The Forest Bootery has been located in downtown Lake Forest's Historic Market Square since 1949 and in Downtown Libertyville's Historic Main Street District since 2005.
In 1976 Paul Garrison purchased the Forest Bootery, a family shoe store, from Mort Gibbion making Paul the 3rd owner. At that time there was one other shoe store on the square called "Jensons", which is now Williams-Sonoma.
Paul's strategy was "to be competitive and have something for everyone so you didn't have to go to the mall".
That philosophy grew our reputation as the store to go to if you wanted a great selection at a fair price with terrific customer service.
Around 1980 Paul and a partner opened a second location in Highland Park. Soon to follow the Forest Bootery in Lake Forest went thru a huge remodeling and acquired an additional store front. This expanded the sales floor by approx 1/3 and the selection mix to include coats and handbags.
In 1996 Cara and Cristina purchased the Lake Forest flagship location from their father Paul.
They took the store through a huge remodel in 1999, and again in 2004. Later that year Paul's partner in Highland Park bought out Paul, and changed the Highland Park location name to "The Bootery".
This gave Cara and Cristina full rights to the Forest Bootery name and trademarks, the Libertyville location opened soon after.
"The Girls" maintain the same family philosophy in their ever growing assortment. They have added Women's clothing and jewelry selections and look for something new in the kids department in 2012.