Owner of Famous Footwear acquires made-in-the U.S. footwear retailer

Allen Edmonds, the nearly 100-year-old men’s footwear and accessories brand whose products are handmade in Port Washington, Wisconsin, has a new owner.



Caleres announced it has acquired Allen Edmonds from private equity firm Brentwood Associates for $255 million. In addition to operating stores under the Famous Footwear banner, Caleres has a diverse portfolio of footwear brands.



Brentwood acquired Allen Edmonds in 2013. Under Brentwood’s ownership, Allen Edmonds expanded its direct-to-consumer business significantly, increasing its store count from 45 in 2013 to 70 currently and growing its e-commerce business in excess of 20% per year.



“The addition of Allen Edmonds to the Caleres Brand Portfolio allows us to rapidly increase our exposure in men’s footwear, solidifying a new revenue stream to drive overall growth,” said Diane Sullivan, CEO, president and chairman of Caleres. “Allen Edmonds is a strong brand operating with a proven business model and we feel it is well-positioned for growth. Not only does Allen Edmonds have brand equity and a loyal customer base, its appeal extends beyond this base to yet untapped consumers. We think we’ve acquired one of the great gems in men’s footwear.”



Caleres operates over 1,200 stores under a variety of banners. Its footwear brands includes Naturalizer, Sam Edelman, Via Spiga Vince, Dr. Scholl’s Shoes and George Brown Built.