Good Shoes and Great Service at Clayton's Shoe Store

Serious travelers always include shopping in their explorations, with visits to historic 5&10 stores, old-fashioned general stores, antique book shops, and the hottest boutiques in the land. Who doesn’t like to shop, especially with retailers who claim an inspiring story, a long history, and exceptional merchandise? 

Clayton Shoes, purveyors of great footwear, has been serving the people of Tullahoma, Tennessee and the surrounding region for 125 years. The oldest shoe store in Tennessee, and the third oldest in the entire country, Clayton’s definitely meets the criteria for a tourist shopping stop! 

Owner Florence Hull is the fifth generation at the helm of this family owned and run shoe store. She took time to explain their history on a recent visit. 

The building at 108 W Lincoln was purchased for $1800, 125 years ago. It is a time capsule with history and family treasures on display. 

There are many reasons Clayton’s has lasted so long, especially their great customer service. Florence has a tried and true process for making sure shoes fit the customer. “Getting measured and fitted makes all the difference in the comfort of your feet,” she said. “Your nose, ears, and feet never stop growing, so measure your feet.” At Clayton’s they know how to do this correctly, including checking each customer’s arches with the Arch Map, a device that shows depth and length.  

If the quality of a shop is measured by  employee loyalty, then Clayton’s is first rate all the way. Annie, one of the most  beloved employees, was hired at age 19 and is now 91. She’s been fitting people with shoes for 72 years. Every Thursday you will still find Annie measuring customers feet to get just the right fit.

The entire staff at Clayton’s is personally trained by Florence and soon considered part of the family.They treat each customer individually with personal attention. This keeps people coming back time and time again, even multi-generational families. All customers, from the youngest to the oldest, leave with a smile on their face and comfort for their feet.  

SHOP SMALL…SHOP LOCAL…AND SHOP OFTEN.  Get to know the people where you spend your money, you never know what inspiring story will unfold.  

Don’t just Travel Tennessee…EXPERIENCE TENNESSEE!!