Last month, many parents were bummed to hear that a beloved longtime kid-shoe purveyor — Massachusetts-based Stride Rite — was closing all of its corporate locations in late April, including the store at Southdale, and outlets in Eagan and Albertville.
But we have good news: The locally owned Stride Rite store at Rosedale Center (listed online as ABS Booteries) is one notable exception.
The Stride Rite concept store, which opened in 1979 as the first Stride Rite in the Twin Cities, is staying open on the second level of Rosedale near JCPenney — with more than 80 percent of its inventory made up of Stride Rite shoes.
Customer service, including Stride Rite’s tradition of spending time consulting with customers, is a No. 1 priority for the store, said owner Anders Skoglund.
Families can also find the shoe brand at other stores listed on the Stride Rite’s store locator, such as Little Feet Children’s Shoes near Ridgedale in Minnetonka and Von Maur at Eden Prairie Center.
Search for Stride Rite retailers statewide at striderite.com.
