Northeast Oregon's Shoe Store of Choice Since 1987
Work Harder, Play Longer, Live Happier, & Make Your Shoe Shopping Experience Easier.
You may know us as R & C, the work boot store. And you’re not wrong! We’ve been serving Northeast Oregon since we first opened in 1987 as a logging boot store. We operated under the name R & C Footwear for decades, providing the La Grande community and beyond with high quality, reliable shoes.
When the store was put up for sale in 2023, owners Jeff and Kim Cusumano jumped at the opportunity to not only preserve it’s legacy but expand it.
Now rebranded as Blue Mountain Footwear, we’ve become a full service “sit-and-fit” store with a wider selection than ever before! From ASTM standard work boots to casual, athletic, hiking, hunting, running, western, and orthopedic shoes, you can find all the shoes your family needs to live, work, and play, right here in Eastern Oregon.
Our goal is to put you on the path towards doing everything you want to do, better, longer, and easier, through a personalized fitting process and exceptional PT informed customer service.
Our Mission
We proudly represent the Blue Mountain region and aim to create a true sense of belonging in Northeast Oregon. We believe life is full of adventures—at work, at play, during travel, or while relaxing at home—and the right footwear should support you every step of the way.
Our mission is to become the trusted shoe store for Eastern Oregon. Unlike other retailers, we offer a full-service, sit-and-fit experience with a focus on understanding each customer’s unique needs. With depth in product selection, unmatched quality, and personalized service, we deliver more than just shoes—we deliver an experience you won’t find anywhere else.
Our Vision
To be Eastern Oregon’s most trusted destination for footwear—where every step matters. We envision a place where people of all walks, from loyal locals to new adventurers, discover a wide range of shoes and boots that fit their lifestyle, not just their budget. Through personalized care, expert guidance, and a welcoming atmosphere, we aim to be more than a store—we’re a place where customers feel seen, heard, and supported.
Meet Owners
Helping Our Community Live Better Through Proper Footwear
Hey, I'm Jeff
Before stepping into the world of retail, I worked as a home-health physical therapist for over 25 years. As a PT, I saw firsthand how the right pair of shoes can improve someone’s life by relieving pain, improving balance, and helping them stay mobile and independent. A huge part of my job was helping people get into shoes that would help them move and live better. So when the opportunity to take over Blue Mountain Footwear came up, it felt like the perfect way to keep doing what I do best—just in a different setting.
Now I get to use my background and expertise to help even more people (like you!) in our community live better, just by changing their shoes.
But it doesn’t stop at me. I also train and equip every member of our team on foot structure, bio-mechanics, and how various footwear technology affects the body and performance. So, if you’re looking for shoes that support your whole body and the life you want, stop on by! We’d love to help you out—no appointment required.
Hey, I'm Kim
Jeff and I first started talking about taking over Blue Mountain Footwear while planning for our wedding. Even in the middle of a big life transition, we both knew how important this store is to our community.
A local shoe store is just as essential as a grocery store—everyone needs shoes, and it’s hard to find ones that truly fit your body, lifestyle, and goals when you’re shopping online. That’s why we wanted to have a local option where people can ask questions, try things on, and feel confident they’re getting what they actually
need.
What I enjoy most is connecting with the people who walk through our doors. If you love the idea of shopping with someone who knows you, come visit us! We might sell shoes and socks, but our main goal is to have conversations, build relationships, and help our community here in Northeast Oregon thrive- starting from the ground up!
Walk away with the shoe that's right for you
Helping Our Community Live Better Through Proper Footwear
The right pair of shoes will do more than just fit on your feet—they’ll give you the confidence and comfort you need to do all the things you want to do, better and longer.
That’s why we offer a free custom fitting process informed by state of the art 3-D foot modeling software and physical therapy expertise. We help you understand exactly which shoes will fit your body and lifestyle best.
From start to finish, we take the time to understand what you need, so you can walk out the door with confidence.
