Takken's Shoes
Encyclopedia
Takken’s Shoes is an independent shoe retailer with 24 stores in California
(USA) and two retail websites (Takkens.com and Takkenswarehouse.com). Specializing in comfort and family footwear, Takken’s Shoes is also one of the largest UGG Australia retailers in the world. The corporate headquarters are located in San Luis Obispo, CA where the first Takken’s Shoes was opened in 1937 by Harry Takken as a shoe repair business.
. The business was successful as such (largely attributed to Harry’s customer service and charisma), and was purchased by Harry’s son Robert in 1971. In 1975 Robert expanded the business to include a retail component, adding western and work boots.. In the mid 1980's Robert jumped on the new 'Comfort Shoe' trend, and again expanded the business adding several popular comfort brands of the time. At one time, Takken's Shoes of San Luis Obispo was the largest independent Rockport dealer on the west coast. The retail offering expanded again in the 80's with the addition of UGG Australia and other sheepskin footwear.
In 1987 a second store was opened in Paso Robles, CA.
The Paso Robles store is the oldest free-standing location currently in the corporation and the only one still offering shoe repair services (the San Luis Obispo Takken’s Location is currently owned and operated by Robert’s brother-in-law Martin Henry and his wife Ellen). Both the San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles stores are still widely remembered for their western boot selection that began the retail side of the company. The Thousand Oaks
location opened in 1989, marking a number of changes for Takken’s Shoes. As well as being the first Takken’s Shoes to open outside of San Luis Obispo County and the first mall location, the Thousand Oaks store was opened under the name “The Comfort Zone” marking what would eventually be a permanent shift towards comfort footwear.
The 1990’s saw continued growth with the addition of 9 new comfort oriented stores. Beginning with the Santa Maria
location, expansion continued into malls in Newark
, Hayward
, Tracy
, Beverly Hills
, Richmond
, Salinas
, Citrus Heights
, and Fairfield
(in order of opening). Since the beginning of the 2000’s decade 17 new mall locations have opened in Ventura
, Lakewood
, Concord
, Bakersfield
, Roseville
, Downey
, Stockton
, Fresno
, San Jose
, Visalia
, San Bruno
, Merced
, Palmdale
, Escondido
, Pleasanton
, and Valencia
, and 1 new freestanding location in Roseville. The company has closed the Beverly Hills, Downey, Tracy, and Richmond locations, and remodeled 7 of its oldest locations in the recent years. The company intends to continue expansion, with plans for an additional free standing location in Santa Maria as well as an undisclosed number of new California mall locations before the decade is out.
The expansion of the 1990s was accelerated by Robert’s sons Cris and Marc Takken joining the company full time. Cris Takken, now the Vice President of Operations, began in the shoe business at 13 years of age polishing shoes and working part time in the original San Luis Obispo location. Cris went on to manage the company's Newark location, and later became the General Manager of Takken's Shoes. As the Vice President of Operations, Cris has implemented a series of employee guide lines and training programs to insure the customer service legacy of the company’s founder. He has spearheaded the expansion and remodel projects, and maintained steady sales increases (undisclosed) since taking on the position. Marc Takken, now the Vice President of Merchandising, also began on the sales floor of the San Luis Obispo location while in highschool, and went on to manage the Hayward, Tracy, and Beverly Hills locations. Marc has used his position as the Vice President of Merchandising to implement a complex customized inventory plan for each of the company’s locations to appeal to the individual needs of each store’s community. Takken’s Shoes’ continues to be family owned and operated and has no current plans to become publicly traded.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
(USA) and two retail websites (Takkens.com and Takkenswarehouse.com). Specializing in comfort and family footwear, Takken’s Shoes is also one of the largest UGG Australia retailers in the world. The corporate headquarters are located in San Luis Obispo, CA where the first Takken’s Shoes was opened in 1937 by Harry Takken as a shoe repair business.
