We came here because my son's teacher recommended Tsukihoshi shoes, which are these shoes made in Japan. Supposedly, they fit well and are comfortable and easy to put on for young toddlers. My son seems to like them. I think this store is the only place in the East Bay that sells them. The salesman there was very thorough and helped pick out the right size for my son. read more

I appreciate the selection of comfortable shoes and the great Service offered by the staff there!!

A great shoe store in the Elmwood neighborhood. The service is fantastic. The selection is solid. High quality brands. Every pair I've bought here last for years and years. The owner knows his stuff and is very friendly. read more

I like to try to support small independent businesses, even if it costs me a bit extra. I went in. There were no other customers in the store. Yet the man at the counter did not greet me, nor ask me if they could be of service. They just stood there texting on their phone. They did not say something like, "Excuse me, I'll be with you in just a second." They did not look up nor say anything at all. After having tarried in the Elmwood specifically waiting for the store to open so I could shop for Blundstones, I figured Village Shoes must find customers inconvenient and walked back out. No wonder online stores get so much of people's business. read more

Most often when I come in I see a man who I assume is the owner--a very kind and thoughtful person, terrific customer service. Very knowledgeable about shoes and repairs, and little tricks to improve the fit. If you are having any discomfort with your shoes, seriously, talk to this man! I would highly recommend this store--it doesn't have the biggest selection but it is well curated, good quality at reasonable prices. read more

We had a great experience getting Dansk work shoes for my husband (he works on his feet and until now has settled for sneakers! Ouch!). The salesman was super helpful. Another salesman helped my kid get some $74 school shoes. Livin' large in Elmwood today! read more

Elmwood Village Shoes - Shoe Stores Near Me - Berkeley, California

I took two pairs of Ecco shoes to be resoled. They quoted me a price. I agreed and left the shoes there. Several days later I got a phone call from the shoe repairmen insisting the price was 20% higher. $90 each instead of $75 each! He also demanded a progress payment. I reluctantly agreed. The shoes came back. They did NOT put on an Ecco sole; it was some other composition and much harder than the original sole. The repairs are not being performed to Ecco standards. I was also advised the upper leather would be cleaned as part of the service. There were not cleaned. The shoe repairman claimed he didn't want to clean them because that might change the color! He didn't bother to call me for clarification. Ironically he had no trouble calling me to demand more money, but felt okay to do a incomplete job. read more

I was advised to get a pair of shoes that are firm with some elevation. The Village was one of the places suggested. They have a wide variety of shoes that offer varying levels of support like Dansko, Ecco, etc. The staff know their stuff and just need to hear what you are looking for to find you different options. They don't have sport shoes ie. running shoes but collaborate with their adjacent shop to get you those. They measure you, encourage you to try the shoes, answer questions thoroughly and are very helpful in general. I got a pair of Danskos which are working great. Parking can be rough around here so get the first street parking that opens. read more

I bought a great pair of black suede lace up shoes yesterday. The young man who helped me was patient, knowledgeable, and low key. This store is a terrific neighborhood establishment with a lovely selection of fashionable as well as comfortable shoes. read more

Elmwood Village Shoes - Shoe Stores Near Me - Berkeley, California

I came in to buy one thing. I called ahead and they were one of the few stores in the area that had it. Service was great. Store was clean.

Excellent personal service & very high quality shoes! The owner, who works in the shop, is energetic, efficient, helpful & knowledgable.He will be honest with you about whether the shoe is a good fit. If it's not, he will try to find the right shoe and size for you. A rare and wonderful shopping experience! Found 2 pair of pretty & comfy sandals. Next door to his shop is LaFoote, so if you need an orthotic, you just take your shoes next door! Most of his shoes have built in arch supports so often an additional insert is unnecessary. read more

Cute shopping area on College Ave. in Berkeley....small, but good selection of comfort footwear...Think, Ecco, Dansko and several more brands are available. Definitely NOT low end...but in shoes it pays to spend a bit more for something that fits just right. Service was great, the nice young man was patient and helpful. I ended up with a nice ECCO sandal...which I plan to put many miles on. I told my gf "I was buying shoes like a man"!! read more