Step 1. A Good Old Fashioned Conversation
As strange as it sounds, no two feet are exactly alike. We've even served customers who needed a different size for each foot! Which is why we'll start your personalized fitting by getting to know you and your shoe history. We'll ask you about the kind of shoes you're looking for and the activities you want to do in them. We'll also dig into the brands and styles you've worn in the past and what you liked or didn't like about them. Then, we'll have you describe any points of chronic pain you're dealing with throughout your body.
Step 2. Data-Backed Custom Fitting
Sometimes it's nice to have a clear picture of exactly what you need. And we create that for you with our state of the art 3-D foot modeling scanner from Aetrex. The Aetrex scanner will measure everything about your feet, from length and width, arch height, instep, and pressure distribution. You'll have objective data about your unique feet and exactly what you need from your shoes!
Step 3. PT-Informed Recommendations
Now that you've learned more about your feet and what they need, how do you know which shoes or insoles will work with your body instead of against it? Our staff has been trained by one of our owners, Jeff, on foot structure, bio- mechanics, and how various footwear technology affects the body and performance. We'll compare the data from your Aetrex scan with everything you told us in step 1 to make PT informed recommendations about which brands and styles will work best for you. Whether your feet are wide or narrow, need more support or less support, pronate or supinate, or have a low or high arch, we'll help you find the shoes that truly support your feet and life!
Step 4. In-Store Try On
The best part of shopping local? Trying out all your options without the hassling with online returns! We'll help you find different sizes, assess how different brands and styles feel on your feet, and make suggestions based on your preferences until you find the perfect fit. Don't find quite what you want in store? We can also help you place a special order to make sure you get the exact color, size, or style you want.
Let's Find Your Next Fit Without Leaving Eastern Oregon
Are you ready to take the guesswork and hassle out of shopping for shoes? We’d love to help you find the perfect pair for your unique feet and lifestyle without you even having to leave Northeast Oregon!
We’ll take the time to learn what really matters to you, walk you through your personalized fitting with our Aetrex scanner, provide PT informed recommendations on the best options for you, and help you try on whatever you want from our wide selection.
Plus, your first in-store visit comes with a discount as our way of saying thanks for shopping local!
Phone:
(541) 963-8898
Location:
2700 Bearco Loop, La Grande, OR 97850
Hours:
MON – FRI: 10:00AM – 5:30PM
SAT: 10:00AM – 4:00PM
SUN: Closed
The True Cost of Shopping At Amazon
Save Valuable Time & Money By Shopping Locally
At this point, you might be on the fence. You love the idea of shopping local, but you’re still considering going online for those good deals.
We get it! At first glance, online shopping seems more convenient—especially if you already know what works for your feet. That’s why we offer online ordering through our own site. If you’ve already been fitted in-store and want to reorder a favorite pair, it’s an easy way to get what you need without making the drive.
But if you’re starting from scratch or aren’t sure what kind of support you really need, buying online can quickly become a guessing game. You spend hours researching brands, reading reviews, and trying to guess which size will work best. Then you wait a week—or more—for your order to arrive only to discover that the shoes don’t fit quite right. So you send them back, wait for a refund, and start the process all over again.
Some people try to save time by ordering two sizes and returning the one that doesn’t work. But you still have the hassle of printing return labels, going to the post office, and getting everything ready to go before the return window closes. And that’s assuming the company you ordered from even accepts returns.
If the new size still doesn’t fit great, you’re back at square one. You have to try and guess what it was about them that didn’t work for you. Maybe you try a different size or brand…maybe you give up. Even if the shoes kind of work okay, you might be missing out on an even better fit for your feet and lifestyle.
Try on multiple sizes and styles of popular brands in person
Figure out exactly what kind of support your feet need through free custom fitting with our state-of-the-art 3-D Aetrex scanner
Get PT and orthotics informed recommendations and guidance to find a fit that works for your body and preferences
And if you truly can’t make it in? Give us a call. We’re happy to do a phone consult and guide you toward the best options for your feet and lifestyle.
