Thom McAn

Thom McAn is an American footwear brand whose history spans traditional shoe retail, vertically integrated manufacturing, leased footwear departments, and mass-market distribution. The first Thom McAn store opened in New York in 1922. Ward Melville established the brand with J. Franklin McElwain, a New Hampshire shoe manufacturer, and the name was reportedly inspired by Scottish golfer Thomas McCann. The original retail proposition was straightforward: a limited selection of practical shoe styles offered at a fixed, accessible price. The chain expanded rapidly during its first decades. Within five years it had approximately 300 stores, and by 1939 it operated more than 650 locations. Its growth formed part of the broader expansion of the Melville Corporation, which built a major position in American footwear retail. Melville acquired the 151-store Miles Shoes chain in 1952. By 1955, the corporation operated about 850 stores and 12 factories, giving it substantial control over both retail distribution and production. In 1960, Melville created Meldisco to supply and operate family footwear departments leased inside self-service discount department stores. This format extended the reach of footwear brands beyond conventional specialty stores. By the end of the 1960s, Melville was described as the largest shoe retailer in the United States, with roughly 1,400 stores. The company remained a leading footwear retailer into the 1980s while also diversifying into other retail businesses, including Chess King, Foxmoor, CVS Pharmacy, and, later, FootAction. The retail environment changed significantly in the 1980s and 1990s. Melville began reducing its manufacturing footprint in 1983 and closed 72 Thom McAn stores in 1985. In 1992, the chain had approximately 730 outlets, but Melville announced plans to close 350 of them. The remaining company-operated Thom McAn stores were closed in 1996, and about 100 former locations were converted to the Footaction USA format. This ended Thom McAn's long period as a large standalone American shoe-store chain. After the stores closed, the name continued as a footwear label rather than disappearing entirely. Melville's remaining footwear operations, including Meldisco, were separated into Footstar as Melville concentrated increasingly on CVS. Thom McAn shoes were subsequently sold through Kmart footwear departments operated by Meldisco. In 2003, Footstar also began selling the brand in approximately 1,500 Walmart stores. This represented a shift from owned specialty retail toward distribution through large discount and mass-merchandise chains. Footstar later encountered financial difficulties and entered bankruptcy. In 2005, Sears Holdings, the owner of Kmart, reached an agreement with Footstar concerning the Meldisco-operated shoe departments inside Kmart stores. The arrangement allowed Footstar to continue operating those departments through 2008, after which Sears was to acquire remaining inventory at book value. Sears Holdings also acquired Footstar's intellectual property, including the Thom McAn name. By late 2008, the brand was controlled by Sears Brands, LLC. Publicly available material does not establish a clear current operating structure, standalone store presence, or present owner beyond that period. The brand's historical significance lies primarily in its role as one of the oldest and best-known American shoe retailers of the twentieth century. Its business model evolved from a rapidly scaled chain of fixed-price stores into a supplier and label used within department-store footwear operations. Its assortment has included leather dress shoes, casual footwear, and sneakers marketed under the Tm Sport label.

