Expanding its footprint: Shoe Sensation grows

STERLING – Shoes come in pairs, and Shoe Sensation’s presence in Sterling is soon to be the same.

The shoe store chain will open a second location in Pine Tree Plaza, at 4311 E. Lincolnway, Suite G – just a few doors down from Dollar Tree – in space most recently occupied by Wesley’s Kiddie City.

March 27 is the projected soft opening date, with a grand opening, drawings and giveaways on April 3.

Shoe Sensation has had a store in Northland Mall, 2900 E. Lincolnway, for nearly a decade.

The new store is similar to its mall location at nearly 6,000-square-feet. Inventory specifics are still being finalized, manager Greg Beets said.

A staff of 10 was hired for the new store during a job fair a couple of weeks ago; they, along with Beets, are undergoing training at the mall.

“It should work out real good,” said Beets, a former Payless ShoeSource general manager.

Corporate public relations coordinator Taylor McAdams did not return phone calls or emails seeking comment for this story.

Sterling has seen its footwear stores close in past years: Northland Mall was once home to Leslie’s, Endicott Johnson, and Kinney Shoes, and more recently, Finish Line closed in December 2018; Payless, which was next door to the new Shoe Sensation location, moved out in April 2017.

The loss of mall anchors Bergner’s and JC Penney in recent years further reduced the number of footwear outlets.

Shoe Sensation Inc., founded in 1984, is based in Jeffersonville, Indiana. The company has 206 stores and more than 1,000 employees across 18 states throughout the South and Midwest.

It also has a store in Dixon at Presidential Parkway Plaza, 1620 Miller Road.

Pine Tree Plaza was bought by Sterling businessman Kristopher Kyarsgaard in September 2017. He also is the owner of SKR Rentals, which owns the storage facility across the road, at 4505 E. Lincolnway.

Aaron’s moved in July into space formerly occupied by Fashion Bug. n

Paired up

Shoe Sensation will open a second Sterling location on March 27 at Pine Tree Plaza, 4311 E. Lincolnway, Suite G, in addition to its current store at Northland Mall, 2900 E. Lincolnway.

The mall location is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Find it on Facebook or go to shoesensation.com for more information.