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2 | November 21, 2019 | 22nd century media holiday guide
22ndCenturyMedia.com
Footwear, outerwear and clothing
featured at Forest Bootery in Lake Forest
One of today’s oldest footwear
dynasties in the nation began at
the Forest Bootery in Lake Forest
Market Square and is celebrating
its 70th year. Second
generation owners, “the Girls,”
Cristina and Cara Garrison grew
up in the fashion footwear industry
learning at an early age from
their parents. After graduating
college the pair came home and
found their father was planning
on selling the store. Not wanting
to let their heritage go in 1996
they became the fourth owners
of the Forest Bootery that
was established in November of
1949.
“I remember going to New
York with our father when I was
around 13,” Cara Garrison said,
“and meeting some of the great
designers like Ralph Lauren,
Joan & David Helpern and I remember
Sam & Libby Edelman
when they were first launching
their line in the 1980s. We would
help pick out styles that we liked
and my dad would listen to us for
teen direction.” That was what it
was like for the girls growing
up in a family business. Cristina
remembers “when the store
had parties we had to be there to
serve refreshments.” Historically
every downtown across America
had a store that sold family
shoes and leather goods called a
“Bootery.” Fast forward, today,
the Forest Bootery’s assortment
is much more than just shoes for
the family. When the legendary
outerwear store, the Outdoorsman,
closed its doors they
acquired the brand The North
Face, in the past few years they
started carrying women’s ready
to wear. “It’s about having what
our customers need so they don’t
have to shop somewhere other
than their home downtown” says
Cristina “we are a local landmark
and a leader. We put in
clothing because the tenant mix
in the Square was missing this,
well, and it’s super fun to buy.”
What’s going to happen with
the Forest Bootery? Cara says
“We are just not sure with closed
store fronts on Market Square
and online footwear sales climbing,
it’s true, our Lake Forest location
has been struggling. Consumers
have evolved and don’t
always shop local before clicking
online, it’s just too easy. Its
hurting retail and I worry gone
will be the days of going out
shopping. Shop less in stores and
then stores will have to carry less
and so goes the cycle. We plan on
continuing our search of finding
that special niche online to help
preserve our brick and mortar
footprint.” The “Bootery” is rich
in heritage and its flagship location
is located in Historic Market
Square in Lake Forest, Ill. They
have been serving the communities
of Lake Forest and Lake
Bluff for seventy years. Their
Libertyville location opened its
doors in 2005.
Submitted by Forest Bootery, 284
Market Square, Lake Forest. Call
(847) 234-0201 or visit forest-market.myshopify
for more information.
One Year Anniversary Sale!
25% OFF EVERYTHING
BLACK FRIDAY ONLY
November 29th 10am-4pm
Fashion & Accessories for Any Occasion
Book Bin
A Warm Holiday
Shopping Experience
$
10 OFF
a $ 50 Purchase
Not valid with any other offers or discounts.
One per person. Coupon required.
Expires 12-31-19
1151 Church St., Northbrook
847-498-4999
www.bookbinnorthbrook.com
1438 Old Skokie Road, Highland Park
(next to Custom Framer)
Holiday Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10am-4pm and Sun. 12-4 or by appt.
www.AccessorizeMeInStyle.com
elyse.fisher@comcast.net
847-926-7346
25% OFF ONE ITEM
December 2 nd - 24 th 2019
@22CMEVENTS
For more information, visit
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