Thom McAn began as a fixed-price American shoe retailer in 1922, when Ward Melville and footwear manufacturer J. Franklin McElwain opened the first store in New York. The brand name was inspired by Scottish golfer Thomas McCann. Rather than emphasizing a broad luxury assortment, the early chain focused on a small number of practical styles sold at consistent, affordable prices. The concept scaled quickly. Approximately 300 stores were operating within five years, and the network exceeded 650 stores by 1939. Thom McAn became a central part of the Melville Corporation's footwear activities. Melville's 1952 acquisition of the 151-outlet Miles Shoes chain added to its retail scale. By 1955, the company operated roughly 850 stores and 12 factories. Melville broadened its distribution methods in 1960 by creating Meldisco, a business dedicated to leasing and supplying family footwear departments in self-service discount department stores. This approach allowed footwear brands to reach customers in general merchandise environments without relying solely on freestanding shoe stores. By the end of the 1960s, Melville operated around 1,400 stores and was regarded as the largest footwear retailer in the United States. The corporation remained a major force in footwear retail during the 1980s, although its portfolio also included non-footwear chains and CVS Pharmacy. It began phasing out six of its seven footwear factories in 1983, signaling a move away from the vertically integrated structure that had supported its earlier growth. Thom McAn's store base was reduced by 72 outlets in 1985. In 1988, Melville acquired the athletic footwear retailer FootAction, adding another format to its footwear portfolio. By 1992, Thom McAn had approximately 730 stores, but Melville announced that 350 would be closed. The last company-operated Thom McAn outlets disappeared in 1996. Around 100 former locations were converted to Footaction USA stores. Melville's remaining footwear interests, including Meldisco, were later separated into Footstar as Melville focused more heavily on CVS and other continuing operations. The brand survived the closure of its traditional stores through wholesale and leased-department distribution. Meldisco-operated footwear departments in Kmart stores carried Thom McAn shoes, and Footstar added approximately 1,500 Walmart stores in 2003. The assortment included leather dress shoes, casual styles, and sneakers sold under the Tm Sport label. Footstar subsequently entered bankruptcy. In 2005, Sears Holdings, which owned Kmart, arranged for Footstar to continue operating the Kmart footwear departments through 2008. Sears was then expected to purchase remaining inventory at book value, and it acquired Footstar intellectual property that included the Thom McAn name. By late 2008, the brand was controlled by Sears Brands, LLC. The available reference material does not confirm the brand's current retail activity, ownership arrangements, headquarters, or operating status.

• 2005

  Sears Holdings acquires brand intellectual property

  [1]Thom McAnen.wikipedia.org

  Sears Holdings acquired Footstar intellectual property that included the Thom McAn name while arranging the transition of Kmart footwear operations.

• 2003

  Distribution expands to Walmart

  [1]Thom McAnen.wikipedia.org

  Footstar began selling Thom McAn products in approximately 1,500 Walmart stores.

• 1996

  Standalone retail chain ends

  [1]Thom McAnen.wikipedia.org

  Melville closed the remaining Thom McAn stores and converted about 100 sites to Footaction USA.

• 1992

  Large-scale closure plan announced

  [1]Thom McAnen.wikipedia.org

  With roughly 730 stores remaining, Melville announced the closure of 350 Thom McAn outlets.

• 1988

  Melville acquires FootAction

  [1]Thom McAnen.wikipedia.org

  Melville purchased the athletic shoe chain FootAction, later using the format for some former Thom McAn locations.

• 1985

  72 Thom McAn outlets close

  [1]Thom McAnen.wikipedia.org

  Melville closed 72 Thom McAn stores during a period of network retrenchment.

• 1983

  Melville begins reducing footwear manufacturing

  [1]Thom McAnen.wikipedia.org

  The company began phasing out six of its seven footwear factories.

• 1960

  Meldisco is established

  [1]Thom McAnen.wikipedia.org

  Melville created Meldisco to operate and supply leased footwear departments in self-service discount stores.

• 1955

  Melville operates about 850 stores and 12 factories

  [1]Thom McAnen.wikipedia.org

  The parent company reported a network of approximately 850 stores and 12 factories.

• 1952

  Melville acquires Miles Shoes

  [1]Thom McAnen.wikipedia.org

  Melville Corporation acquired the 151-store Miles Shoes chain, expanding its footwear retail platform.

Showing the 10 most recent.

Historically positioned around practical, accessible footwear sold at value-oriented prices. In its later form, the brand functioned primarily as a mass-market footwear label distributed through Kmart, Walmart, and related retail channels.

• Dress footwear

  Leather dress shoes

  Thom McAn's historical assortment included leather dress shoes aimed at everyday formal and workplace use. These products fit the brand's traditional value-oriented positioning and broad family footwear remit.

