We were on the search for our little ones first pair of shoes. We were going to go to Nordstroms but didn't want to drive all the way out to Skokie. A quick Google search showed us a spot that I've driven by hundreds of times and never knew was there. There is a sweet couple that own the store and they provide THEE best service. They are so attentive. They measured the foot and brought out every pair in his size so we could make our selection. It turns out the pair we first tried on was our favorite. When we rung up the shoes the owner still had the original record keeping mechanism that his parents used when they owned the stores. They have a variety of shoes brands including Stride Rites and some some other brands that are highly recommended by pediatricians. They now have loyal customers for life or at least until our kids no longer fit in kids shoes. read more

Carrara Children's Shoes - Outdoor signage - Shoe Stores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is a great store. I hadn't ever heard of it until my friend recommended we take our babies to get fitted and check out shoes. Even though my GPS was telling me where to go, I didn't see it until I was right in front of it. Service was fantastic. The moment we walked in we were greeted even though the place was super busy (it's a madhouse on weekends, apparently) and the woman came by to help us within a couple minutes. This store has been in business since 1961, passed through the family, and it's clear why they've been around so long what with their great service and merchandise. It was the first time that both our kiddos had ever had shoes. She measured them both, and explained what we should look for in shoes; the brand I bought, Stride Rite, she said is usually pretty true to size but if we went with one of their other brands they'd have to go up a bit. Both babes walked (or rather, strolled and were carried) away with a pair of shoes and we'll be back in August to re-size. They have a couple of toy stations to keep bored kids busy, which is a great touch. Since my baby is still just at the creeping stage and standing assisted, she doesn't wear shoes so that she can get used to the feel of her feet and the ground beneath them. But when we go for a walk or something they'll be good for her to have on her feet while she's being strolled. So although the shoes are not cheap by any means--I spent more on her shoes than I often spend on mine--I was ok with it since she's only going to have one or so at a time. And they're good brands, high-quality shoes, which is important for growing feet. read more

See all

The owner's parents started this store and the tradition of kindness & respect for children & families is evident. Sure, you might pay more than if you order online. But this store doe pressure you to buy the most expensive shoes. You will also walk away knowing that children's feet were accurately measured and that the shoes you purchase fit your child's lifestyle & needs. I might also mention that the store is like a toyland playground, with a huge train set & other toys for children to enjoy. read more

From our initial phone call all the way through purchase we could not have had a better experience. We called to check in on selection and COVID policy then hopped on our bikes to head over. As adults we all know what fits and does not, we tend to be lazy and order on line but a baby's foot... not going to play around and try that game. So nice to have a shop like Carrara's where you get great care and the ability to see what is right for your kids. Ron, the owner, took the time to listen to us and shared a wide selection with us so we could get a good feel for the type of shoe we were looking for. Took great care of us and we could not be happier than Lt Dangle doing a "new boot scoot". The only negative is that there are no bike racks in that entire shopping complex. read more

The owner was so warm and welcoming with us. He took the time and patience measuring my 10 month olds feet. He explained everything regarding the fit and what was best for my little guy who is starting to walk. The quality of shoes and socks that are offered were phenomenal. I will always go here for my child's shoes and look forward when we come back for a re-measure in February (as recommended by the owner) love this place. read more

Renato is absolutely amazing. He has an altruistic motive to help kids find the right shoes. I enjoyed talking with him about ways in which you can help your kiddos find the right shoes. The best of all, it's a small local shop you can support. I'd go see him again when the winter comes around. read more

The very nice gentleman greeted me with a smile. He thanked me for coming in and was extremely helpful. He was knowledgeable about what the benefits are for each brand. I felt very special and confident that my daughter will love her first two by pairs of shoes. She has wide feet. I spent over a month trying out various shoes. I am grateful that this store exists. I hate giving money to Amazon when you have the small local business. Everyone should support this store - Amazon is the same price but you don't get to try them on before buying with Amazon. The shoes I bought for my 1 year old (who is now waking) are so cute!! Again, I love this store and the service!! read more

Love this place. Best spot for toddler shoes. My kiddo love to go there. They have toys to play with, and lots of fun colors to choose from

The owner is delightful and knowledgeable. This store stocks high quality shoes so if you're into buying junk shoes for your kiddo, this isn't the place. read more

