Had a great time shopping here. It was the first time my husband bought boots and the lady did such a good job making sure they fit just right. We also got some jeans and I had no idea what size I was but she figured it out in 3 tries ended up getting 2 jeans for myself and a pair for my husband. Would definitely go back again. read more

We drive from out of town to enjoy the beautiful options in this store. Quality clothing, accessories and boots are worth the investment. Ellen is knowledgeable about every piece in the store and if she does not have it she will order it promptly. read more

Walked in earlier today and was initially impressed with the layout and variety of the stores offerings but was off put by high prices and a rude owner. My father was simply taking a picture of my girlfriend and I to send to my other sibling who was away from home and he was snapped at by the man working the store who was rude about the no picture policy that we missed. I'm mainly disappointed in how it was handled and even after a deleted picture and an apology he was still rude read more

So happy I came this authentic cowboy store. Got this great hat. Next time I'm buying a pair of boots ‍ read more

Watsonatta Western World - Love my new hat. This store is so authentic I want to go back !!! Great cowboy boots. Next time I'm visiting - Shoe Stores Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

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We visited Boone on vacation in June and were so excited there was a western store there. My husband is a team roper and his whole family is very involved in horse training so they love their western wear. My daughter and I went in because she was looking for some boots. The short, old, white haired man who owns the place is the rudest person I have ever encountered in retail. I was trying to look something up on my phone and he walked over and snapped at us for "taking pictures" because my phone was in my hand. He proceeded to snarl at us about his "one of a kind boots" that were made specifically for his store and how people could take pictures and steal the designs. He walked away literally mumbling under his breath about our "lack of intelligence"!! I wouldn't spend a dime in his store if it was the last western store on planet earth! The two women working there were extremely sweet and helpful. I'm sure they endure verbal abuse from him on a daily basis. The good reviews must have been written by the owners family members. I wish I'd read the reviews before I visited because I would've never stepped foot in there. read more

My boyfriend and I have been here twice in the last month. The service is amazing, I never caught her name but the cashier was so helpful and so sweet. She helped my boyfriend find a hat that worked for him, and gave us all kinds of tips and information about the hats. She was so amazing. I love to browse this store all the time, their boot selection is insane. I will definitely make a boot purchase in the future. Love it. read more

This store was highly recommended by everyone I have met in Watauga County wearing boots. There is an overwhelming amount of options on the wall for footwear. The clothing is unique, not what you find elsewhere. Prices are appropriate for the quality and what I purchased was an excellent deal. I needed the friendly service to make the selection and I got exactly what I needed- a boot jack! read more

They treated us very kindly and were extremely helpful in helping my wife pick out a pair of boots along with all the other items we bought. Do not listen to the negative reviews. The staff is great! read more

I worked here for a long time there abuse of staff is unbelievable. From the starvation wages. To long hours without a break or time to even get a drink of water with being underage as well.Don't waste your money or time here. Rude to costumers and employees which is why I don't work there anymore. There selection isn't that great and the prices are marked up tremendously. They have stock in thete that's been there for 20 years they are trying to sell for full price. Both of the owners are corrupt selfish people. Lots of people like this place because they don't actually know the people that there buying from. The last place you want to give business too. read more

Unfortunately, there is no option for a ZERO star to rate this place. Fortunately, most reviewers agree that the owner is rude, racist, and with the worse customer service attitude a store owner can have. One of his comments to us was that he new we couldn't afford to buy anything at the store. It reminded me of the Pretty Woman movie and made me laugh. The store selection is very large but most of the designs are tasteless, dated and extremely overpriced. You can definitely find a much better selection and a more pleasant place to shope at other stores in the area. Luckily we as a society don't have to put up with people like this guy anymore and we can let other people know what to expect at a establishment like this. read more

Watsonatta Western World - Not a very welcoming front door - Shoe Stores Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

