Karavel Shoes

Specialties

We specialize in the best comfort shoes, sandals and more for women and men, and offer the widest selection of shoe styles, sizes and widths in Central Texas. We have something for almost every occasion and need, including a full-​service wellness center and outlet store. Plus, our old-​fashioned customer service can’t be beat. Our online offering is just the beginning, so please come visit us at our main Karavel Shoes location with over 15,000 sq. ft of sales space at 5525 Burnet Road or visit our Karavel Shoes (South Austin) store in the Southpark Meadows Shopping Center next to Sam’s Club. For all of your New Balance needs, footwear and apparel, we also invite you to visit our New Balance (Central Austin) store next to Karavel Shoes (Central Austin), our New Balance (Round Rock) store near Ikea in the University Oaks Shopping Center, and our New Balance (South Austin) store next to Karavel Shoes (South Austin) in the Southpark Meadows Shopping Center.

History

Established in 1937.

Founded as the second Buster Brown shoe store in the U.S. by two close friends, Irving Ravel and Bob Karotkin, on March 7, 1937, the name changed to Kara-​Vel Shoes in 1938. Originally located between the old state Paramount movie theatres in downtown Austin, the store began as a children’s shoe store but was later expanded into men’s, women’s and orthopedic shoes. In 1960, we moved to our current location at 5525 Burnet Road. In 1985, we started carrying Euro-​comfort shoes and focused our business on «comfort and service,» although unbeatable, old-​fashioned service has always been our top priority. In 1995, we added a Wellness center, and by 2000, we added our Mephisto Shop, then New Balance in 2003, and ECCO in 2005. Our Outlet for overstocked shoes and marked-​down merchandise from our other stores opened several years ago. In 2011, we opened our New Balance (Round Rock) store, and in 2012, we opened our Karavel Shoes (South Austin) store and our New Balance (South Austin) store.

Meet the Business Owner

Rick R.

Business Owner

«Hello and welcome to the Karavel Shoes family of stores. Our customers are very loyal because they value the quality service and relationships they can create with our staff. People come to our store for our great assortments as much as they come for our people. What we offer in the way of customer service is unique and customers know our staff is committed to the perfect fit. Since everyone’s needs are unique, we see each interaction as an opportunity to improve the individual’s life. We carry a wide variety of comfort styles, sizes and widths. I like to say that we offer old-​fashioned service and new-​fashioned everything else. Whether it’s in our Women’s or Men’s stores, or in our Wellness Center or Outlet at our Central Austin location, or our three New Balance Austin stores, Karavel wants to improve the quality of customers’ lives. That’s why we’ve been walking in Austin’s shoes since 1937.»