Shoes: everybody needs them, everybody’s got them. For such a simple and universal item, it’s interesting how little time we spend thinking about how important they really are. Can you think of a person, for example, who has fewer than five pairs? Probably not. Have you ever thought about the fact that the average person spends more than thirty percent of their life in shoes? Probably not.
So what is noteworthy about shoes? Well, to start, they’ve been around since 8,000 B.C., when our hominid ancestors first had the brilliant thought to protect their delicate feet from the harsh elements. Since then, they’ve revolutionized how we live, how far we can walk or run, and, most importantly, how much pain we suffer on a daily basis. There’ve been famous shoes, like the blue suede kind; red ruby varieties; boots made for walking; and the glass type for peasant princesses-to- be. There’ve also been moon-walking shoes, and even a giant shoe-home to a quirky old woman and her minions.
More recently, shoe-makers have designed our leather-and-lace foot friends to be veritable marvels of modern technology. Some have red lights that flash with each step. Others have built in odometers. Yet others, you hand-inflate to create the sensation of flying on a basketball court. In the last few decades, we’ve seen an explosion of shoe types. We have running, jogging, walking, hiking, and climbing shoes; flipflops, flippers and slippers; casual, dressy, and platform shoes; bowling, golfing, and tennis shoes; bronze-cast baby shoes; over-sized clown shoes; and the list goes on.
With all of the shoes around these days, a person could go mad in search of a pair that’s practical and well-made. But look no further: On Deck Clothing Company, you could say, is Door County’s answer to Imelda Marcos. In fact, each year On Deck sells over 4,000 pairs of shoes to its customers. Miraculously, all of On Deck’s shoes are stylish but not wild; functional but not boring; and part of a broad but not overwhelming selection.
On Deck carries Sperry, UGG, OluKai, Merrell, Reef, Rieker, Skechers, Sorel, Teva, Tom’s and a host of other brands. If you’re in the market for a bipedal surprise, stop in at On Deck. You’ll be delighted at how simple finding the perfect shoe can really be.
