Red Wing Shoes, located just in front of Meijer on Highway 54, opened its doors in January of 2017. The store is the product of the Ehrlich Corporation, a local shoe operation that boasts over four generations of shoe expertise.
The Ehrlich Corporation is approaching its 45th anniversary which traces its roots back to the shoe department at Anderson’s Department Store in downtown Owensboro. Jarrad Beard, who presently serves as the Regions and Operations Manager, said his great grandfather entered the shoe business there in the early 1950s.
“We are a fourth-generation family business,” he said. “My great grandfather worked at both Anderson’s and Dawson’s Shoe Store downtown before my grandfather started the Ehrlich Corporation.”
The first business venture of the corporation came in 1976 when they opened a Red Wing Shoe Store in Evansville. That was their first involvement with the company which has since expanded to eight regional stores.
Like the other seven stores, the Owensboro location houses five different brands under one roof and offers a wide array of footwear options. From soft toe and safety toe boots to casual shoes for a night out on the town, the store truly has a shoe for every occasion.
With the purchase of footwear, the store also provides complimentary lifetime tune-ups that feature cleaning and oiling, laces, stitch repair, and eyelet repair.
“We love people just coming in and meeting with them – we value that sense of community,” he said. “It’s taken a lot of time and work to get where we are at today. We wouldn’t be where we’re at today without the support of the Owensboro community.”
The Red Wing Shoes Company was founded in 1905 in Red Wing, Minnesota. The privately held, family-owned business has transformed itself into a global brand with over 550 stores in all 50 states as well as across the globe.
Beard said that the company has always prided itself on community involvement, a character trait that extends to all of their regional stores. This is evident with the many community partnerships they have here locally.
“We partner with local businesses and manufacturing firms who are looking to fulfill their safety footwear needs,” he said.
For more information on the community partnerships, you can reach out to Beard at [email protected] or visit https://www.redwingsafety.com/. For more information on the local store, you can visit their website here https://stores.redwing.com/owensboro-ky.
The Chamber Member of the Week program is a membership benefit of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce. Founded in 1913, the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce has worked for over a century to provide valuable benefits and services to member businesses and individuals.
Today, with a membership base of nearly 1,000, the Chamber is a guiding force in community and business development initiatives, serving as the center of business advocacy for the Greater Owensboro region.
To learn more about becoming the Chamber Member of the Week or to inquire about Chamber membership, contact Shelly Nichols, Chamber Vice President, at 270-926-1860 or [email protected].