My fiancé and I were shopping around for new boots and were in town and thought they'd have lots of options. I can honestly say I didn't read any of the 50 signs on the front door and that was my bad I guess. But, my fiancé had a small cup of coffee and we were stopped immediately by an older man in a cowboy hat who rudely told us we cant come in with drinks. My fiancé offered to throw it away as it was basically empty and the man proceeded to lecture him about the sign and that he needed to place it at a very specific spot on the counter. My fiancé did and apologized. We walked to the back of the store to look at boots and again I didn't see the sign for no pictures on the front rack of boots only in the back room and mistakingly told my fiancé to take a picture of the tag of the boots he had liked, he didn't but that was a mistake. After only a minute since the last interaction the man followed behind us watching us. As I was admiring some boots, he came up behind us and rudely told us to read the signs. We nodded our heads and said yes sir. At that point I was over it and felt unwelcome, and I said we needed to go. Another employee who was in the back apologized for our interactions but we walked out. It put a damper on our afternoon. It appears that this man is a problem and doesn't want business from certain people. Shame because I was really excited to look around. Worst business I've encountered in the Boone area. read more

If I could leave 0 stars, I would. We're visiting from out of state and my friends wanted cowboy hats. We were looking around to find the right size and the old man whom is the owner walked up to us and pointed to his "no pictures allowed" sign. We looked at him and said we didn't take any pictures and he responded "good" and walked away. He has terrible customer service and was also extremely rude to someone else walking in. After reading these reviews, it makes sense. We put the cowboy hats down and walked out. They will not be receiving any of our business. read more

Unfortunately the old man up front (the owner) is extremely rude. Both times I have visited the store, we have been treated rudely. I will be taking my business elsewhere. read more

I can't say enough about the customer service received by Ellen!! She's the sweetest and knows her stuff. Bought 2 pairs of boots. Ellen was so patient and helpful. I would definitely recommend this store!!!! read more

Owner was very rude to my son when he was there to try on some hats. After trying on a few and not liking the selection the owner said I don't like crooked people in my store and to get out. Wish I would have read some of these reviews before I subjected my son to this rude encounter. read more

You are at the right place for western wear and service. I love this store and the owners! I have bought many boots, clothing, and hats from them. Ellen and Daryl are extremely knowledgeable on everything boots. They took the time and let me try on multiple boots without me feeling rushed. read more

Visiting from Florida and found this gem. Nice boot selection and excellent assortment of jeans. Staff was very helpful and knowledgeable. Will definitely return when we're back in town! read more

My wife and I went into this store while on a weekend getaway, and my wife tried on 2 or 3 shirts/vests that she was debating on purchasing. Throughout the entire experience the old man in the cowboy hat (possibly the owner?) was aggressively pushing us to buy an item. When my wife and I talked about the steep price of the items, we decided to not buy them today, but to maybe save up and come back later since we're sort of tight on money. As we were walking out of the store and politely said "thank you!" the older man in the cowboy hat bluntly said, "Now I thought you liked that vest...What's wrong with it?". So my wife politely replied that we were tight on money and may return later. The old man then rudely replied, "Well then don't try anything else on!". Naturally, I was surprised hearing how grouchy he was, and I laughed at his reply. But rest assured, after looking at his mean mug I realized he was dead serious. My wife and I quickly exited the store and we will definitely NOT be returning. I've never felt so pressured in a store to buy something before, and then treated so rudely when we decided to hold off. I'd recommend not giving this rude shop owner any business. Although, in the end I only have myself to be disappointed in. I should have known that a husky, 60-ish year old man dressed like he's in Bonanza working in a retail store wouldn't have the best manners. Other than this unfortunate experience - Great weekend! read more

I saw this store while walking down King Street, and wanted to go in to see what they had. I pulled the door open, and a man immediately turned around and said "read the sign on the door before you try to come in". UNDER the open sign, there was a sign that said "reopen in 15 minutes". The only words you could see was "reopen". The door had a ton of signs on it too, so the reopening sign didn't catch my eye, ESPECIALLY since it was hidden under another sign! If you're closed, why would you leave the door open? I am local to the area too, and would have likely been a consistent supporter of this store. There's a lot of stores on King Street I recommend to people- this will never be one of them. read more

horrible, horrible customer service. live FaceTiming someone to see which merchandise the granddaughter wanted, and were told to stop! no reason! wanted skin boots, mink trimmed jacket and kid boots, jeans and shirts. I wouldn't spend my american owned business money there!! PERIOD!! read more

