This entry was posted on December 11, 2012 by admin. Whether you’re employed at a four star gourmet eatery or a fast-food establishment, all restaurant workers have to deal with the challenges of constantly being on their feet. You have to avoid slips, trips and falls in busy kitchen and dining areas. Then there’s the physical wear and tear of standing during shifts that can last eight, ten hours or even longer. When it comes to foodservice, having the proper footwear is essential. The federal government certainly recognizes this point. According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration , restaurant workers should wear sturdy footwear that is slip resistant and not canvas or open-toed to protect the feet in case hot liquids are spilled on shoes. That’s where Abbadabba’s comes in, providing food industry professionals with the best variety of high performance footwear for the job. “Abbadabba’s carries numerous non-slip, supportive and comfortable footwear options for people working in the restaurant industry,” explains Director of Store Development Jade Regotti. “We have trained our staff how to help customers choose the right shoe for their needs.” All five Abbadabba’s stores carry a strong selection of footwear options for restaurant employees. Brands that have proven to be especially popular include Dansko, Birki’s Professional Clogs by Birkenstock and KEEN’s, Sanita and Merrell’s Encore Groove Pro and Encore Moc Pro. Erin Stacer, who works at Jittery Joe’s coffee shop in Athens, alternates between favorite pairs of Dansko Harlows and Birkenstock Boston clogs to keep her feet going at work. “Abbadabba’s taught me to look for shoes that support my arches and cradle my heel so I don’t roll my ankles,” notes Erin. “Their staff is really helpful. They learn so much about their brands and always help you find the best shoe for your needs.” Chef Matthew Murphy of Three Blind Mice restaurant in Lilburn couldn’t agree more. “I cannot imagine wearing a regular shoe, as most days have me on my feet at least 12 hours,” noted the fan of KEEN’s. ”Abbadabba’s helps me find clogs that are comfortable, non-slip, and take some of the weight off my feet. They get me in and out of the store fast.” We have a long history of helping people find innovative, comfort footwear options for work, school and personal time. Visit one of our stores today to see how we can give you the proper support for your feet when you are working to serve others all day long. This entry was posted in Birkenstock, Clogs, Dansko, Keen, Merrell, Restaurant Shoes, Sanita and tagged Restaurant Shoes, Shoes for Restaurant Workers, Best Shoes for a Chef, Waitress Shoes, Chef Shoes on December 11, 2012 by admin.
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This entry was posted on October 3, 2012 by admin. At Abbadabba’s, we carry a huge selection of “good-form” running shoes. Many of our top running shoe picks (and yours!) are from Newton. Due to your feedback, we’ve expanded our Newton selection even more. Here’s a small sampling of our in-stock Newton styles and colors: Newton styles and colors vary by location. Our largest selection of Newton shoes is in our Buckhead and East Cobb stores. Highlights from the Newton SummitOur founder and president, Janice “Abbadabba” Abernethy and our Director of Store Operations, Christine Porter, just returned from the Newton Summit in Boulder, Colorado where they learned even more about the benefits of Newton running shoes. Newton is not your average shoe company. It is owned and operated by happy people who are runners...people who are working to build a product line that will heighten the experience of each step taken, whether walking or running. They are 100% committed to this. During the Summit, Janice and Christine:
Christine Completes Chicago Half-Marathon!In fact, Christine, our Director of Store Operations, has been so inspired by her Newtons that she began running herself and just completed the Chicago Half-Marathon. Congratulations Christine! After the race, Christine commented that, “Newtons technology made running the half marathon a little less stressful on my legs and body. It made the last 4 miles seem like the first 2 miles. Then to top it off, the fun colors made me feel fast!” Newton Natural Running Form ClinicsNewton and Abbadabba’s are partnering to offer running form clinics for our customers! Attend a clinic to learn how to run faster, stronger, more efficiently and with less injury. We’ll cover:
This entry was posted in Newton, Running on October 3, 2012 by admin. This entry was posted on July 26, 2012 by admin. Your tweens and teens want the latest trends. You want the shoes that are best for their feet and will hold up past the first week of school. What’s a parent to do?! At Abbadabba’s, we have shoes that will satisfy your kids’ demand for cool shoes and your desire to put them in good shoes! Our founder, Janice “Abbadabba” Abernethy, put together these 5 Top Tips for Selecting School Shoes as well as some specific brand recommendations which should help you make the next shopping trip much easier! Five Tips for Buying the Right Back-to-School Footwear1. Flat. Will the shoe position the foot with the heel and toe at about the same distance off the ground? A flat angle helps keep the body in better balance and alignment while also preventing injuries. We Recommend: Converse All-Star Hi-Top or Oxford in Navy (toddlers through adult) 2. Flexible. Does the pair bend and allow the feet to bend as well? Flexibility promotes more complete foot function as each step is taken, improving circulation and muscle use. We recommend: Merrell Pure Glove in Black (available in womens sizes) 3. Foot-forming. Can the shoe mimic