As stores opened up a few months ago, I decided I wanted to purchase a pair of Birkenstocks. In support of local business, I walked in to the store on an early Saturday morning and was greeted warmly. The staff brought out several pairs for me to try on and I made the purchase- glad to support a local business and better than zappos/amazon Will return when I'm ready to buy again read more

This is pretty much the only place to buy kids' shoes in Berkeley, so I was a bit nervous about how nice they'd be. After all, if you know you're the only game in town, how motivated might you be to deliver quality service? Thankfully my nervousness was not necessary. We were helped by someone right away, even though the store was pretty crowded. The sales person measured my daughter, explained why she'd need one size up in the New Balance brand (which no other sales person has ever explained to me, even though we've bought a couple of pairs of New Balance shoes for her in the past), and then even suggested a specific style that she knew ran narrow when I mentioned that she had a pretty narrow foot. We walked out with a pair of shoes and a set of socks, which the sales person kindly pointed out for me when I could not find a set in her size. My experience with my daughter would definitely make me check it out for myself when I'm in need of shoes in the future! read more

I was looking for these Boston Birkenstocks for a friends birthday that are sold out everywhere and they had the exact size and color. The original return policy was 10 days but my friends birthday is in 20 days and I asked if they were able to change the return date just for another week just in case the shoes don't fit and Mark changed the date to 45 days and I am so grateful that he was able to do that. My friend and I 10/5 recommend you go there, it's a nice little shoe shop read more

I never buy shoes on a whim. It usually takes me 3 visits to the store. I'm a capsule wardrobe kinda girl and picking clothes and shoes in like curating a small exhibition. I can't be rushed. I didn't know that at Elmwood Village Shoes you're not allowed to just come in and see what they have. The man who works there was sarcastic and unpleasant. I was shocked. How do you even stay in business? read more

Great selection and nice service. A nice reminder of the pleasures of shopping locally.

Fantastic service! My boyfriend and I followed Yelpers' advice and went here to find comfy shoes for our walking-heavy Japan vacation. Clogs on the menu since we need to be able to slip shoes on and off (for houses & temples) and they need to keep our feet warm and dry. I went in with my heart set on Danskos and that's what we came out with (two pairs - one for each of us). The guy who helped us was knowledgeable and friendly. They actually insist on measuring your feet, the better to find the perfect shoes for you. Great recommendations and he was completely patient as we walked around and around and thought about colors and price. The whole experience was actually pleasant, which is more than I can say of any other shoe shopping expedition. We were encouraged to try the shoes at home on carpet and come back for a return if we weren't happy before our trip. Also, they resole and reheel Danskos (for only $18) as well as providing oil treatments for the Professional Oiled style. They have a nice selection of colors and styles for all the comfort brands (Ecco, Naot, Earth, Clarks Unstructured, etc). Can't imagine I'll buy expensive comfort shoes anywhere else now. These guys want to take care of your feet! read more

The male employee was so rude I left without trying anything on. Worst customer service.

This has to be quick because I'm heading to my 20th high school reunion. Which is relevant, to my review. I bought these cute Naot shoes at Village Shoes and love love love them. I had to bring them in to be fixed twice, and each time the folks there were willing to help me out for free, because that's how they do it. They're totally about the customer and they stand behind their shoes (that sounds funny). The second time I brought them in, to have the velcro replaced, they never called to have me pick them up. After two weeks, I stopped in today and they couldn't find them anywhere! They looked high and low, and when I told them I wanted to wear them to my high school reuniont tonight they assured me that I would have my shoes back, repaired, or they would give me a new pair. Well, they phoned me a few minutes after I wandered down the street to give them time to search, and they admitted they'd made a mistake and reshelved my worn Naots, and hadn't sent them to the cobbler. They said there was a new pair waiting for me by the register, and they bid me good fun for my reunion. That is amazing, graceful and kind customer service. Thank you Village Shoes! Here's to walking down memory lane in some fabulous pumps. read more