Rude SOB... I won't be back... I asked what time they close, which was about the time I walked in but the lady said I could look around until she finished... guess he didn't get the message... read more

Very disappointed in the rude customer service from the older gentleman. He interrupted a conversation a friend and I were having to state "I told you three times we have that in a bigger size" in a very nasty tone. We walked out and will be taking our business elsewhere. read more

Owner is extremely bitter and obviously bullies his young staff. My family and I went there for an item that was in the window display. A very kind young lady came to assist me, we both went up into the window display to pick out the item I wanted. The young girl was grabbing the item, when the owner comes around and yells at me (I'm also a young girl) at how I should get down after HE was the one that told me 5 minutes prior, to go with an employee up to the window display and pick out what I wanted. I asked the owner as I was stepping down: "I'm really sorry, but, how can I look for the item I wanted" he told me to go outside and stand in the street. Each one of these items is priced differently so not only do I have to see the item but I also have to ask the price. So I would be out in the street yelling at this poor little employee for a price and to hold the item up to the window. After the owner yells at me, he thoroughly chews out this poor girl that was just trying to help me. I felt so bad like I got this lady in trouble. I found what I wanted but I now regret giving this bully any of my money. I won't be back. This store is the only store for at least 50 miles that sells what I was looking for YET I WILL STILL drive twice that not to patronize this business. This could be a thriving business if the owner just stepped back and let someone else manage because he is not a people person. I don't think I've ever interacted with a person that aggressive in a retail setting. I feel really bad for that nice lady that works there, she obviously has a very kind heart but is working in a very oppressive environment. read more

Can't say enough amazing things about this adorable boot shop! My husband and I were referred to Watsonatta because we wanted to purchase some new boots. Ellen, the owner, was BEYOND helpful and was helping us and a few other customers all at the same time and she did so flawlessly! She knows her inventory so well and once she learns your tastes, she can even make some amazing recommendations. She even tried to save me some money by having me try a child's size! Needless to say, we walked out some very happy customers with two new pairs of boots and some leather conditioner to keep our new boots in tip top shape! read more

This store was incredible and one of a kind! The customer service was impeccable and they're very educated in what they're selling!

I love this boot store and never disappointed. Bianca is my girl and she is the best sales person I've met. I tagged my boots in the photos for this company. She picked those out for me and I never go anywhere without receiving multiple compliments. They have boots everywhere from $89-over $600. The quality is unbeatable. Love my boots. :) read more

Watsonatta Western World - Shoe Stores Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

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The old man with the beard is by far one of the most rude people in the retail world that I've come in contact with. I picked out a pair of Lucchese boots that I was interested in purchasing but needed to find my correct size. After waiting for five minutes for someone to help me, I proceeded to look for them on my own. I quickly found the box and pulled them off the shelf to try them on. As soon as I removed them from the shelf the old man come up behind me and snarled at me and very rudely told me to put them back and i was not to touch them. I had cash on hand to pay for them, but I left and will never return. The store has too much inventory that looks as though it's been there for years. If you want decent prices, halfway decent customer service, and not feel as though you're a bother in their store, DO NOT SHOP read more

Older bearded gentleman (whom I believe is the owner) was extremely rude. I was looking forward to getting a lot of stuff but after he was rude, I just turned around and walked out empty handed. read more

Very friendly family owned - great experience. Always helpful and have everything I'm looking for. read more

Hey everyone! I have to say this is a hard review for me to write. I went in to buy my first pair of boots, very much inexperienced in how the operations of an establishment like this worked. I find a pair of boots I want to try on just for size (not to buy since they were way out of my price range) and the lady I was talking to was fine with it. I felt really bad since she had to go digging around and I didn't realize this. A little while after, the old man with the beard came up to me asking if I was going to buy that pair... I said no since I was just trying on for size and looking. He got irritated about that and I felt bad since I was kind of stupid when it came to this business. He began to tell his employee that I was a waste of time. However, I do have to say the service I got from the two ladies working there was fabulous. I'm not completely bringing down the business, since they have a great selection of boots and I finally found a pair to buy in my price range, but I feel as though if you want customers to come back for years to come... don't turn them down like your enemy, be nice and give good service so people will want to spend thousands of dollars at your establishment. I understand that good service is hard to come by post Covid, but it's always good to be as nice as possible to the customer‍. After a little while, the guy started to warm up to us, probably since I was purchasing something, but I've seen a lot of people saying they were just browsing. If people are just browsing, it's not uncommon and it's best to be polite to everyone! read more