Instead of gambling hours of scrolling, weeks waiting, and your hard earned money on a pair of shoes that might work, you’ll walk out with one that definitely does. If you get home and decide they’re not right after all, we’ll happily accept 100% returns on any pair that hasn’t been worn outside.
Finally, you’re going to feel happy that you helped a local store keep making our EO community a better place to live, work, and recreate. Go you. You’re pretty great.
Your Local Team of Shoe Experts
Laurie
Laurie has been with us since 2022 and is our go-to expert for seasonal styles and everyday staples. Whether you're looking for something practical, trendy, or a bit of both, she’s got an eye for shoes that look good and feel comfortable!
Tammy
Tammy is a proud Wallowa County native who brings boundless energy and eagerness to help to our team. No matter if you're looking for something specific or aren't quite sure where to start, Tammy is ready to help you find the perfect pair!
Jesse
Jesse is a college student who brings a fresh perspective and a couple of years of retail experience to our team. Whether you’re browsing for something casual or need guidance on a specific style, Jesse is excited to put her skills to work and make your shopping experience a great one!
Zach
When Zach isn't out managing wild land fires for the U.S. Forest Service, he's available to help you find the best shoes for your feet and life as a member of our seasonal staff. If you need wild land fire boots or outdoor footwear that can handle tough terrain, come in and get Zach's field-tested insight!
Frequently Asked Questions
Find quick answers to all your queries in our comprehensive FAQ section.
"I thought this was a work boot store?"
It is, and so much more! Blue Mountain Footwear (Formerly R & C Footwear) opened in 1987 as a logging boot store, and we still carry a variety of great work boot brands like Ariat, Keen, Lowa, Irish Setter, and Red Wing. But now we’re also a sit-and-fit family show store with a wide selection of premium brands for different activities and lifestyles!
Why should I invest in a premium brand when I can get something that looks the same for less money at Wal-Mart?
There’s a lot more that goes into a shoe than style. Higher quality shoes have specific technology to help enhance your comfort and performance in whatever activity you’re using them for.
For example, a good walking shoe will offer appropriate cushioning, stability, and support to help you walk longer and more comfortably than a cheaper option would. Plus, premium quality often means more durable materials and construction. Not only will your shoes work better, they’ll last a lot longer!
Wouldn't it be easier to shop online?
It depends. Online shopping definitely has it’s benefits in certain circumstances, which is why we offer it on our own site. If you already know what shoes work for you and your feet, there’s no beating the convenience of having them delivered right to your doorstep.
But shopping online can also take a lot of time and guesswork when you don’t know exactly what you need. You have to do your own research, gamble on sizing, wait for shipping, and handle returns yourself if the fit or quality isn’t right (assuming the company you ordered from will even take it back). Even if they work out kinda okay, you’ll never know if you’re missing out on a shoe that fits and feels even better.
When you visit us in store, you’ll have access to:
- A wide selection of premium brands you can try on and compare
- Personalized fitting with our state-of-the-art Aetrex scanner
- And PT informed guidance from our staff
…all to make sure you walk out of the store with the best fit possible.
What If I can't make the drive to shop in-store?
We’ve seen how much someone’s life can change with the right pair of shoes. And we’re committed to helping as many people in Northeast Oregon as we can to live better with premium quality shoes. If you’ve already been fitted to a great pair of shoes for your feet and want to buy a second pair, you can see everything we have in-stock and make a purchase right here on our site.
Not quite sure what kind of shoes you need? We’re happy to do a phone consult with you! We’ll learn everything we can about your needs, any pain points you have, and your shoe history so we can give you our PT informed recommendations on the best brands and styles for you to order from our site. And if you decide that the shoes you ordered aren’t quite what you’re looking for, we accept full returns on any pair that hasn’t been worn outside!
What's Your Return Policy?
We believe that the right pair of shoes can change lives. One of the best things about having a shoe store in town is being able to try things out and find what works for you without the hassle of online returns. We’ll work hard to understand your needs, walk you through your options, and help you get the right fit on the first try!
