First Look: Birkenstock expands in brick-and-mortar

A footwear brand with a devoted fan base has extended its retail footprint to the backyard of its American headquarters.

Birkenstock Americas has opened its fourth company-owned retail store in the United States, at Marin County Mark in Larkspur, Calif. 

The new store follows the successful openings of the brand’s first three U.S. company-owned stores, with two in New York City (Brooklyn and Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood,) and one in Venice Beach, Calif.

Birkenstock Marin has a modern, elevated look. The space is designed to embody the rich history of the brand. Core materials of cork, felt and leather are coupled with white oak to create a bright, refined space with a naturally comfortable feel.

In addition to Birkenstock’s iconic sandals, the store carries the brand’s growing range of products for women, men and kids, including sneakers, shoes, boots, clogs and socks. (Birkenstock’s Boston clogs were the second hottest product on the most recent Lyst Index quarterly, which was released in October.) It will also offer a curated selection of limited-edition designer collaboration styles.

Birkenstock partnered with Marin-based artist Leo Bersamina to create a large-scale artwork for the store. Made of found driftwood from the Marin coast, the 12’x6’6’’x3’ acrylic, wood and paneled sculpture celebrates the natural landscape of Marin County. Each piece of wood is hand-painted with patterns inspired by Birkenstock footwear and comes together in a form modeled off the brand’s iconic contoured footbed.

Birkenstock also partnered with local illustrator, Kevin Mirsky to create “County Culture” a playful drawing featuring a cast of characters inspired by life in Marin.

The art will be featured on special gifts and throughout the store during its opening.

“Birkenstock first landed in the San Francisco Bay Area over fifty years ago and our footprint has been planted in Marin for decades,” said David Kahan, managing director, Birkenstock Americas. “We have searched for many years to find the perfect location in Marin so opening at the Country Mart is an exciting next phase of our history in the area.”

With 5,500-plus employees worldwide, the sixth-generation family-run Birkenstock is one of the German footwear industry’s biggest employers. Since 2021, the company has been majority owned by L Catterton, the world's largest growth investor focused on the consumer goods industry, and Financière Agache, a holding company controlled by Agache, the holding company of the Arnault family.

Manufactured in Germany, Birkenstock sandals are sold in more than 100 countries on all continents. In 2017, the company added sleep systems and natural cosmetics to its portfolio of products.