Walking Company in Baltimore: Comfort-First Shoe Retail for Specific Foot Needs
Walking Company is a specialty shoe retailer focused on comfort, arch support, and therapeutic footwear rather than fashion-forward trends. Located in the Towson area, it stocks brands built around orthopedic design and carries sizes and widths that mainstream shoe stores do not routinely stock, making it a destination for people with plantar fasciitis, bunions, flat feet, or other structural concerns rather than a general-purpose shoe shop.
What Walking Company actually stocks
The store carries comfort-focused brands including New Balance, Birkenstock, ABEO, Saucony, Orthofeet, and Propet. Inventory leans heavily toward walking shoes, sandals, athletic sneakers, and slip-ons designed for people who spend hours on their feet or need arch support built into daily footwear. The selection does not include fashion heels, dress shoes for formal events, or trendy casual sneakers; if your primary goal is style or a specific designer brand, this is not the right store.
Walking Company stocks extended width options (B, D, 2E, 4E) and carries sizes from youth through size 15, addressing a gap that large retailers like DSW and Payless struggled to fill before closing regional locations. The store also carries specialty socks, insoles, and orthotics from brands like Superfeet and Powerstep, which can run $25 to $60 depending on the product.
Pricing and what to expect to spend
Shoes typically fall between $100 and $180 per pair, with athletic and walking styles clustering in the $120 to $150 range. Birkenstock sandals start around $95 for basic models and reach $140 to $160 for premium styles. Orthofeet shoes, marketed specifically for diabetic or arthritis-prone feet, run $130 to $170. Insoles and orthotics range from $25 for basic gel inserts to $60 for custom-molded options. These prices are higher than mass-market retailers but lower than independent orthopedic shoe specialists in the Washington, D.C. area, where therapeutic footwear often exceeds $200 per pair.
How Walking Company compares to other Baltimore-area shoe options
DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse (multiple locations including Towson) offers a wider fashion range and comparable price points on mainstream brands but maintains limited width selection and does not prioritize comfort-first design. Staff there are less specialized in fit diagnostics for foot conditions.
New Balance Factory Store locations stock a single brand in depth and emphasize athletic performance over general comfort; prices can be lower, but you lose the breadth of brands and the personalized fitting service that Walking Company provides.
Payless ShoeSource closed its last Baltimore locations by 2019, leaving a retail void in affordable, extended-width footwear that Walking Company partially fills for budget-conscious customers with fitting challenges.
Choose Walking Company if you have a diagnosed foot condition, wear extended widths regularly, or need help finding shoes that work with orthotics. Choose DSW if you want fashion range and quick browsing. Choose New Balance Factory Store if you are loyal to that brand and want the lowest per-pair cost.
Who this store suits and who it does not
Walking Company serves people over 50 who prioritize comfort in daily shoes, anyone with plantar fasciitis or arthritis, people who wear orthotics, and those who need sizes or widths unavailable elsewhere. It also works for gift-givers buying for aging parents or relatives with foot pain, since staff can help select styles known to work with specific conditions.
It does not suit teenagers shopping for casual sneakers, people buying formal or occasion footwear, or anyone prioritizing style over function. Customers seeking trendy brands like Nike, Adidas, or Vans are better served elsewhere.
What happens on your first visit
Staff will ask about any foot pain, existing orthotics, or fit issues before showing shoes. The fitting process is slower than mass-market retail but includes assessment of arch height, width, and how your foot feels in motion. Many customers who walk out with two or three pairs their first visit report that the personalized attention saves time on returns later. Walking Company does not do on-site custom molding of orthotics, but staff can refer you to local podiatrists if you need that service.
Hours, location, and logistics
Walking Company operates in Towson (verify current hours before visiting, as retail hours shift seasonally). Parking is available in the shopping center lot. The store is accessible but small; if you need privacy while trying shoes or have mobility challenges, call ahead to ensure staff availability for one-on-one fitting.
Walking Company fills a practical need in Baltimore retail, offering expertise and inventory depth that chain stores abandoned when they downsized. For anyone dealing with chronic foot pain or hard-to-fit sizing, it saves the frustration of repeated returns and trial-and-error shopping.
