Tootsies starting 1998 by someone who worked for Tootsies Inc in Texas . He received an ok to use the name in Barrington Illinois. I joined him as his children’s shoe buyer and also he was the first independent retailer to use a POS. Computer set up. I bought the his children’s inventory and called my self Young Tootsies and moved next door in the mall. That worked very well as customers walked into his store and asked where are the kid shoes , he would say I moved them next door. They recognized me and the name was merely “Young” Tootsies . From there we expanded and added Women’s shoes. Featured in Footwear News. Ad another location . Covid changed every thing. Starting over .