If, like me, you're the kind of person that literally will wear down a pair of shoes until holes…read morestart to appear or straps begin to break, then having to replace those shoes can become an expensive, time-consuming burden. Hey, don't judge me, I like to get my money's worth and you know what they say...if it ain't broke, don't fix/replace it!
If you are a budget-conscious shopper, you probably will head to a shoe store like Payless, but you won't always find what you're seeking. Not to mention that Payless is not as inexpensive as it used to be, yet their quality is just as lackluster, if not worse, than it was years ago when you could find shoes for about $10.00-$12.00. Stores like TJ Maxx also may not carry the styles or sizes you need, and their shoes can be rather pricey (but flimsy like those you'd find at Payless too!).
Although many of my co-workers buy their shoes online, in doing so, you run the risk of the shoe's size running smaller, the shoe being uncharacteristically narrow, or being uncomfortable and/or impossible to walk in, so I personally prefer to shop in person. In emergency cases where your shoes suddenly break, you don't have the time to wait for online shipping either! It has become a sort of running joke between me and my friend to play the "guess whose shoe broke today?" game, considering I have broken about 4 pairs this year alone (and yes, some of them actually were designer shoes that retailed for $60). This time, though, it wasn't a sandal that broke, but my work shoes. When my sandals or flip flops break, I just pick up a new pair at Walgreens and go on my merry way, but work shoes are another story.
At the "Shoes $5.99+" store, it is easy and painless to replace your broken shoes, or just pick up some colorful shoes that you normally would not purchase because you don't necessarily need them, without breaking the bank. Though most shoes are not $5.99 save for those in the clearance aisle, they don't seem to cost more than $12.99, which is still remarkably cheap for some good-looking shoes. If your shoes do end up breaking, it won't hurt as much to part with them than it would be if you spent $40.00+ on the pair. You can easily just dump the broken shoes and pick up a nicer, more trendy pair.
This store has been around for 15 years, so it's hard to believe that no one has reviewed it sooner. I am told this is a well-kept North Miami Beach secret. Don't let the locked door that requires you to ring a door bell to be allowed in be a deterrent. It is possible that this was formerly a pawn shop or jewelry store, since there are a few of those within the strip mall, hence the door bell.
They carry everything from children's sneakers and dress shoes to sunglasses and purses. There are shoes for men too -- sandals, sneakers, and dress shoes. They have all types of sizes, though usually they run out of the 7.5-8.5 shoes quickly, so they tend to have the smaller sizes or larger sizes. Since I wear a small size, they told me it'd be easy to find practically every shoe in my size. I picked up 3 pairs of brand new shoes and spent about $36, including tax. What a deal!
The store was rather full on a Saturday, and the lady who works there, a blonde lady that I assume is Jenny, the owner, was very helpful in suggesting shoes and giving her opinion. She explained how the store worked, how to find the pair in the color and size I needed, and also added me to their weekly email list that includes pictures and prices of new arrivals. If you're budget-conscious or even a big shoe collector, check this place out, you probably won't be disappointed and you certainly will enjoy the big savings!
