After 92 years of business, Carol Sanders of Vose-Sanders Bootery at 837 Elm Street has announced it will be closing towards the end of January 2015.

Four Generations of North Shore residents have shopped at the store, which has continously operated at the Elm Street address since it opened in the 1940’s. The family run retailer originally opened in 1922 as Vose Bootery in Evanston at 1924 Central Street and then opened the second location in Winnetka about 20 years later.

Sanders’ late husband, Rick Sanders bought the two stores from his parents in 1989.  He had worked at the Winnetka location for 43 years when he died in October 2012 at age 63.

The longevity of the stores is owed in great part to Rick’s parents, who bought out the original owners of the Evanston store, Martin Vose, in 1962 and then bought out his brother, John Vose at the Winnetka location in 1965.  Rick’s father, Ted Sanders, now 94, worked as a shoe manufacturing representative in the 1950’s and had become acquainted with the Vose brothers through that job.  He also worked on Saturdays at the Evanston location selling shoes.

The current owner Carol Sanders, who managed the Evanston location at one point, has worked full time at the stores with her late husband for more than 15 years.

The business survived devasting declines in sales after Nordstrom’s, with an expansive children’s shoe department, opened at the Old Orchard shopping center in October 1994. “It was a good kick in the pants”, Sanders said, “motivating us to totally gut and rennovate both of our stores, discontinue slow-selling brands and attend more national shoe shows to pick out new shoe brands.”

After the two stores were rennovated in 1996 and 1998, the stores were bustling again until the great recession hit in 2008-09. “Retail has changed dramaticallly in the last 6-7 years” Sanders said.  “Obviously, surviving the great recession was a challenge in itself, but then the sale of shoes on the Internet gained traction.  Most of our vendors no longer needed retailers to sell their shoes; those manufacturers actually prefer to sell their products direct to consumers on their own websites,” Sanders said.  “We forsee that the trend will continue to evolve.”

Rick Sanders was active in the Winnetka Chamber of Commerce, serving on it’s Board of Directors for many years and then terms as the Chamber’s Treasurer and Secretary.  Rick also chaired the Chamber’s important Sidewalk Sale Committee and volunteered at it’s annual spring Recognition Awards Lunch.  Rick’s father, Ted, was a former President of the Winnetka Chamber of Commerce when he owned the shoe store.

“We truly appreciate the many good years we had in Winnetka,” Sanders said.  “Our customers, for the most part, are lovely ladies who want to get their children properly fitted for shoes.  We are grateful that they choose to shop with us.”

We wish Carol all the best for a wonderful retirement.  We are fortunate that Vose-Sanders has been such an intregal part of community for so many year and will miss their presence!