City Boots announces pop-up store, ‘Houston’ collection ahead of rodeo
City Boots founder Lizzy Chestnut Bentley wants to give her Houston clients the VIP treatment this rodeo season. She’s opening a brick-andmortar pop-up store in River Oaks District, complete with five exclusive boot styles inspired by Bayou City customers.
From Feb. 16 to May 15, City Boots will be neighbors with hatmaker Teressa Foglia and womenswear brand Love Shack Fancy. Houston becomes Bentley’s third Texas outpost; she opened a flagship location in Fort Worth in 2019, followed by a Dallas storefront last year.
Each store has a distinctive design aesthetic.
“They’re all a little different, and all represent the city they’re in,” Bentley said. “The flagship is a little more casual. We work out of the back of it, so you get some hustle. Dallas is in Deep Ellum, with a little more clean lines — it’s elevated, and Houston will be even more of a step up.”
Lauren Wills Grover of Wills Design Associates created a ranch house experience in the River Oaks District space. Leather couches, cactuses and vintage wood will fill a living room area where more than 30 boot styles will be on display, including the limited-edition Houston collection.
“We’re launching the Houston collection, with the opening of the store, in limited quantities. They will be available in the Houston store exclusively for the first seven days,” Bentley said. “What I love about the Houston boots is that they’re super vintage looking and 17 inches tall. I chose the tall boot because women in Houston love to make a statement. They love to celebrate the traditions of Texas attire and understand that not one does all the jobs.”
She adds that 30 percent of City Boots’ sales are from returning customers. The bulk of her clientele is Texas based, though Bentley has shipped to 47 states.
Special occasions are a big part of her business, including the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Milestones, such as graduations and weddings, also bring in substantial sales. “Because of our unique colorways that are a little more feminine and girly, we have a lot of summer and spring colors so people can wear City Boots year-round,” she said.
Bentley founded the company in 2015 when she was 25 years old, living in Houston and working in oil and gas. It started as a hobby on Facebook.
“I couldn’t find a professional cowboy boot that was easy to style. Those two things came together, and that’s where the idea for City Boots was born,” the Amarillo-native told the Chronicle in 2020.
Today, the boot style named after Bentley’s hometown is her bestseller. A bone and gold version with lightning bolts sold out in preorders. Lavender sold out in 24 hours.
Her goal is to make the cowboy boot a closet staple. “It’s such a versatile piece that I think everyone should have,” Bentley said.