This is the best children's shoes store I've been to in multiple cities. The shoes are very high quality and the service is top notch. I first went with my mom to buy shoes for my 24 month old and the owner brought out pair upon pair for us to choose from and gave great advice to help us choose (we were choosing without the little one trying them on!). My husband went a couple of months later to ask about how to clean them and the lady started cleaning them herself! I highly recommend this place - awesome selection and great service. It is like walking into an old shoe store where the product is great and the experience is a very pleasant one! read more

Great experience. Had lots of options, explained them all, and truly cared about the fit for my kid. Earned a life long customer. Will be back. read more

From the wide selection to the high quality of the European (and other) brands, they've never lead us wrong. Every shoe my son has had has been from Carrara and also sold by it's fantastic owner, who is fantastic with kids. Life long customer. Thanks! read more

They have a loyalty program which is nice! Their selection is high end high quality with a focus on making sure the kiddos have proper sizes. This is an old school full service shoe store so its also very efficient to buy. Took us all of 10 mins this time and this is our 5th visit. Always happy to support this business. read more

This is THE BEST place to buy children's shoes. It's so tempting to shop on Amazon or Nordstrom Rack or DWS but they dont measure your child's foot, nor do they explain how different brands have different sizes, nor do they assess your child's feet and gait to recommend for or against certain shoes. Carrara is ALLLL of those things. They truly truly care about your child and his/her feet. They curate their shoes accordingly and their selection is perfect!!! It's a family-owned business passed down through generations, and Renato knows and loves everything about shoes. ESP children's shoes. He cares about your child, her cares about your purchase. They are not about making a sale, they're about outfitting your child with the best shoe for him/her. And while the prices may seem steep, not all the brands they sell are available at the regular places (he truly does curate the best!) but also, where available, it's only $5-$10 more. And that's totally worth it for the service and to support local, small business. Please go. And please buy. They really are great!!!! read more

Updated---owner contacted to say the short staffing was not the norm and offered to go out of his way to assist me. Definitely reflective of the 5 star reviews from other customers. I broke my own rule of yelping while angry! They were definitely short staffed but still felt like they should have been better prepared on a Saturday. We stood around for 15 minutes before anyone even acknowledged us. There also did not appear to be any kind of precautions in place other than a handwritten sign limiting 4 families at a time. No sanitizer or wipes available which was concerning in a store with small children and so many touchable/shared surfaces. Definitely didn't feel clean. I understand times are unusual but I feel like if you can't work towards safety for your customers or ensure any kind of customer service maybe don't open for in store s read more

Out of the blue, our newly-4-year-old daughter started complaining that every pair of shoes she owns hurt her. After two brand new pairs of shoes bought online suffered the same consequence, I wanted to try on some locally. We went to DSW and they, surprisingly, didn't have much for her. I checked Google, saw that Carrara had almost all 5-star reviews and went there. The experience at Carrara was awesome. We walked in and were helped almost immediately by a gentleman that measured our daughter's feet, then brought out over a dozen different pairs of shoes for her. He told us about all of them, took them out of their respective boxes, and stepped back to let our daughter do her thing as he noticed that she's apprehensive around new folks. She quickly found a few pairs that she liked and we ran around the store to make sure they were a good match, per our salesman's recommendation. When checking out, the person that had been helping us mentioned that his family had owned the business for decades and, if I remember correctly, switched to selling children's shoes exclusively in the 90's. I believe it. It was a great experience. I'm a big proponent of shopping locally, but I also recognize that some goods are effectively commodities and that local independent folks are never going to be able to touch online vendors that can take advantage of massive economies of scale. That said, Amazon, Zappos, etc. can't measure your kid's feet and give you advice based on years of experience, not to mention a curated selection of products that don't require hours of research before buying (read: reading reviews, blogs, etc.). I don't know how much we spent or how it compared to Amazon and the others. We were in and out in 20-30 minutes and we won't have to think about kid's shoes again for another 5-6 months. That's priceless! read more

A very nice selection for my granddaughter's first pair of shoes. The store was pretty full and the gentleman was working alone, but he was still very attentive and helpful. Would definitely shop there again for her next pair of shoes. read more

