Jan. 19, 2023

After 35 years in Sioux Falls, Stride Rite plans to close.

“I’m so emotionally devastated,” said Tami Lien, the longtime owner of the licensed partner store. “As soon as people walk in the door, tears are flowing like nobody’s business.”

Lien originally managed the store at The Empire Mall, then became the local owner 23 years ago when she moved it to the River Plaza retail center at 2425 S. Shirley Ave.

Online retail has cut significantly into her sales, she said. While Stride Rite offers online shopping, it’s separate from the local stores.

E-commerce “is the reason you just can’t compete,” she said. “COVID absolutely took me out, but then, of course, this last year was the absolute killer because you couldn’t get product. How do you have a shoe store with no shoes?”

Shoe shipments were delayed up to 10 months, Lien said.

Since announcing the decision to close, she has been so busy she said she hopes the inventory lasts until the end of her lease March 31.

“I’m sitting OK but hoping it will hold me out until the end of March,” she said.

There are only about six or seven similarly licensed Stride Rite retailers left nationwide, she said.

Many locations are in other retailers, including Dillard’s and Scheels.

“I don’t know of anybody that would do what I’ve done — work and work and not take a paycheck,” Lien said, adding she has “poured my heart and soul into the business.”

Store hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Saturday.