History
Takken's shoes opened in 1937 as a shoe repair shop in San Luis Obispo, CaliforniaSan Luis Obispo, California
San Luis Obispo is a city in California, located roughly midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the Central Coast. Founded in 1772 by Spanish Fr. Junipero Serra, San Luis Obispo is one of California’s oldest communities...
. The business was successful as such (largely attributed to Harry’s customer service and charisma), and was purchased by Harry’s son Robert in 1971. In 1975 Robert expanded the business to include a retail component, adding western and work boots.. In the mid 1980's Robert jumped on the new 'Comfort Shoe' trend, and again expanded the business adding several popular comfort brands of the time. At one time, Takken's Shoes of San Luis Obispo was the largest independent Rockport dealer on the west coast. The retail offering expanded again in the 80's with the addition of UGG Australia and other sheepskin footwear.
In 1987 a second store was opened in Paso Robles, CA.
Paso Robles, California
Paso Robles is a city in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. Paso Robles is the fastest growing city in San Luis Obispo County: Its population at the 2000 census was 24,297; in 2010 it recorded some 29,793 residentsLocated on the Salinas River north of San Luis Obispo, California,...
The Paso Robles store is the oldest free-standing location currently in the corporation and the only one still offering shoe repair services (the San Luis Obispo Takken’s Location is currently owned and operated by Robert’s brother-in-law Martin Henry and his wife Ellen). Both the San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles stores are still widely remembered for their western boot selection that began the retail side of the company. The Thousand Oaks
Thousand Oaks, California
Thousand Oaks is a city in southeastern Ventura County, California, in the United States. It was named after the many oak trees that grace the area, and the city seal is adorned with an oak....
location opened in 1989, marking a number of changes for Takken’s Shoes. As well as being the first Takken’s Shoes to open outside of San Luis Obispo County and the first mall location, the Thousand Oaks store was opened under the name “The Comfort Zone” marking what would eventually be a permanent shift towards comfort footwear.
The 1990’s saw continued growth with the addition of 9 new comfort oriented stores. Beginning with the Santa Maria
Santa Maria, California
Santa Maria is a city in Santa Barbara County, on the Central Coast of California. The 2010 census population was 100,062, putting it ahead of Santa Barbara for the first time and making it the largest city in the county...
location, expansion continued into malls in Newark
Newark, California
Newark is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It was incorporated as a city in September 1955. Newark is an enclave, completely surrounded by the city of Fremont. Its population was 42,573 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
, Hayward
Hayward, California
Hayward is a city located in the East Bay in Alameda County, California. With a population of 144,186, Hayward is the sixth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area and the third largest in Alameda County. Hayward was ranked as the 37th most populous municipality in California. It is included in...
, Tracy
Tracy, California
Tracy is the second most populated city in San Joaquin County, California, United States and an exurb of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 82,922 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
, Richmond
Richmond, California
Richmond is a city in western Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city was incorporated on August 7, 1905. It is located in the East Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a residential inner suburb of San Francisco, as well as the site of heavy industry, which has been...
, Salinas
Salinas, California
Salinas is the county seat and the largest municipality of Monterey County, California. Salinas is located east-southeast of the mouth of the Salinas River, at an elevation of about 52 feet above sea level. The population was 150,441 at the 2010 census...
, Citrus Heights
Citrus Heights, California
Citrus Heights is a city in Sacramento County, California, USA. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 83,301, down from 85,071 at the 2000 census....
, and Fairfield
Fairfield, California
Fairfield is a city located in Solano County in Northern California, USA. It is generally considered the midpoint between the cities of San Francisco and Sacramento, approximately from the city center of both cities, approximately from the city center of Oakland, less than from Napa Valley, 18...
(in order of opening). Since the beginning of the 2000’s decade 17 new mall locations have opened in Ventura
Ventura, California
Ventura is the county seat of Ventura County, California, United States, incorporated in 1866. The population was 106,433 at the 2010 census, up from 100,916 at the 2000 census. Ventura is accessible via U.S...