Rockin' kids shoes for my riot girl. The ones she chose are awesome, she calls them her "Daria boots." I've always worked with the owner, and they make special shoe trips to Italy. Nice people. They carry their own shoe line, Carrara, plus the good names like Elefanten. Get the clothes second-hand, but spend a fortune protecting those little feet and legs - that's how I like it. read more

Carrara Children's Shoes - The Daria Boots - Shoe Stores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Wonderful store! Great experience! I buy all of my child's shoes here. The owner assists you and I have confidence he is going to show us shoes that will be comfortable, fit well, and help her walk properly. He has toys in the store to keep the kids occupied while you're purchasing them. Love this store. read more

Hidden gem, local business, great place for kid's shoes (way better than Macy's or other big box). Owner is friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. Walked out with some fancy new kicks for our 2 year old and we'll be back for his next pair...and yes... there is a train set our son loved! ! Parents....free parking and easy access. read more

Carrara Children's Shoes - Shoe Stores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The absolute best! Mr. Carrara is an amazing human. The ONLY place in Chicago I buy shoes for my girls!

Went here the other day for the first time with my toddler. He has very wide feet and I needed guidance. Jen was wonderful! She answered all of my questions and helped pick out the perfect shoes for my son. Bonus: there's toys to keep the kids busy and they get stickers when you check out. read more

This is the only place we go in Chicago to get shoes for my family.. can't say enough good things. They are endlessly patient, have an incredible selection, an incredibly child friendly space with toys and a train table. read more

They always have such great service and connect with my kids so well. My 2 and 4 year olds both got a couple pair of shoes and liked walking around the store while we were there. It felt safe and clean with Covid precautions and it was easy to keep distance from another family while we were there. I definitely recommend for high quality shoes and shopping experience! read more

My little one just started walking. After unsuccessfully buying a pair of infant shoes online (expensive and fit poorly), I am so glad I found this store! A+ experience. We look forward to returning in a few months when she sizes up! Thank you for being a true gem in Chicago for our little ones!! read more

Loved it the moment we walked in! The sales associate (may have been the owner) was warm and extremely helpful. He had the right selection for us within a few moments of measuring our son's foot. The store's collection of toys kept our almost 3 year old busy while we had him try on shoes. The only painful bit was that once done our son didn't want to leave. Our first time at the store but coming back here to shop for our child every time now. read more

Friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient--what more could you want when shopping for shoes for your toddler? Highly recommend this store to any parents looking for shoes for their kids. It is well worth the price to ensure your kids are walking comfortably. I love that they measure kids' feet and produce a solid selection of exactly what you need. We've quickly become loyal customers. read more

Renato is excellent. He gives you a personal experience and always gives you multiple options at different price points. Definitely go!

So friendly, knowledgeable , and quality selection. Both of my kids have wide feet and they have such a great selection for them.

A friend told me about this store a while back, now that my little one is ready for her first walkers, we went there and boy what a great experience! the service was above and beyond. Thank you so much! read more

Old school kids shoe shop that people don't really go into anymore but is so much better than ordering kids shoes on Amazon. I love the service, seeing the same faces every five months when I go to get new shoes for my son. It's more expensive than Amazon but you'll get really good quality. read more

Renato was fantastic! The staff was very knowledgeable and quickly got us a pair fantastic shoes that fit well, we will be back! read more

Carrara Children's Shoes - Shoe Stores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We stopped by Carrara's today around lunch to pick up some new shoes for my 22 month old. I was so impressed! The salesman was so friendly and quick. He measured B's feet (turns out the shoes I bought online were 1 size too small), I pointed out a shoe I liked and he brought it right out along with every other similar style they had in his size. There were probably about 7 pairs of shoes to pick from. We tried on 2 pairs and he got B to test out the shoes by showing him different toys around the store. He even gave B a sheet of stickers when we checked out! It was by far the most pleasant shopping experience I've had with a toddler. I'm usually an online shopper but after this experience, I will head back to Carrara's when we're ready for new shoes! read more

Carraras is an old fashioned, helpful, fun kids shoe store with knowledgeable staff and top notch customer service and fitting. Unfortunately there aren't many of these stores left given the takeover of stores like target and department stores for baby, kid and toddler shoes. Please support this wonderful business! Yes, you can get many of the shoes they carry on amazon a little bit cheaper, but their service is worth paying the difference for. How else would we ever know that certain brands fit my daughter's feet better than others? They are a wonderful store and I hope that they stick around for many years to come! Other note - with a picky toddler, the ONLY way we can buy shoes is to try them on in-person and let her choose them, so keep this in mind if you're considering ordering online instead! :) read more

