Sorry American shoe makers, your store fronts are nothing compared with Loake
First of all, Loake is an icon in the world of shoes, well known for the quality of their products. It's exceedingly difficult to find a pair in the US, as they don't have any store fronts. Yes you can find them, but only in large department stores, and limited styles and sizes. To find a storefront with the full line up was awesome. And then of course there is the customer service; it's second to none. the man I worked with, Robert, took so much time talking with me, and picking out the exact pair that would fit it was almost comical. I ended up with a pair of suede boots, but I tried on about 10 pairs after being measured until the exact fit was found.
The price point is less than some iconic American brands such as Allen Edmonds (and like 1/3 of the price of Alden). Best of all they gave me a dram of whisky while I shopped.
Can't recommend this place enough, high end shoes and superb service. If you're into shoes and can get to a Loake store you should read more