Cheney Shoe Barn going out of business

CHENEY – The Cheney Shoe Barn is closing its doors after two successful years of operation. Owner Kimberly Howard is moving back to Arizona to care for her mother, who recently turned 98.

Despite her mother's age and her business's success, Howard feels she's making the right decision.

"It was definitely growing and growing well, so it's nice to go out on my terms," Howard said. "But I wish I didn't have to go out at all."

Howard was a first-time business owner. She and her husband bought and renovated the old Cozy Corner building in August 2020 and transformed it into the Cheney Shoe Barn.

Some of her favorite memories of the past two years are the store's renovation and the people who frequented it. Howard said selling shoes reinvigorated her love for people, something she thought she lost during her last job managing people at Collins Aerospace.

When the pandemic hit, Collins Aerospace offered Howard a chance to cash in on her retirement benefits and she took it. She used the money to create the Shoe Barn and found a renewed passion for human interaction while selling shoes.

"I found out I do like people-I just don't like problems all the time," Howard said. "I have to say the Cheney people are fantastic-they really do embrace you with open arms."

Howard says she will miss providing a service that's appreciated in Cheney. People routinely let her know they liked being able to buy shoes in town, saving them trips to Airway Heights or Spokane. She became friends with many of her customers and said she'll miss talking with them.

Howard said the business was profitable and had been growing for the last two years. Last year she was able to hire her first part-time employee and this year, she expanded the Shoe Barn's merchandise to include the Carhartt brand, a staple of Eastern Washington wardrobe choices.

"It's a convenient place to get good quality shoes at a discounted price," Howard said.

However, her mother's recent health scare was enough to shift Howard's priorities back to the woman that raised her in Sprague, Washington. Her mother moved to Arizona after Mount Saint Helens erupted in 1980.

Howard said she tried to sell the business, but there were no takers. So, she's liquidating inventory and putting the building on the market.