I had desperately been searching for a pair of sandals to replace the ones I'd worn to death over many years. After many failures and pairs returned at other stores I came to Elmwood because they had the same brand as my old pair. The owner recognized the shoes I was wearing, suggested a new pair by the same brand, and measured my feet for sizing. I absolutely love my new pair, no more returns necessary! read more

I agree with the other reviews. Good selection of comfort shoes: Naot(Israel), Think!(Austria) and Pikolinos(Spain) with fantastic customer service. Fact: comfortable shoes are not sexy. However, Elmwood Village carries and selects more fashionable styles than the average 'healthy tootsies' shoe store. Recommended if your feet and legs need some TLC after lookin' fine in those Christian Louboutin's:) read more

Every single pair of Dansko clogs I have bought for work has come from this shop, and they are great! I could not be happier with the service I have received here for many years. When my children were very small, we would come here for sandals, new sneakers, and general footwear needs. Now my sons are getting really big & I had forgotten how great it felt going into a shoe store where service is a key element (what a surprise!). Here's what I mean: Upon entering the store we are greeted by the owner and he actually stops to listen to just how we ARE doing. There's no obnoxious music blasting me into Dante's Seventh Circle of Purgatory (like many other shopping 'experiences' around town...). Said owner takes the time to measure both my son's feet, then brings out what he has and waits while we try on everything. He gives the pros and cons of each style honestly. I don't feel as tho' we are just another sale. Then, after careful deliberation on the part of both my boy and I, we make the big decision! Mr. Fantastic Owner then says, "Do you want to wear them out or put them in the box? Oh, and by the way, how 'bout giving your Mom a big hug & saying "Thank You"... So win/win...everyone is happy. The shopping adventure was a success! Now this is a small place. They have a limited selection, and there's nothing trendy. They carry a lot of shoes for work (for people who stand on their feet all day), some basic kids' shoes, a few mens' shoes, as well as the SmartWool socks. It's a great neighborhood shop and after yesterday's debacle at UO (see that review, if you dare/care), I feel much happier about the whole shoe shopping experience! Check this store out & you will really feel as tho' you get your money's worth by ethical small business folks. Support this local gem! read more

This place is my favorite shoe store for several reasons. 1) They carry large sizes: size 11 or EU size 42 are hard to find when it comes to high quality walking shoes, but Elmwood has a large selection! 2) The sales people are incredibly helpful. I have long narrow feet so the salesman helped show me shoes that run narrow and worked with me for about 45 minutes to find me the perfect shoes for my Europe trip. 3) Returns are easy. I bought three pairs of shoes that day and then found that one of them was not as right for me when I tried them on again at home. The same salesman let me return them easily. This is a great store, local, and with excellent service and selection. read more

This is a great local shoe store, but PLEASE, YELP, help them out by correcting their Sunday hours! They are open 12-5 on Sunday, not 12-6. I was not the only person who showed up after 5pm as a result, and you know what? They welcomed me in, helped me buy 2 pairs of great-looking and comfortable shoes, warned me off a pair that were adorable but would ill-suit my feet, and did it all without letting on that they had hoped to lock up at 5pm. YELP: Change the listed hours for this business. The hours listed on their website are also not correct, but you at least can make the change more readily. Great shoes, excellent service, and fair prices. This is my 2nd visit to this store and will not be my last. I spend good money for good shoes, care for them well, and expect them to last. I know they love that kind of customer. Thank you Elmwood Village Shoes!! read more

This is my go-to place for comfy shoes in the Bay. They hold style and comfort in high regard. Every staff member that has served me has done so with kindness and a sense of humor. I feel that they appreciate that I choose to frequent their business. The prices are not cheap, but the price reflects the workmanship of the shoes they sell. They are often priced below competitors as well. The location is in a convenient and lovely stretch of College Ave. Oh and they can arrange for your Danksos to be resoled. So much cheaper than buying a new pair! High quality merchandise, friendly and competent staff, and cute styles! What more could you ask for from a shoe store? read more

