IF YOUR “DOGS ARE BARKING,” IT’S TIME TO GO TO TENNI-MOC’S

By John Grossi

I have a habit of calling TENNI-Moc’s the “last great retail store on earth,” which though clear hyperbole, is my way of explaining how much I admire this store.

Owner Alex Maltezos has not just run TENNI-Moc’s for the past decade plus, she has expanded her shoe store during a time when most small retail stores have shuttered their doors in the face of the internet, the pandemic, and other rising costs and challenges.

With a 1,000-square foot showroom, 1,500 square feet of additional inventory in the back, Long Beach’s last cobbler on-site, as well as an on-site independent orthotics lab… this is THE SHOE STORE to go to if you finally want to get shoes that actually fit your feet and make them happy.

Expertise… A Lost Art

Imagine going into a store, asking about a product, and getting a knowledgeable answer. It’s a lost art these days, unfortunately. 

“I get why people shop online, because the big box stores have made retail so lazy and unhelpful. It’s so much easier to just sit on your couch and order shoes since you know as much as most salespeople,” says Alex.

The way trends have continued to shift away from in-person retail toward cheap online retailers—even more so since the pandemic—frustrates Alex but she continues to fight to stay open, because she knows how much her current and future consumers need her store… even if some of them haven’t realized it yet.

The thing about shoes is… they need to fit. They need to fit your foot length, and shape, and arch, and lifestyle. Once people find TENNI-Moc’s, they don’t ever go anywhere else. Because paying a little extra for the right pair of shoes saves a lot more money in the long run, than buying two pairs of the wrong shoes.

A Little History

Alex’s grandpa Sam opened TENNI-Moc’s in 1962. Alex grew up watching her grandpa and worked in the store from a young age throughout the 90s and 2000s. Her first-hand memories of customer service and retail spur her passion for being everything a retail store “used to be.”

So here’s what sets TENNI-Moc’s apart: Alex and her staff ACTUALLY know what they are talking about. They know the common and uncommon foot problems. They’ve worked closely with podiatrists for decades to understand what kind of product they should carry, and they understand their Long Beach and Southern California clientele; and know the styles people are looking for locally.

Alex and her staff are retail experts when it comes to shoes, fit, and feet. That expertise is something to cherish in this day and age.

Caring… A Lost Art

If expertise is a lost art when it comes to salespeople in big box stores and online retailers, caring is generally non-existent. TENNI-Moc’s is quite the opposite.

Seeing the staff at TENNI-Moc’s sit and work with an elderly, fragile-footed customer—sometimes for as long as an hour—just to make sure they’ve found the right shoe, one that will make their day-to-day life easier, is incredibly inspiring.

Treating others the way you would want to be treated—with no heed of time or profits—just doesn’t happen anywhere in retail, except at a small store like TENNI-Moc’s.

The Perfect Gift

Speaking from experience—the right shoes with the right support can transform everyday life. Maybe you and your best friend or spouse want to spend a day together this holiday season. Well, stop by the shop together for a fitting, and give each other the gift of comfort.

Or, if you know someone who suffers from foot pain, consider one of TENNI-Moc’s beautifully wrapped gift cards accompanied by some of their many stocking stuffers such as performance socks, flip flops, cozy slippers, scarves, and more!

Follow TENNI-Moc’s “Advent calendar” all December long for amazing deals, saving, giveaways, and other great “excuses” to try shopping at the “last great retail store on earth!”

https://tenni-mocs.com/