Shoe Carnival

Shoe Carnival is a national footwear retailer that operates 372 corporately owned stores as of November 2025, with locations concentrated in the Midwest, South, and Southeast. The company was founded in 1978 in Evansville, Indiana, and has steadily expanded its presence over nearly five decades. A significant milestone in its recent history was the acquisition of Shoe Station in 2022, which allowed Shoe Carnival to introduce a complementary store concept and broaden its geographic reach. This integration has led to rebannering efforts and diversification within its store portfolio, giving the brand added flexibility in how it approaches new and existing markets.

Today, Shoe Carnival continues to grow through both opening new stores and optimizing its current locations. The company actively seeks sites in priority growth regions and adapts its formats to suit a variety of retail environments, ranging from traditional Shoe Carnival stores with their signature interactive atmosphere to Shoe Station locations offering a more conventional shopping experience. Over the past five years, the brand has evolved by enhancing its omnichannel capabilities and refining its store concepts to better serve a wide range of customers.

Shoe Carnival’s scale, proven operational track record, and willingness to innovate with store formats make it a reliable anchor or inline tenant for shopping centers and retail developments. The company’s executive-led real estate team pursues opportunities that align with its growth posture, focusing on markets where family footwear demand remains strong. With a consistent approach to expansion and a commitment to adapting its retail footprint, Shoe Carnival stands out as a credible, established retailer in the current commercial real estate landscape.