Buster Brown Shoes Closes in Forest Hills - The End of An Era

UPDATE: As of July 2010, the famed Buster Brown Shoes sign has been removed, restored, and displayed in an Austin St office, with our intervention.

We just learned that on May 11, 2010 at 11 AM at Buster Brown Shoes/Austin Shoes, 71-24 Austin St, Forest Hills, NY, there will be a bankruptcy auction by Richard B. Maltz of David R. Maltz & Co., Inc. The auction will feature: Infant/children shoes and sneakers (Buster Brown Brand), sandles, handbags/purses, rain coats, chairs, stools, display, etc.

In April 2010, Queens residents were disheartened to see one of the few remaining mom & pop shops in Forest Hills at 71-24 Austin St, shut its doors, and a For Rent sign being tacked into the classic Buster Brown Shoes sign. It was one of the oldest shops in existence in Forest Hills, being that it opened in the late 1940s, and is where generations have memories of their earliest shoe purchases. Buster Brown sold infant and children shoes, parochial shoes, orthopedic shoes, and even shoes for adults in midst of the majority of younger age shoes. Operator Lenny inherited the shop from his father. He recently retired, and although locals were hoping that he would be successful in finding another operator to carry on the tradition, he gave up hope. The sign's famed caricature was based on the Buster Brown and Tige comic strip characters.  

The role of Rego-Forest Preservation Council will be to ensure that the historic sign and any other vintage possessions within the shop will be rescued and not discarded, and a suitable home be found, so it can one day be on exhibit for all to see. That is our first priority.

Our flickr photoset, featuring close-ups of the historic signage: 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8095451@N08/sets/72157617681208185/ 
 

1950s TV commercial featuring a Buster Brown Shoes jingle: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm4xH9unqzU 

General history & timeline of Buster Brown Shoes (chain), according to Brown Shoe Co:
http://www.brownshoe.com/history/

In 1878, a young man named George Warren Brown believed St. Louis could become a manufacturing center for the shoe industry. He invested his life savings and founded his own company to manufacture and sell shoes even though most shoe companies were located in the Northeast. Brown thought he could change the face of the industry and he was right - his company thrived. Today, Brown Shoe is a leading $2.4 billion consumer-driven footwear company with global, integrated operations, delighting consumers with a portfolio of compelling brands.

Many people mistakenly think Brown Shoe was named after the much-loved Buster Brown character. In fact, our Buster Brown shoe brand came 25 years later.

In 1904 at the "Meet Me In St. Louis" World's Fair, a young Brown Shoe executive met Buster Brown's creator, cartoonist Richard F. Outcault, and purchased the name from him. At the time, Buster Brown was a mischievous cartoon character, who, together with his dog Tige and sister Mary Jane, delighted children of all ages.

Brown Shoe made marketing history when it sent on the road a series of actors, each dressed as Buster and accompanied by a dog (Tige). They toured the entire country selling Buster Brown shoes as they performed in theaters, department stores and shoe stores. In those days, such a touring show generally brought out the whole town.

1878

Bryan, Brown & Company formed in St. Louis by George Warren Brown and his partners Alvin Bryan and Jerome Desnoyers.

1893

Company name changed to Brown Shoe Company.

1904

Rights to Buster Brown name purchased; Buster Brown brand introduced to public at the St. Louis World's Fair.

1904

Succession of actors, dressed like Buster Brown and accompanied by dogs, toured the country (1904-1930), playing to audiences in rented theaters, department stores and shoe stores.

1913

Brown Shoe Company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under stock ticker symbol BWS.

1925

George Warren Brown School of Social Work endowed at Washington University in St. Louis by G.W. Brown's widow.

1927

Naturalizer brand created.

1931

Connie brand created.

1940

LifeStride brand created.

1943

Smilin' Ed McConnell and his Buster Brown Gang debuted on the West Coast NBC radio network. In 1951, Smilin' Ed moved to television, where his show ran until 1954.

1951

Brown Shoe Company acquired Wohl Shoe Company, operator of 350 specialty stores and 800 shoe departments for many major department stores.

1952

Brown Shoe Company moved headquarters from 1600 Washington Avenue to Clayton, MO.

1954

Naturalizer Shoe Store, the first of several hundred stores to carry Naturalizer shoes, opened in Jamaica, NY. Regal Shoe Shops, with 110 locations, acquired by Brown Shoe.

1970-74

Cloth World, Eagle Rubber, Hedstrom, BottomHalf and Meis Department Stores bought by Brown Shoe. Juvenile and Recreational Products Companies Division formed.

1981

36-store Famous Footwear chain acquired.

1984

Brown Group International established.

1985-96

Brown Group begins decade-long strategic repositioning — non-footwear businesses sold, all domestic manufacturing plants closed.

1987

Acquisition of Pagoda Trading Company completed.

1991

Brown signs long-term license for Dr. Scholl's brand.

1999

Company changes its name back to Brown Shoe Company.

1999

Buster Brown & Co. is established as the Kids' Division of Brown Shoe.

1999

Naturalizer revitalizes its image. New product styling is geared to a younger, more fashion-conscious woman. And naturalizer.com launches.

2000

Brown Shoe acquires 26 store Mil-Mar chain and folds it into Famous Footwear.

2001

Naturalizer named "Brand of The Year" by Footwear News.

2002

Naturalizer celebrates 75 years.
Carlos by Carlos Santana brand launches.

2003

Brown Shoe awarded “Company of the Year”
by Footwear News.

2004

Buster Brown celebrates 100 years.

2005

Brown Shoe acquires Bennett Footwear Group, LLC (BFG). Adds Franco Sarto, Via Spiga, and
other brands.

2006

Naturalizer launches Naturalizer Signature luxury women’s shoes, available online and in select store locations.
Bennett Footwear Group integrated into Brown New York.

2007

Brown Shoe announced plans to open Naturalizer and Via Spiga stores in China.
Brown Shoe announced an agreement with Sam and Libby Edelman to invest in Edelman Shoe, Inc.

2008

Brown Shoe launched celebrity licensed footwear brands for: country music superstar Reba McEntire (Reba), music and entertainment superstar Fergie, and style and beauty expert Gretta Monahan (Gretta).
Brown Shoe announced plans to create interconnected footwear company in St. Louis headquarters.