Very very good shoe store! Service is incredible, the owner is extremly knowledeable And very helpfull. The collection is not huge but very well selected and you will find everything you need, even different price ranges. Toys and a Traintable to distract the kids while you look around. Great shopping expierince. read more

This was by far the BEST shopping experience for children's stuff I have ever had! We walked in and instantly my 1 year old son was mesmerized by the train table (thankfully) which allowed me to peruse the selection. They have a wonderful, carefully curated selection of really high quality shoes. Many brands are European (Spanish and Italian) along with more familiar lines like Stride Rite and Keen. The owner is a doll, so patient and very good at distracting my son while is measured his feet. He brought out about 10 pairs of shoes for him to try and was honest in giving me his opinion. It wasn't about price; clearly he takes pride in putting children in shoes that best fit them and their gait pattern. The prices are where I would expect them to be given the quality of shoes. I am more than happy to pay those prices for a good fit and to keep my boy walking well and developing properly. Run, don't walk over here and support this small business which has been around since 1961 by the way! read more

I have been buying my kids' shoes here for almost 4 years now. Every experience has been absolutely amazing. The owner is so knowledgeable, kind and helpful. He is great with the kids. Shoe selection is awesome and he knows what he is talking about when it comes to development needs, etc. During Covid, he even text me photos of shoes and ran them outside masked and tried them on my little guy in the car. Love this family-owned business. Please support them! read more

When we were looking for my son's first pair of shoes, MamaTribe on Facebook (you know the one) pointed me to the wonderful Carrara Children's Shoes. Since then, we've purchased several more pairs, and each experience has been top notch. The owner, Ron, is so knowledgable about the shoes he carries and which ones will be a great fit for each type of child. We always leave feeling confident we've spent our money wisely. The store is full of train sets and toys to keep the kids happy while parents shop, and Ron is wonderful with the kids to boot. So patient and kind. The store is open during COVID, well kept, low headcount, masks enforced, and hand sanitizer provided. But they're also open for parking lot fittings for those taking extra precautions. Yes--THERE'S A PARKING LOT!!!! If you need shoes for your little ones, Carrara is your best bet in the city. Plus, you'll be supporting a small family-owned business. (Current owner, Ron, still uses the old school credit card machines his parents used!) read more

They are the best- so kind and helpful. They carry a beautiful variety of children's shoes. They will even measure your child's foot (I have never been successful with doing this myself). I have brought my older child's shoes in to the store with my younger child and they confirmed that the older shoes were the correct size. Nothing purchased- just outstanding customer service. read more

I know Italian shoes (my hubby is 100% and has lived in the U.S. since grad school). This shoe store has **quality** children's shoes and in such great styles too! The owner has been in the shoe business since he was a young child. If you go to their web site, you can read the history. His parent's store was started in the early 60's in Chicago and you can often see his mother in his store. The owner takes TIME to measure your child's foot and also accounts for future growth. He takes into consideration the wear and tear your child might put on the shoe and asks you detailed questions to assure a perfect fit/selection. I've been here three times so far after having seen the storefront in the Treasure Island parking lot. I love supporting local businesses and this one is worth the support! During my last visit, I walked out with school shoes, a "dressy" pair of gorgeous Geox tennis shoes, and even a pair of ballerina slippers for myself!! I absolutely love them! The price point works for us and is very reasonable considering the quality and style you're getting. Believe me, I've purchased a lot of kid's shoes while visiting my husband's parents in Northern Italy, and I can tell you, the prices are spot on and fair. Moreover, the styles are really unique! I also want to mention that, while my son and I were making a final decision on shoes, another family walked in the store. The owner was patient and thorough when finishing up our purchases, being really careful not to rush me out so he could help the other family. I really appreciate this and I knew the family would see the care he was taking and not feel like they had to wait very long (it was about five minutes). I really can't say enough good things about the store owner's dedication and passion to his business. My 5-year-old didn't want to leave -- such a fun store with a great train set! read more