In downtown State College, six shoe stores go the extra mile to stand out in what would otherwise be a saturated market, bringing a unique flavor to the area, local shoe store managers said.

Though they vie for the same market, they feel that as independent establishments, the shoe stores complement each other. Working together to band against the competition at the Nittany Mall and on the Internet, these locally owned businesses draw footwear consumers to State College, store owners and managers said.

The Shoe Fly, 214 E. College Ave.

If students are looking for a store that takes their opinions into account, they might be interested in the Shoe Fly's annual e-mail survey. Results of these yearly polls dictate the brands and styles consumers see on the shelves each semester. If customers' responses to the questionnaire do not turn up in the store, employees will refer shoppers to other nearby vendors, store manager Craig Fleming said.

Bare Foot, 130 E. College Ave.

Hidden in this College Avenue store lies the lower level of Bare Foot, where shoes and some clothes are 50 percent off year round. Though prices depend on "style, quality of the leather and brand names," cheaper prices can always be found downstairs, Heather Falck, store manager, said.

Kelly's Shoes, 126 E. College Ave.

Sam Scheinberg, co-owner of Kelly's, offers free foot analysis and can make adjustments to shoes, providing over-the-counter, custom-made orthotics. Mike Scheinberg, co-owner, said the reason Kelly's has stayed in business almost 30 years is because of the store's "ability to react to the latest trends and [Kelly's] consistency with basic comfort for everybody."

Rapid Transit Sportswear, 115 S. Allen St.

"We cater to bio-mechanics of running," Jason Sincavage, assistant manager of Rapid Transit, said. At the beginning of each semester, the store holds a clinic to explain the science of matching one's foot to one's shoes.

Active Footwear, 236 E. Calder Way

For 25 years, Active Footwear has been selling athletic shoes on Calder Way. Because the business started in the 1970s when many major athletic brands like Nike and Adidas were new, Active Footwear has been with those brands from the beginning, Don Kassab, owner of the store, said.

Bostonian Ltd., 106 S. Allen St.

"The environment of the store is very different, very unique. The store itself is unusual," owner Jeff Kresge said. The atmosphere created by the lighting and the wooden interior make the store stand out, he said.

Nittany Mall

Anne Davis, marketing director for the mall, feels that the shopping precinct also offers a lot of variety and does not make consumers spend as much money. The mall has eight shoe stores and shoe sections in all four department stores.