Western store opens in Gresham, offers variety of merchandise

Boots, chaps and cowboy hats these are a few of the things you can find at the Troutdale Boot Barn. The all-things-Western store opened in March.

Boot Barn has 87 stores in 10 states. The Troutdale store is at 1108 N.W. Frontage Road, just off Interstate 84.

Store Manager Melinda Rimel said the location is perfect. "We're able to take care of country people but also draw in the city people," she said.

Another factor in picking the location was that another Western apparel store, Culpepper & Co., once occupied the space. Rimel said it added to the appeal of the building since people already think of it as the place to go for Western wear.

Rimel said her clientele is very diverse. It consists of truckers, high school rodeo competitors, farm people, people who just like the western-wear lifestyle and even wedding parties.

In fact, Rimel says there's been a bit of a trend with cowboy-style weddings. “I couldn’t believe the amount of people coming in for weddings,” she said.

Another trend is that the red boot is making a comeback, Rimel said. She attributes it to the 2011 remake of the movie “Footloose.” In the movie, actress Julianne Hough can be seen dancing in a pair of red boots.

For Rimel, however, the color is purple. Her very favorite pair of boots are her purple ostrich boots. "I love 'em," she said.

Rimel also owns lime green boots, orange boots and classic brown ones. She said she has them in just about every color.

She said boots can be both comfortable and fashionable. "Look at these!" she said, picking up a pair of brown leather boots with intricate studded designs. "They'd be so cute with a dress."

Rimel said the most important thing to think about when buying a pair of boots is fit.

"They should fit like a glove," she said. "They should be snug."

They should be comfortable from the moment you put them on, she added. "They should feel so good that you can put them on and walk right out (our) door wearing them."

It's obvious that Rimel can talk all day about boots. She said the differences between them are endless.

For instance, the heels are different. Cowboy heels have a little more height and a slant for riding. Meanwhile, a walking heel is flatter.

Also, boots can be made out of everything from bison to alligator.

One of the newer developments is a square toe. Rimel said this style allows more room for toes, which may be more comfortable for some people.

Other details involve features such as a "spur shelf." On the back of a shoe where the material meets the sole, there's a little extra rubber sticking out called a spur shelf. Cowboys want that shelf to be wide so they can wear spurs.

But boots aren't just for cowboys anymore. Popular singers and movie stars wear them. They make a fashion statement. You can see it in the isles of Boot Barn: intricate flowered beadwork, hearts, bright colors and even leopard print.

All of this comes with a price tag, though. Rimel says the average price for a pair of boots is about $160.

"Boots aren't something you just buy," she said.

"They're an investment that will last for many years to come if you take care of them right."

According to Rimel, the most important aspects of taking care of your boots are conditioning and weatherproofing them, and using a boot tree.

Rimel thinks Boot Barn will be in Troutdale for many years to come. "There's always a need for Western wear, and boots are fun."