The shoe and accessory store, SHOE-Be-Do, 57 N. Court St., soon will be closing after five years of business.
Amy Mangano, manager of SHOE-Be-Do, said the store has not achieved the desired amount of business to stay open.
It is just not the right town for this kind of store
she said.
For most retailers, the holiday season and summer months are the best time for business, but for SHOE-Be-Do, this was not the case. It ends up being the worst because students are not on campus Mangano said.
OU freshman Michelle Duprey, a psychology major, said it is a shame the store is leaving and that she liked having a shoe store within walking distance.
Mangano said the store would not be relocated. The store's lease ends June 1, and it will remain open until then unless all stock is sold sooner.
In addition to the shoe store, the owners of SHOE-Be-Do own the retail shop Artifacts Gallery, 2 W. State St.
The accessories sold at the SHOE-Be-Do will be moved to the Artifacts Gallery for sale, but the shoes will not, Mangano said.
OU student Elizabeth Workman, a first-year physical therapy major, said she bought one pair of shoes after hearing about the store going out of business.
They have a lot of cute shoes but my college budget only allowed me to buy one pair
she said.
Mangano said shoes are a tough business because people need a precise fit and shoes are expensive.
However, she said the Artifacts Gallery business is going well because it is easier to sell clothing.
Mangano said Artifacts Gallery has a bigger variety of customers and more people browsing. The location is also better than the shoe store.
17
Archives
Lia Sestric
