TreadZ opens in downtown Glenwood
Glenwood Springs correspondent
Aspen, CO Colorado
ALL |
GLENWOOD SPRINGS ” Jon and Erin Zalinski are bringing casual shoes back into downtown Glenwood.
The New Castle couple opened their TreadZ shoe store at 732 Colorado Ave. just before Memorial Day after considering the prospect for about a year.
The Z in TreadZ stands for Zalinski.
“Dragon’s Boot and Shoe closed for some reason (in the Glenwood Springs Mall). We thought bringing some comfort casual back to Glenwood was important, and we wanted to bring it to downtown rather than the mall or elsewhere,” Jon said.
He said specialty stores seem to lend themselves to being in downtown areas in Colorado mountain towns. The spot used to be a camera store called the Dark Room, one block off of Grand Avenue.
Jon worked as a general manager for Summit Canyon Mountaineering in Glenwood and was familiar with shoe company representatives. After the Dragon’s Boot and Shoe store closed, he said, the reps suggested someone should sell shoes in downtown Glenwood again.
The Zalinskis plan to emphasize customer service and do things such as special ordering a certain pair of shoes or have shoes delivered. They plan to expand their selection and tailor it to the desires of the community. They also may expand the store into the currently unused basement.
“We’re in the comfort category. It’s kind of like business casual to slightly dressy,” Erin said. “Our emphasis is definitely on quality and comfort, and we want to be stylish.”
They’re running the business according to their own personal aesthetics. Erin said TreadZ will do business with environmentally responsible organizations. They have free coffee waiting for customers.
TreadZ is a drop-off location for Soles4Souls, a charity that gives used shoes to the needy around the world. TreadZ is giving anyone who donates used shoes this month a 10 percent discount on a purchase of new shoes.
The store itself looks snazzy after a renovation. The original brick and wood floor were exposed inside, while new interior elements were added like the patterned tin ceiling with black trim. The store’s facade is nearly all glass. The exterior was stripped of paint and repainted. The side windows also are being redone.
“I don’t think you would get this feel out of a mall or Meadows,” Jon said. (Glenwood Meadows is the burgeoning strip mall in west Glenwood).
Jon, originally from Chicago, has been in the area for about 14 years. He met Erin and they’re now married and have two kids. Erin was originally from Michigan. She joked that they were “ski bums” in Aspen and eventually drifted downvalley to Glenwood Springs and then New Castle.
TreadZ plans a grand opening celebration Aug. 16 including giveaways and shoe vendor representatives. The store has a website, which will be expanded, at http://www.treadzshoes.com. Jon said business has been good so far.
“Everyone who’s come in has liked the space and liked the products,” Jon said. “We’ve had a great response.”
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