Fleet Feet River Oaks — Local services in Houston

People are so uneasy by AI, Chat GPT and other robotic, automated systems.

And here’s why they should not be…

I had the most incredible in-person customer experience two weeks ago at this store.

Backstory: I’m into fitness and walk a minimum of 8,000 steps a day (lately it’s been around 11,000 steps a day) and have been since January 1, 2025.

I get nice mileage in my shoes! It was time to upgrade them.

So I was recommended this place from my Pilates studio (actually it was the Woodlands location but they had terrible reviews, so I Googled to see if there was another location and saw the great reviews about the River Oaks location).

The gentleman (Howard) who greeted me was so polite, professional, and knowledgeable.

He had me step on a scanner to see how aligned my feet were and after the scan shared that my feet were in perfect alignment, which he said less than 10% of customers have feet that are correctly aligned!!

Of course I had to ask why most people had misaligned feet… was it genetics, due to an accident, it got broken…? To which he replied, “all of the above” and we both chuckled.

He educated me that most people wear tennis shoes that are too small and snug.

He asked me about my activity, I shared that I do Pilates 3-4 times a week and walk everyday a minimum of 8,000 steps a day.

He brought out different shoe brands to try-on.

He was patient even as it was getting closer to closing time. I respect people’s time and offered to come back another day. He insisted that I stay and that it was a joy to ensure I got precisely what I needed.

We narrowed down the options but the ones I liked needed to be ordered.

He checked the back inventory, called a few stores and took down my phone number to follow up.

I picked up my shoes yesterday, after doing my final try-on, and Howard wasn’t there.

I asked Hennessy (the lady who checked me out at the register) if they received commissions, because I wanted to make sure that Howard got credit and would be happy to comeback when he was working to ensure that he received it, because he was phenomenal and why I came back to get the shoes.

She smiled and said, “everyone loves Howard. He’s so great.” and let me know that they don’t work on commission.

I was told that the manager’s name was Manny and wanted to commend his leadership because Howard created such a delightful experience that I want to share it with all my friends and make sure they come to him!

I keep going back to it in my mind and how much more satisfying physical human connection is over digital ones. If I had in-person experiences like this more often I’d probably never shop...

Today I was a little on the sloppy side so I envisioned a scene like Pretty Woman where I might not get the best service. I gave it a try anyway because I really want a good pair of running shoes. I have always been the smallest size in women’s shoes. I assumed I was still that way. I try on the shoes by myself, if I like the way they look, I buy them. Almost all my shoes have been tight at the top. I’ve had semi-personalized experiences before. There was always someone to measure my foot and suggest a shoe for me. However, today’s experience was far more personalized. I was looking up online and found that there are now 3-D scanners. I saw that this store offered it so I called and I was told that I do not need an appointment so I was very pleased about that. When I walked in the door, I was immediately greeted and felt very welcome. I told the gentleman that I wanted to do the 3-D scanner and he was very accommodating. I was able to get my scan emailed to me. Then he was able to tell me based on my scan, which shoes would be better for me, and he proceeded to go to the back and come back with a lot of shoes. That was my first indication that this gentleman was really interested in helping me because most people would just go back and get very few because of having to carry them but this gentleman was not worried about that. He proved straight off the bat that he wanted to make sure that I found a shoe that I wanted. He went back a couple of times more for even more shoes. He took my feedback and was able to find my perfect shoe. However, that shoe was not in the store. That was another indication to me that this gentleman was really trying to help me find the shoe that I wanted not what he had available to sell me. His name is Rob. I am so grateful that I found this gentleman to help me with this decision and it’s not even as costly as I thought it would be. Turns out it’s the same price as I have paid for looking for a shoe on my own. I am very pleased with this experience, and I recommend asking For Rob if you ever go into the store. By the way, the shoe that I ended up wanting is a New Balance that is so plush. It makes me feel like I’m walking on a cloud. Can’t wait to...

My sister and I went to Fleet Feet in River Oaks because, quite frankly, her workout shoes were in such bad shape—full of holes—that I told her I wouldn’t be seen walking around with her anymore! She initially wanted to order something online or go to Academy, but I put my foot down (pun intended). Since she’s starting a new fitness journey, I knew she needed a quality pair of shoes with the right fit, and that meant going to the experts.

Fleet Feet River Oaks, conveniently located across from the River Oaks Theater, was the perfect choice. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted by Howard—the Shoe Guru—and let me tell you, he is truly one of the best.

Howard spent an incredible hour and a half with us, providing the kind of service you rarely find these days. He started by having us stand on the foot analysis machine, then walked us through all the data it provided. Turns out, both my sister and I had been wearing workout shoes that were about half a size to a full size too small! No wonder our feet were unhappy.

Howard brought out multiple pairs of shoes for each of us, carefully explaining the fit and having us walk and even run around the store to test them out. He listened, gave insightful feedback, and genuinely wanted to know about us—our backgrounds, our fitness goals, and even our lives outside of working out. He has an amazing sense of humor, a wealth of knowledge about shoes and fit, and, as it turns out, a pedigree in foot care (his dad is a podiatrist).

Howard initially helped my sister, but I was so impressed by his expertise that I decided to get a new pair of shoes too—something I hadn’t even planned on! The entire experience was about comfort, performance, and lifestyle, not price. We never once discussed cost until the very end, which made the process feel relaxed and enjoyable.

Honestly, this was one of the best shopping experiences my sister and I have ever had. If you need new athletic shoes, RUN, DON’T WALK to Fleet Feet River Oaks and ask for Howard. He’ll take great care of...