Nice and easy. Took my throughly beat-up Dansko Clogs here for a re-sole and cleaning. Mine looked BAD guys, as I have never figured out how to clean them, take care of them, and basically have done everything from cook for a party to paint a room seafoam green in them. It was bad. The guy who greeted me quickly took a look at my shoes and told me they were still good, and that they just needed a good cleaning and re-heeling in order to bring them back to life. He also suggested that I get a new pair once the tread on the main footbed area wears down - which is fine with me, since I have had these shoes for over 5 years now. One week later, I return, and tada! Clean, polished, re-heeled shoes. They look (and feel) like a million bucks. If you need your clogs cleaned or repaired, Elmwood Village is the place to go. They are pretty close to a bart stop (I think - I drove over) and their turnaround time is about a week. read more

I had a really great experience here today. I was in a bit of a hurry and needed a good pair of shoes. I have a lot of issues with my feet and back and I also have very large feet, which always make my choices very limited. I often end up buying men's styles. I often go to REI for my shoes and end up frustrated and waiting forever to get service. Because of my time crunch, I looked for a place closer to home on yelp and decided to give this place a try. I got all the help that I needed today from the charming clerk at this store, she heard all of my concerns and directed me quickly towards the shoe that I was looking for. She brought a number of different pairs out for me to try, and the fits were surprisingly different (same size, same style, just slightly different fits). She made some suggestions about how to make my decision and checked me out quickly. She was the only person in the shop, but managed to help several other people, as well as maintain her patience with me. They were pricey shoes, but it is money well spent. These shoes will last a long time and they are the kind of shoes that you can have repaired to make them last. My only complaint is there is not a lot of selection for some of their lines. I was interested in getting some Birkenstocks, but they only had a few colors in one style. read more

I have very few shoes and wear them to death. This time both my sandals and mary janes got worn down at the same time so I came in to replace both. I was given great service- not pushy at all. They were a little limited in selection, not having everything in my size etc, but I was easily able to find two pairs of great shoes that are pretty cute and super comfortable, which is what I require of a shoe. They offer shoe repairs too, and was told to bring the shoes in if anything happened to them. The shoes are pricey, but very high quality. They're not outrageous fancy designer expensive, most are about $125. I am very satisfied. read more

Good quality shoes but I will never patronize a business that doesn't acknowledge their customers when they enter. I entered the store and there were two customers an elderly couple and two staff members. I walked around the entire store and found a few pairs of shoes that I liked and even a couple that I thought my daughter might like. At no time did either staff member say hello or ask if I needed help. I walked out of the store and purchased the same shoes online. I paid a few dollars more and will have to wait a couple of weeks for the delivery but I refuse to support businesses that profile when they see people of color. You lost a potential customer and all of her friends $$$ read more

all the employees (including the owner) here are soo nice! I made my first trip here after hurting my foot and having to wear my running shoes all the time... I got my first pair of good quality, legit sandals here and I'm SO glad, it's the best investment I've ever made in shoes and I never knew sandals could be so comfortable! I love my Naot sandals so much... my feet are so happy in them and they're really cute, too! :D They have a great selection of top quality shoes with good support, and they're totally worth the price. Also, awesome customer service -- they didn't have my size in the shoes I liked, but I had them write down my name to call me when they came in and a few weeks later, I got exactly what I wanted! Thank you, Village Shoes! Couldn't have asked for a better experience :) read more

Came here to buy Blundstone boots, the person who helped me was very informative when it came to sizing and suggestions for comfort. The store is very clean and practiced covid precautions. Thank you! read more

