CHARLESTON – When it comes to customer service and a variety of brands and styles of shoes, this area has just what it needs in Mack Moore Shoes.
The business also has a strong family history and mindset of service to the community.
Originally dubbed the Mitchell Brothers Shoe Store, Mack Moore Shoes was founded in 1890 on the north side of the Charleston square. Mack Moore started working part-time at the shoe store to help pay for his college education at Eastern Illinois University in 1917. He became a full-time employee after he graduated from EIU and in 1930 he became a partner. Then, in 1937, Moore purchased the business and re-named it Mack Moore Shoes.
For 65 years, the store was on the south side of the square. It was 2001 when the business moved to 305 West Lincoln Ave. with expanded hours and offerings. Its hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 12 to 4 p.m. Sunday. The store phone number is 217-345-3479.
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Mack Moore Shoes was built on putting the customer first and offering full service. It’s kept that philosophy over the years and developed into a quality “healthy feet” store with shoes and accessories for work and recreation, too. The store has more than 200 styles and colors of shoes in more than 30 brands, standing behind all of the shoes it sells and regularly handling special orders for customers’ specific needs with styles and sizes.
In addition, Bill Moore is a certified pedorthist. His extensive experience in the store as well as his certifications inform his decisions on the best brands, insoles, and accessories that are brought into the store. Additionally, he is able to fill prescriptions for diabetic footwear and insoles as part of the Medicare program for diabetics. Bill is a third generation owner.
The shop fits diabetics for prescription shoes and stocks as many brands and styles of footwear that are made in America. It also carries an extensive selection of work boots and shoes including steel toe, ESD, EH, and slip-resistant options in many brands and styles. Notably, the shop takes its Shoe Mobile on the road, visiting local companies with specialty shoe requirements for their workers.
Mack Moore Shoes also is a full-time supporter of the local community. The business donates to and participates in many local groups and organizations that provide a wide range of services to the people in Charleston and Coles County. These include Rotary initiatives including heart scans for all high school students, the Charleston Parks & Recreation Department and more. Mack Moore Shoes earned the Community Service Award from the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association in 2000 for its many years of supporting local youth sports.
Mack Moore Shoes continues to support the community as it has for the last 125 years and encourages its friends and neighbors to shop locally. Its six employees are knowledgeable in the brands the store carries and help customers in choosing the best shoes and fit for their individual needs. The store can special order shoes in many styles, sizes and widths.
“We are a full-service, customer-oriented family owned shoe store, which is very rare in this day and age,” said Bill Moore. “ We seek only quality products for our customers, made in America whenever possible, and then we stand behind these products 100 percent.”