, Lakewood
Lakewood, California
Lakewood is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 80,048 at the 2010 census. It is bordered by Long Beach on the west and south, Bellflower on the north, Cerritos on the northeast, Cypress on the east, and Hawaiian Gardens on the southeast. Major thoroughfares...
, Concord
Concord, California
Concord is the largest city in Contra Costa County, California, USA. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 122,067. Originally founded in 1869 as the community of Todos Santos by Salvio Pacheco, the name was changed to Concord within months...
, Bakersfield
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
, Roseville
Roseville, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Roseville had a population of 118,788. The population density was 3,279.4 people per square mile...
, Downey
Downey, California
Downey is a city located in southeast Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city is best known as the birthplace of the Apollo space program, and is the city where folk singer Karen Carpenter lived and died...
, Stockton
Stockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
, Fresno
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
, San Jose
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, Visalia
Visalia, California
Visalia is a Central California city situated in the heart of California’s agricultural San Joaquin Valley, approximately southeast of San Francisco and north of Los Angeles...
, San Bruno
San Bruno, California
San Bruno is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States. The population was 41,114 at the 2010 census.The city is adjacent to San Francisco International Airport and Golden Gate National Cemetery.-Geography:San Bruno is located at...
, Merced
Merced, California
Merced is a city in, and the county seat of, Merced County, California in the San Joaquin Valley of Northern California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 78,958. Incorporated in 1889, Merced is a charter city that operates under a council-manager government...
, Palmdale
Palmdale, California
Palmdale is a city located in the center of northern Los Angeles County, California, United States.Palmdale was the first community within the Antelope Valley to incorporate as a city on August 24, 1962; 47 years later, voters approved creating a charter city in November, 2009. Palmdale is...
, Escondido
Escondido, California
Escondido is a city occupying a shallow valley ringed by rocky hills, just north of the city of San Diego, California. Founded in 1888, it is one of the oldest cities in San Diego County. The city had a population of 143,911 at the 2010 census. Its municipal government set itself an operating...
, Pleasanton
Pleasanton, California
Pleasanton is a city in Alameda County, California, incorporated in 1894. It is a suburb in the San Francisco Bay Area located about east of Oakland, and west of Livermore. The population was 70,285 at the 2010 census. In 2005 and 2007, Pleasanton was ranked the wealthiest middle-sized city in...
, and Valencia
Valencia, California
Valencia is an affluent planned community located in the City of Santa Clarita, California and Los Angeles County, California, U.S. in the northwestern corner of the Santa Clarita Valley, adjacent to Interstate 5. In 1987, it was one of the four unincorporated communities that merged to create the...
, and 1 new freestanding location in Roseville. The company has closed the Beverly Hills, Downey, Tracy, and Richmond locations, and remodeled 7 of its oldest locations in the recent years. The company intends to continue expansion, with plans for an additional free standing location in Santa Maria as well as an undisclosed number of new California mall locations before the decade is out.
The expansion of the 1990s was accelerated by Robert’s sons Cris and Marc Takken joining the company full time. Cris Takken, now the Vice President of Operations, began in the shoe business at 13 years of age polishing shoes and working part time in the original San Luis Obispo location. Cris went on to manage the company's Newark location, and later became the General Manager of Takken's Shoes. As the Vice President of Operations, Cris has implemented a series of employee guide lines and training programs to insure the customer service legacy of the company’s founder. He has spearheaded the expansion and remodel projects, and maintained steady sales increases (undisclosed) since taking on the position. Marc Takken, now the Vice President of Merchandising, also began on the sales floor of the San Luis Obispo location while in highschool, and went on to manage the Hayward, Tracy, and Beverly Hills locations. Marc has used his position as the Vice President of Merchandising to implement a complex customized inventory plan for each of the company’s locations to appeal to the individual needs of each store’s community. Takken’s Shoes’ continues to be family owned and operated and has no current plans to become publicly traded.