That's the last time I'll buy shoes at this store. I bought a pair of Birkenstocks begrudgingly last Saturday, with little help from the old, tall, angular, grey-haired man, who seemed to not like his job. He offered not a word of advice re fit, (I buy 9 or 10), and generally kept his distance. I was almost afraid to ask to try another pair on. The only time he was talkative and smiled was when I went to pay. I brought them back today as they were just too big I realized, and a short, salt-and-pepper haired, bespectacled male reluctantly fetched me a pair of Birks from the back, and stood there silently as I tried them on. When I mentioned another style, that I said sounded like "Celine," he feigned ignorance and gruffly walked off. He returned, shoe in hand, saying this is the Selina, but he clearly wasn't interested in helping me, and again stood there silently. He then handed me off to another person, saying he had to "train the new employee," who smiled and made comments about how nice the Birkenstocks looked on me before she was pulled away. The other woman I was handed over to got me a pair of Birks and was then gone to give undivided attention to a man who had just walked in. I decided as much as I wanted to buy locally, that I needed a better experience. So, I'm going to buy several pairs online at Zappos, try them on at home at my leisure with no one scowling at me, return what I don't like or those that don't fit (365 days to do so versus 2 weeks at Village Shoes! Also the same shoe there is $10 cheaper and there is no shipping or return cost ). I would have bought shoes today had I not been treated so gruffly, handed over to another, then left alone entirely. Additionally, I walked back into the store a few minutes after getting my $136.95 refund on my card, to ask about an athletic shoe I'd seen, and the short scowly guy didn't stop telling the new trainee that "...see this is exactly what you don't want to have happen, several boxes of shoes opened at the same time....." They were the shoes I had been trying on, and my walking right into the fray didn't cause him to stop complaining to her. I pity the nice new employee and the customer who wants to try on several pair of shoes. It won't be me, that's for sure. read more

I bought some FANTASTIC pikolinos pumps here and I love them! Also, after taking my beloved cowboy boots to Rockridge Shoe Repair and the guy there telling me that the hole in the side was not repairable, I brought them here and the repair folks they work with did an AMAZING job. The hole is patched and waterproofed - in fact, I just tested them by jumping in puddles. Great work! read more

this is a solid comfort shoe store, featuring options for both men and women. keen, clarks, naot, and the venerable dansko are their mainstay brands. the price range is reasonable, considering that most of this stuff is euro import and seems to average about $100 a pair, but honestly, i have some josef siebels from 12 years ago that are still downright presentable. i find that village shoes carries a more fashionable selection than other shoe stores of this genre. a couple months ago i bought the world's most comfortable AND foxy clarks sandals. the sales guys here are no pressure, but the selection and style (oh right, and the comfort) are what really keep me coming back. read more

Omg I saw a pair on ankle lace up boots that they haven't decided if they were going to order from their marketer yet and omg I am so wanting them. But of course I would need to try them on. The products sold here are on the pricey side but omg the quality is awesome. I will be purchasing my first pair of ankle boots from this little gem location. Staff were friendly and very helpful. Thank you again for the excellent customer service today. Note... especially allowing me to take the show to LaFoot to inquire if the boots were a excellent foot wear for my feet. Thanks again and I will definitely be back‍ read more

Great selection of high-quality shoes.... And I've been a customer here for a while, but will never, ever go back. The owner was unfriendly to the point of rudeness about me returning a pair of unworn shoes that my podiatrist disapproved of. I think maybe if I had been dressed in nicer clothing he wouldn't have given me the attitude... I think he just viewed me as someone who would never spend money in his store (which is not the case, since I have a few years ago). Going to the Walk Shop on Vine Street next time I need a pair of shoes like this. read more

Great shoe buying experience. Went in asked to try on a pair of shoes. Didn't like them, another shoe for high arches was suggested, tried them on, loved them and bought them. The customer service was quick and genuine. They know their shoes and you can tell they want their customers to be happy. Great shoe store! read more

i think mark is really wonderful and that's part of why i wanted to buy new danskos from him. when i came in and was browsing, he walked up to me right away and asked, "hi can i help you?" and staring down at the sandals i was wearing, "do you want me to help you make those fit better?" yes, please! he adjusted my sandals and did a few other things and now they feel great. please shop local, and in particular if you want expert shoe advice from someone who has been in the business for some time. mark is a delight and his staff are great too. and i am in love with my new danskos and properly adjusted sandals. read more

Ended up purchasing a pair of fairly expensive sandals. The sales person was very informative, and helped me special order them but the whole experience and process was not enjoyable. It was as if they didn't even want my business throughout the whole transaction and were angry and mad at me. Walking out of the store I second guessed everything and felt really down and regretful purchasing something from there. I felt like I should've just ordered online or at a major department store. read more