Manny’s Shoes

Lousy store hours! With the way Santa Cruz Ave is packed with families on Sundays, why on earth would you leave money on the table and be closed??? You have to be open to make a sale, people! Going to Nordstrom’s or Ten Toes!

Competent little kids shoe store with a decent selection. A big turn off, however, is the quirky owner who seems to have zero rapport with parents or kids. I don’t expect to make a friend for life, but she didn’t seem to hear anything I said and kept talking past my son and I trying to get in and out as quickly as possible since we already knew exactly what I needed.
A partial transcript of my recent interaction:
Me: (calling over at 11AM) Do you have boys’ Merrell brand in black size 3?
Owner: Yeah, yeah. We have. No problem.
Me: (at store at 4:30PM) Do you have Merrells in black size 3?
Owner: Addoknow. Hold on. let me check in the back…
Me: You said when I called…
Owner: Are you sure [your son] is size 3? Let me check anyway… His right foot is more like 2.5.
Me: Check his left foot. You will find its closer to a 3. Unless you want to sell me shoes from different boxes…
Owner: Here you go. How does it feel?
My son: Good.
Owner: You know, you can wear extra thick socks so your feet don’t swim around in there.
Me: Its fine. He won’t be running around in them anyway. They are for special occasions and orchestra concerts.
Owner: Thick socks would…
Me and my son: We’re good.
Owner: How did you know his size already?
Me: Ten Toes in San Carlos was out of his size.
Owner: You from San Carlos? We always have all sizes of Merrell in brown and black because its popular for allot of school uniforms in the area…

We found Manny’s 7 years ago after searching the south bay and peninsula for a great kids shoe store and being disappointed many times. They know kids shoes, have a very good selection, and have nice shoes that are soft on little ones’ developing feet. I also like the toys and small enclosed space as I have two children to buy shoes for and it’s difficult to try to entertain them while shopping. Prices are standard, but it’s worth the custom fit and it’s important to support a good neighborhood store.

I don’t understand these reviews. I love Unilocal and often turn to it for advice. We have gone to Manny’s shoes for 6 years. My little guy was an early walker at 8 mos and my sister insisted that we start here. We have always gone back. My sister suggested the store and most of our friends support the store. The owner is the most informed person out there on children’s shoes and feet. We are so lucky to have this store and her knowledge in our backyard. She talks time with each child to look at how the foot is growing — how the walk may be — is it a wide or narrow foot — how much room do the toes have — so much detail that it can’t compare to what a department store will offer. So many kids walk funny at different ages likely because of shoes too tight or too big — she doesn’t let that happen. She goes into detail on how to help an arch etc. My sisters girls have very sensitive heels and she suggests shoes that are more comfortable. I can’t tell you how different the prices are compared to the discount places but I know that if I shop here our son is getting a shoe and a fit that’s right for him. I find that the shoes we buy last longer and fit better than our friends who try large department stores and in the end they come to Manny’s. I have gone in several times in the last year for new shoes just to have the owner tell us that we don’t need new shoes — the ones we have are fine for a few more months. Who does that? I also think the selection is very good overall — great running and soccer shoes, crocs, good summer shoes — geox — all the hip brands — it’s worth spending a few more dollars for the expertise. She works to make sure that my son loves what he wears as well — getting the right «lights» on the shoes or the colors. This shoe store is as good as it gets!

I go to this place about once every year or 18 months to get my kids’ feet sized professionally by the staff, who know a lot about shoes… sizing, sizing for specific brands, the rates at which kids’ feet grow, etc. This is emphatically *not* a bargain-​price store, but they carry a good selection of full-​priced Stride-​Rite, etc., and if you are looking for good customer service it’s definitely the place to go.

I’ve always wanted to support local mom and pop stores and after reading the reviews thought I’d give this store a try. First, the selection is fairly limited. And the service was not professional at all. I described to the sales person a problem the kids were having with their old shoes and the salesperson mocked me! These were shoes we bought somewhere else so I wasn’t trying to get a refund or exchange. I was just asking for a different shoe suggestion. To top that off, some old customers arrived at that point and the salesperson basically ignored me.

In order to buy shoes for my children, I need them with me. When they are with me, it is difficult to shop. After trying several department stores, I ultimately found shoes for my children at this store. While the service and selection is good (but not great), the store is small and the front door is closed so I can spend my time looking for shoes, not children. There are also books and toys to entertain the little ones for a few minutes.

This little shoe store has some nice kids shoes (I got some great Merrell shoes in August that held up to tons of abuse and still looked good when he outgrew them a few months ago). I tried going again for a replacement and was really disappointed by 1) the lousy hours (something like 10a-​5p) which are hard to make when you work, and 2) the lackadaisical staff (well…yeah…we think we’re getting that shoe in the size you want… hmmm…no, no idea when, why don’t you come back next week?) We ended up ordering online.