Van Dyke and Bacon Shoes

Van Dyke and Bacon is a small shoe store chain located in the surrounding areas of Baltimore, Maryland. It has been family operated since 1936. Over the years, Van Dyke and Bacon (aka VD&B) has grown from one small comfort shoe store, to a small company that operates five shoe stores in the Baltimore metropolitan area. These shoe stores are located in Baltimore City on Liberty Street, Baltimore City on York Road, Ellicott City, White Marsh, and Cockeysville. VD&B's newest location is the Cockeysville store, which will open in late September 2008.

History

In 1936, Francis Bacon and Irvin Van Dyke formed the Van Dyke and Bacon Shoes company by opening the Liberty Street store. For 72 years, the company has grown and prospered in the Baltimore area. In 1950, the company opened its second store on York Road. It later was moved several blocks north to its current location on York Road and Northern Parkway. Thirty nine years later, the Ellicott City store opened. Five years later, in 1993, the Bel Air store became the fourth shoe store in the Van Dyke and Bacon company. Expansion was put off for over ten years, but in the spring of 2007, the White Marsh store of the VD&B chain opened. It was announced that a new store would be opening in the fall of 2008. This new store would be in Cockeysville, near Hunt Valley.

Sadly, in the summer of 2008, the Bel Air store closed after 15 years.

Philosophy

Since Bacon and Van Dyke created their shoe store, the company's philosophy is to fit each person for the perfect shoe. Each customer is greeted by a friendly employee who will assist them in picking ou a shoe, and choosing what size and width the person should buy. Van Dyke and Bacon is considered a comfort shoe store. They design specialized shoes for people with foot problems. They also sell diabetic footware and fit people with other foot troubles.

Van Dyke and Bacon Shoes carries men's, women's and children's shoes.

Shoe Brands

Van Dyke and Bacon Shoes offers a wide variety of shoe brands at their stores. One of their most prominent selling brands is SAS Shoes. They also carry comfort shoe brands including Dansko, P.W. Minor, Munro, Beautifeel, Mephisto, and many more. Their most well-known athletic shoe is New Balance. They also carry Skechers and Merrill.