Proudly Serving
Jackson, Michigan Since 1912

While dozens of restaurants, bars, and retail shops have come and gone over the years, Miller's Shoe Parlor has been a cornerstone in downtown Jackson since 1912.

The family shoe store is currently owned by James "Steve" Shotwell Jr. It has been in the Shotwell family since 1959. Four generations of the family have worked at the shop.

The store specializes in American-made footwear, Shotwell said, and carries shoes for men, women, and children.

Just how large are the shoes available at Miller's Shoe Parlor? The answer is one of five things you probably didn't know about the business:

• Miller's has up to size 15 shoes for men and as large as size 12 for women. "We carry as wide as 6E and can get what are called 'super-depth shoes' for people who have swelling and that type of problem," Shotwell said. He added that the store can order shoes as large as 21-6E if needed.
• The business has been on Michigan Avenue since opening in 1912, but has not always been in its current locations. "We started out at 128 E. Michigan Ave. and moved across the street in 1976," Shotwell said. "We used to be an upstairs shoe store; on the second floor until 1976."
• The business now is located in a building constructed in 1895. It has three floors with 1,700 square feet per floor, plus a full basement. It has housed a camera shop, a women's clothing store, Gilbert Chocolates, and a record store, among other businesses, Shotwell said.
• The exterior of the store features one of the oldest art-deco shoe signs in Michigan. "It's actually made out of what is called 'bar glass,'" Shotwell explained, "It is all colored stained glass; not painted metal or anything like that. The neon has been completely redone; it's a true neon." The sign, featuring a black shoe with white letters, was built in the 1930s and has been on Michigan Avenue ever since, Shotwell said.
• Miller's makes custom orthotics - shoe inserts for arch support - either by prescription or by replacement. "We have a full lab on the second floor to build orthotics," Shotwell said.

Whether you're looking for a pair of shoes for your three-year old or are in need of medical-grade footwear, you can find what you need at Miller Shoe Parlor. We keep a variety of sneakers, sandals, dress shoes and more in stock from some of the top brands, including:

• New Balance
• SAS Shoes
• Johnson & Murphy
• Stride Rite

Miller Shoe Parlor specializes in hard-to-fit sizes for women and men! We have a board certified pedorthist in-house that can create custom foot orthoses according to your exact specifications. If you bring in a prescription, he will carefully craft an in-shoe brace that has been molded to your exact foot shape. Your new heat molded orthotic can accommodate almost any type of shoe or foot problem!

If you're in need of an orthotic due to diabetes, our staff can work with Medicare. Contact Miller Shoe Parlor to learn more.