ShoeBiz (CLOSED)

This local empire has four stores in the city, but the best stocked of the bunch are the pair on Haight Street. The “Super” store at 1420 Haight is packed with fashionable but practical shoes for city life. Women will find an array of flats—ballet, D'Orsay, smoking slippers and Oxfords—as well as hardy wood-soled sandals and clogs. Men can browse chukka boots, dress shoes, and casual leather lace-ups. With lower-priced labels like Seychelles, Dolce Vita, and Report, this is a great place to find a deal. (The staff is also adept at finding styles comparable to whatever high-end designer items you've been lusting after elsewhere.) Just down the street at 1553 Haight, the ShoeBiz Dinostore—so called for the large dinosaur sculpture guarding the door—specializes in sneaker and streetwear brands, including Nike, New Balance, Supra, Puma and Adidas. When new releases hit, you'll frequently find a line forming before the store opens.