biggest thing is we want to have results,” Dempsey said.