• Casual footwear

  Casual footwear

  Casual shoes formed part of the brand's general-purpose assortment. They were sold first through Thom McAn stores and later through mass-market and leased footwear departments.

• Athletic and casual sneakers

  Tm Sport

  Tm Sport was the label used for Thom McAn sneakers. It extended the brand beyond leather and casual dress footwear into a more athletic-oriented category.

• 2005

  Transfer brand intellectual property to Sears HoldingsM&A

  Background

  Footstar was in bankruptcy, while Sears Holdings owned Kmart and relied on Meldisco-operated footwear departments.

  Action taken

  Sears Holdings acquired Footstar intellectual property that included the Thom McAn name and arranged a transition for the Kmart footwear operations.

  Aftermath

  By late 2008, the Thom McAn brand was controlled by Sears Brands, LLC. Its subsequent status is not established by the available reference material.

  Source

• 2003

  Expand distribution through WalmartStrategy

  Background

  Following the closure of its company-operated stores, Thom McAn relied on third-party mass-market distribution.

  Action taken

  Footstar began selling Thom McAn footwear in approximately 1,500 Walmart stores.

  Aftermath

  The move reinforced the brand's transition from specialty retail to a mass-market label.

  Source

• 1996

  End standalone Thom McAn retailingStrategy

  Background

  Melville was divesting operations while concentrating increasingly on CVS and reorganizing its footwear interests.

  Action taken

  The remaining Thom McAn stores were closed, with approximately 100 locations converted to Footaction USA.

  Aftermath

  The brand continued as a label distributed through other retailers rather than as a nationwide specialty-store chain.

  Source

• 1992

  Announce closure of 350 outletsStrategy

  Background

  The chain had fallen to approximately 730 outlets after earlier store reductions.

  Action taken

  Melville announced plans to close 350 Thom McAn stores.

  Aftermath

  The remaining standalone outlets were closed by 1996, ending the chain's traditional retail presence.

  Source

• 1985

  Close 72 Thom McAn storesStrategy

  Background

  Melville was restructuring its footwear activities and reducing its manufacturing footprint.

  Action taken

  The company closed 72 Thom McAn outlets.

  Aftermath

  The closures preceded larger reductions in the chain during the 1990s.

  Source

• 2005

  Sears Holdings reaches agreement with Footstar over Kmart footwear operations[1]Thom McAnen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Sears Holdings agreed to let Footstar continue operating Meldisco-run footwear departments inside Kmart through 2008, with Sears scheduled to acquire remaining inventory afterward.

• 2005

  Sears Holdings acquires Thom McAn intellectual property[1]Thom McAnen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  As part of its arrangements with Footstar, Sears Holdings acquired intellectual property that included the Thom McAn brand name.

• 2003

  Thom McAn shoes expand into Walmart stores[1]Thom McAnen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Footstar began selling Thom McAn footwear in approximately 1,500 Walmart stores, extending the brand's post-chain distribution.

• 1996

  Remaining Thom McAn stores close[1]Thom McAnen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Melville closed the remaining Thom McAn retail outlets and converted approximately 100 locations to the Footaction USA format.

• 1992

  Melville announces further Thom McAn closures[1]Thom McAnen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  With the chain reduced to about 730 outlets, Melville announced plans to close 350 additional Thom McAn stores.

• 1985

  Thom McAn begins major store reductions[1]Thom McAnen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Melville closed 72 Thom McAn outlets as the company began reducing parts of its footwear manufacturing and store network.

• 1960

  Melville creates Meldisco for leased discount-store footwear departments[1]Thom McAnen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Melville established Meldisco to lease and supply family footwear departments in self-service discount department stores, creating a distribution model later used for Thom McAn.

• 1952

  Melville expands its footwear retail network through the acquisition of Miles Shoes[1]Thom McAnen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The Melville Corporation acquired the 151-store Miles Shoes chain, strengthening the corporate retail platform behind Thom McAn and other footwear operations.

1. 1Thom McAnen.wikipedia.org