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| - The Nettleton Shop is a hidden-gem in the Market Square area of Downtown Pittsburgh. I had wandered by the shop countless times before finally deciding to stop in and check out the selection.
I was immediately impressed with the quantity and quality of the selection on-hand. For such a small, boutique store, the walls were lined with high-end, hard to find shoes and boots. Not only were all of the usual suspects present (Nettleton, Allen Edmonds, Alden, Rancourt, etc..), but some real rarities as well. In addition, they have some custom-made varieties of Nettleton shoes available that you won't find anywhere else in the country.
Most importantly, the kindness and friendliness of the owner was what made me a fan. Especially in higher-end shops, it is hard to find a salesperson, let alone owner, that treats customers with respect even if they don't look like they walked through the door with a blank check in their pocket. I was just browsing, but he spent the better part of twenty minutes talking to me about brands, shoe care techniques, and different methods of shoe construction. I left with nothing more than a nice jar of Saphir conditioning cream, but he treated me the same as if I had purchased his top of the line pair of Nettleton's.
Do yourself a favor. The next time you need a pair of bespoke men's shoes or boots, skip the department stores or the other usual suspects and pay a visit to the friendly proprietor of the Nettleton shop. Small businesses like this need our support, and I can't think of a more deserving candidate.
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