L.A. Bootery Owner Carolyn Cowan shows off her inventory at her store at 1615 Central Ave., above EXIT Realty. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
When CB Fox Department store closed in 2020, it gave Carolyn Cowan an idea.
“I’ve always wanted to run my own business,” she said, “but I didn’t have a specific business in mind so when CB Fox closed there seemed to be a hole for work boots and hiking boots.”
As a result, Cowan is opening up L.A. Bootery, 1615 Central Ave., which is located above EXIT Realty. She plans to have a quiet opening Nov. 1 and a grand opening in January.
Right now, she said her main focus is offering comp toe work boots and tactical shoes. A favorite brand is Danner. Additionally, she will offer a range of hiking boots.
“The goal is to expand our inventory in the store to offer a wider variety of running shoes,” Cowan said.
Plus, Cowan said she can offer custom orders to get people the sizes and colors they want.
Owning a business is an eye-opening experience, she said, explaining, “you never know what the challenges are.”
Cowan added she never worked harder until she started working for herself. However, she has been able to utilize skills that she developed while working in other careers.
“I have years working for other people and I’m pulling so many skills from other industries,” Cowan said.
Previously, Cowan said she worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory and before coming to Los Alamos with her husband in 2019, they lived in Oregon where she worked in pharmaceuticals, law offices and higher education.
All her previous work experience has been valuable in operating her own business, Cowan said. She pointed out she created her own logo and website as well as developed her own budget and inventory systems.
Her family also assisted her. Cowan pointed out her husband and her in-laws helped build the shelves for her inventory as well as her desk.
Additionally, even though the store has not yet opened, Cowan said she appreciates Los Alamos’ support.
“The community is so supportive,” she said, “They are 100 percent behind me.”
Adding that the support goes both ways; Cowan said she is here to serve Los Alamos.
“We’re here in Los Alamos to serve Los Alamos,” Cowan said.
For more information about LA Bootery, call 505.521.2000 or visit https://www.labootery.com/home
The store will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