But if you get home and decide they aren’t right for you after all, no problem! We’re happy to offer 100% returns on any shoes that haven’t been worn outside. That means you can try them on, walk around indoors, and bring them back so long as they don’t get dirty from the great Northeast Oregon outdoors. We’ll also help you process any warranties on manufacturing defects, based on specific brand conditions and time frames.
What if I need shoes for special foot condition?
Finding the right pair of shoes isn’t impossible, even if your feet need a little extra support. We offer a wide variety of premium quality shoes and insoles, plus a free custom fitting process informed by state of the art 3-D foot modeling software and physical therapy expertise.
Whether you’re managing conditions like bunions, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, metatarsalgia, or diabetes, or you need shoes to comfortably accommodate flat feet, high arches, or pronation, we’re here to help you understand exactly which shoes will fit your body and lifestyle best!
Where are you located?
No need to drive to a big city to find great shoes. We’re conveniently located at 2700 Bearco Loop in La Grande, just off of Island Avenue and right next door to People Helping People. Next time you come into town to do errands, stop by and say hi!
But if you get home and decide they aren’t right for you after all, no problem! We’re happy to offer 100% returns on any shoes that haven’t been worn outside. That means you can try them on, walk around indoors, and bring them back so long as they don’t get dirty from the great Northeast Oregon outdoors. We’ll also help you process any warranties on manufacturing defects, based on specific brand conditions and time frames.
What are your store hours?
We’re open Monday through Friday from 10-5:30pm, Saturday from 10- 4:00pm, and closed Sunday.
What brands and styles do you carry?
While our selection is always changing, we make sure to stock popular, high quality brands of work, western, hunting, hiking, and winter boots, as well as casual, running, walking, and athletic shoes. These are some of the kinds of brands we carry:
- Aetrex orthotics and insoles, lifestyle shoes and sandals
- Abilene Boots Western boots
- Altra running shoes and hiking boots
- Ariat work boots and Western boots
- Birkenstock sandals, clogs, and shoes
- Bogs chore boots
- Brooks running shoes, trail shoes, and walking shoes, socks
- Chippewa work boots
- Chaco sandals
- Clarks sandals and casual shoes
- Crispi hiking boots and hunting boots
- Currex insoles
- Dansko clogs, casual shoes, and dress shoes
- Danner work boots, hiking boots, and tactical boots
- Darn Tough socks
- David Tate shoes
- Diadem pickleball shoes
- Drew’s wildland fire boots
- Fitflop fashion sandals
- Genuine Grip slip-resistant shoes
- Georgia Boots work boots and lifestyle shoes
- Haflinger slippers
- Hoffman wildland fire boots and logger boots
- Horse Power
- Western boots
- Injinji toe socks
- Irish Setter work boots, and hunting boots
- Johnston & Murphy dress shoes
- Justin work boots,
- Western boots
- Keen work shoes, hiking boots, and sandals
- Kenetrek boots, hiking boots, wildland fire boots and work boots, gaiters
- Lacrosse hunting boots, marsh boots
- Lems shoes, and hiking shoes
- Merrell hiking boots, running shoes,
- Muck Boots, chore boots, and work boots
- Onfoot lifestyle shoes and sandals
- Orthofeet shoes, slippers
- OS1st socks
- Point6 socks
- Powerstep insoles and orthotics
- Red Wing work boots, winter boots,
- Revere shoes
- Rocky Boots, work boots, and hiking boots
- Salomon running shoes, hiking boots,
- Saluber insoles
- Skechers athletic shoes, slip-on shoes, lifestyle shoes, kids shoes
- Superfeet insoles and orthotics
- Taos shoes, sneakers, and sandals
- Thorogood work boots
- Toni Pons slippers
- Tony Lama cowboy boots, work boots,
- Topo shoes, running shoes, and hiking shoes
- Twisted X work boots, and casual shoes
- Vasque hiking boots
- Welch suspenders
- Wolverine work boots, hiking boots
- World’s Softest Socks
- Xelero stability shoes and sneakers
- Zamberlan hiking and hunting boots