Kevin Durken moved to St. Cloud from Litchfield in his early twenties for a job opportunity; that was nearly 50 years ago. After a couple of years of work, he was approached by a friend who wanted to start a boot shop, and he was all in. On August 1st, 1980, Kevin and his friend set up shop in a 14 x 18-foot building, painted it brown, and that’s how The Boot Shack was born.
Less than a year later, Kevin found himself with the opportunity to buy The Boot Shack and make it his own. “So here I am, 22 years old at the time, and I needed my dad to co-sign a loan … that was back when interest rates were 18-20%. But I got the loan and worked hard selling boots ranging from $39 to $69 a pair; those were the good old days,” Kevin said. Now you’ll find The Boot Shack in a much larger space directly behind Shooters in South St. Cloud. “Shooters makes the best burgers in town, and we’re glad to have a larger space in the back half of the building.”
“One of the biggest things that set us apart in the 80s and continues to make us different from other shops is the fact that we still measure and size every foot that steps in our store. In 1985, our fifth year in business, we got Brannock devices – and that changed everything for us. We could properly measure customers’ feet, and it made all the difference in finding the right pair of boots for each person,” Kevin explained.
“Nobody uses the Brannock device anymore, much less bothers with proper measuring and sizing. Since we started that practice, we feel an obligation to properly fit people for what’s best for their bodies. The thing is, it takes more time and it requires you to have more inventory … but it also means that when people step into boots and shoes that truly fit their feet properly, many, if not all, their aches and pains go away.”
“Now, we have people who come to us from all over the country to find the best boots or shoes for their body and their needs. We even have instances where we’ve worked with customers to have boots made specifically for their feet because their size or width isn’t common or easy to find – but having the right fit really matters.”
What may surprise you is that you’ll find more than just boots at The Boot Shack. They sell a variety of footwear, including an impressive selection of New Balance shoes. “You wouldn’t believe how many people come in to find athletic shoes because they know we’ll take the time to find them the right pair that actually fits them. Especially with more careers allowing their workers to wear athletic shoes, they have as much demand as our boots do. We are The Boot Shack, but we have over 7,000 pairs of work & western boots and shoes here.”
“Years ago, Deb and I were at the Western Market in Denver, CO, and met Jon Schallert. He worked for Hallmark for 14 years and now owns his own business, Destination University. We’ve learned a variety of things from him, including marketing and advertising, store layout, and tips for talking on the radio. He has been a huge help to us, and we appreciate his insights as we make The Boot Shack a destination store.”
As a long-standing business owner in the Greater St. Cloud community, Kevin and his wife, Deb (who also works at The Boot Shack), are doing incredible things to give back and lift up their neighbors. For example, they regularly work with the students of St. Cloud Technical & Community College. “Each year around the beginning of the school year, we get the opportunity to go to the Technical & Community College and talk to students in the Trades Programs about the importance of properly-fitting shoes and how it can impact their job, health, and day-to-day life. We know people change professions in their lifetime because of health, and it comes from your foundation – your footwear.” They also regularly partner with St. Cloud Stand Down and Catholic Charities to donate footwear to those in need. The Boot Shack invests in many community organizations and fundraisers, including Terebinth Refuge, Anna Marie’s Alliance, Boys & Girls Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Angel Reigns, Paramount Center for the Arts, Central Minnesota Boy Scouts, Tri-County Humane Society, Buffalo Rodeo, Clearwater Rodeo, and this year - for the first time - the Brook Park Rodeo, and more. Kevin & Deb are also involved in the St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce, as well as volunteering with their church.
“One of our very best partnerships - I’m talking more than 35 years - is with Shoe Care Plus. Denny Cariveau started the shoe repair business, and it’s now run by his son, Todd. “Todd is a perfectionist. There’s just nobody who does work to fix boots and shoes like he does; he’s our saving grace. He helps make the worst, most worn-out shoes look darn-near new again. Our business wouldn’t be what it is today without great business connections and friends like him; his business is invaluable to ours.”
“What has always been, and continues to be, one of the best parts of my job is fitting people. It’s key to what we do. Fitting people for the first time and then putting them in boots or shoes that are their exact size … to see them put that on and stand up, we see their backs straighten and huge smiles fill their faces. That’s the most rewarding,” said Kevin.
“We sponsor fundraisers and do radio shows in the community, but when people come in and have been sent here or recommended to try us from family and friends … that’s what makes our business a community deal. Word of mouth and sharing the experiences they have finding what they need at The Boot Shack means a lot — our community is one of the best things for our business.”
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