Watsonatta Western World - Shoe Stores Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

Older man at front extremely rude - rest of staff was nice. He glared at us the whole time we were browsing and when one of the staff was helping my son try on hats he said "those are 100 dollar hats - are you really going to spend that much?" I would not even spend 1 cent here. Do not go here unless you want to be treated like trash. Apparently he only wants your business if you go in knowing exactly what you want and it does not require actually looking at any of the merchandise. From what I saw it was overpriced too. read more

This place has a ton of jeans, boots, and junk. Very very cramped and not a lot of space to move. Left within minutes.

We absolutely LOVE Watsonatta Western World! Ellen, the owner, is personable, affable and finds me the PERFECT Luchesse boots every time we come up to Boone. They are exquisite! It's the best place in the world to find great boots and Western wear! read more

We drove 3 hours specifically to visit this store and boot shop as my boyfriend had bought multiple pairs of boots there before and spoke of its tremendous selection. After looking for about an hour and my boyfriend and I trying on one pair of boots each, we were unable to find anything we wanted, save for a pair that I liked that had a defect which made them uncomfortable to wear. As we were leaving the store, an older gentleman (I found out later, the owner, sadly) asked us if we found any boots. I replied, "Not this time!" and smiled warmly. This gentlemen then proceeded to tell my boyfriend and I not to return to his store if all we were going to do was look around for an hour and waste his employee's time and not buy anything from them. I have NEVER been treated so rudely in my entire life. I will most definitely be making sure everyone I know is warned not to give patronage to this establishment. read more

Just went in for boots for my two daughters. The sales clerk was extremely rude to us because she could not get by us. The problem is the store is so full of merchandise you can barely walk so there was nowhere for us to move. We promptly left and will not be back. read more

We have purchased boots previously from this store. My daughter even had the last pair we purchased on when visited today. Her birthday is next week so she tried on boots and was going to ask her grandma to bring her back to buy a pair. On our way out the door, the old man at the front told us we shouldn't have taken up that lady's time trying on boots if we weren't going to buy, I replied we were coming back on Monday, and he barked back not to bother if we weren't purchasing anything. I quickly told him he didn't have to worry about getting any of my money ever again. What a terrible way to treat customers. I wish I would have walked back to the lady and told her I was sorry she lost a sale because of him. I just hope he doesn't talk to all the employees that way. Before today I would have given 5 stars. So disappointed!! read more

This place seriously pissed me off. Yeah great selection great prices but man if the people were not rude. First the girl asks if we need help we say no just want to look then she literally follows us around the store and watches our every move to the point that I want to say something. And talks the entire time riding my last nerve until finally my boyfriend myself and our friends decide to leave. Way to overwhelming. I will definitely buy my boots somewhere else. And never reccomend anyone to go here unless you want to be followed around the store and told about useless nonsense. Never again!!!! read more

The is the best western wear store I've ever been in, including some out west. Their selection of boots is unsurpassed and they are knowledgable about their products. They have an extensive selection of western clothing for both men and women, and their prices are usually better than you can find in any other local store or on the internet. The owners and staff are very personable and I've never had a disappointing visit there. Over the past few years my family and I have purchased no less then ten pairs of boots ranging from less then $100 to over $300, numerous shirts and vests as well as had a seemingly ruined Stetson cleaned,reblocked and reshaped so that it looks like new. I highly recommend doing business at Watsonatta, even if you have to drive a ways to get there. read more

This is the Worst!!!! Store I have ever been in. It was small and old and nasty. And I got screamed at by an old man working there. And as a customer all I did was open a boot box. He screamed at me and told me it was not a self service store. Talk about Scrooge this ugly old man made Scrooge look like a Disney character. I will never ever walk back in that store and my advice to you is to go to Mo's boots and shop they are so friendly and they don't mind if you open the boxes or try on the shoes. I am praying for that old man. read more