the natural shape of the foot without restricting it? This design allows for maximum engagement of all the metatarsals of the foot as each step is taken. A good, deep heel cup in the shoe will also aid in natural alignment of the foot. Features such as arch support for those major over-pronators should be considered, although the deep heel cup will also help in the natural "formation" of the arch as bones are aligned properly. If an orthotic is to be added to the shoe for alignment or support, it should be fit at the time of purchase. We recommend: Naot Kirei in Burnt Copper (womens sizes) 4. Fit-appropriate. Make sure the widest part of the shoe corresponds with the widest part of the foot. Contrary to popular belief, shoes are not fit by feeling the distance between the end of the shoe and where the toes end. Instead, the arch and metatarsal bar should be positioned properly within the shoe. We recommend: Birkenstock Boston clog in Taupe Suede (kids through adult) 5. Functional. Evaluate the intended use of the footwear. Does it need to conform to a dress code or hold up to especially active use in all of the elements? Consider functional factors like attire, style, color appropriateness, durability, protective for use (i.e. water friendly) and more. We recommend: Clarks Wallabee in Sand Suede (womens and mens sizes) Abbadabba’s is Atlanta’s premier source for innovative comfort footwear. Since the opening of their first store in Little 5 Points in 1981, the company has focused on offering footwear that helps people enhance their overall health, activities and passions. Major brands offered include Toms, Vibram Five Fingers, Birkenstock, Dansko, Naot, Chaco, Merrell, Dr Martens, Converse, Vans, Clarks, Frye, New Balance and more. Abbadabba’s has five retail locations in the metro area, including Little 5 Points, Buckhead, Gwinnett, Kennesaw and East Cobb. Abbadabba’s has won numerous awards for its innovative footwear and customer service, including its most recent honor, being named Best Sneaker Store in Atlanta in Creative Loafing’s 2011 Best of Atlanta Survey. For more information, visit www.coolshoes.com. This entry was posted in Back To School Shoes, Birkenstock, Clarks, Converse, Merrell, Naoton July 26, 2012 by admin. This entry was posted on April 27, 2012 by admin. Abbadabba’s Team Member Amy Fletcher just returned from a life-changing Soles for Souls trip to Haiti where she helped to distribute 500 new pairs of shoes to local children. Amy, who many of you know from our Little 5 Points and Buckhead stores, has a passion for community service. She has volunteered with Team in Training, the Arthritis Foundation and helped raise money for cancer research. Amy learned about the work of Soles 4 Souls when she started working at Abbadabba’s in 2011 and knew she wanted to participate in a future shoe donation. Soles 4 Souls has a shoe donation center in Haiti, a country that is in dire need of proper footwear to prevent disease and promote the health and well-being of youth. Amy personally raised over $2,000 for the organization plus her travel costs in order to participate in this experience (including a $500 contribution from Abbadabba’s). Amy’s group flew to Haiti on April 9th. Her adventure began in Port-a-prince where Amy visited local orphanages hugging babies who needed affection), toured a ministry in Montrouis and stay in Farmath, where Soles 4 Souls has a community center to offer recreational and educational opportunities for local youth. When Amy and her fellow volunteers would visit a school, the students would be assembled eagerly waiting their arrival. Working together as a team, volunteers would measure each child’s feet, wash their feet in cold water from a bucket and dry them off and then help the child try on the shoes for size. Language was a barrier, so Amy had to gauge their reactions by a thumbs up or down, or a smile. 500 new pairs of shoes donated by retailers and manufacturers were distributed. “One of the defining moments of the trip was the first time I touched a child’s feet and saw how hardened and calloused they were from walking barefoot. I volunteered to be here so kids don’t have to walk barefoot on rocks and rubble anymore. Schools require that children wear shoes, so their new footwear will help more kids receive an education.” “During my trip, it felt like I was viewing a National Geographic special, seeing chaos and hard living conditions upfront that were previously images on a television screen. It was an amazing, humbling, life changing experience.” Amy, touched deeply by this life changing experience, plans to go back. She would like to raise funds to participate in the August Soles 4 Souls shoe donation in Haiti. While she speaks humbly about it, community service has always been a priority for Amy. We are so proud of Amy and glad to have her part of our team! Note: Gently used shoes collected in the U.S. and other parts of the world in shoe drives such as those at Abbadabba’s are used for microenterprise, where people in need sell shoes on the street to gain financial independence for themselves and others in the community. We hope you will help us support Soles 4 Souls and those in need by continuing to bring your gently used shoes to our donation boxes located in all Abbadabba’s locations and by participating in Marietta’s Largest Shoe Drive! This entry was posted in Giving Back on April 27, 2012 by admin. This entry was posted on January 31, 2012 by admin. Dansko (which is translated as Danish shoe) is one of our customers’ favorite brands. Not only do the shoes look great and come in a wide variety of styles and patterns, but they are known for their "all-day comfort." Many Dansko fans work in professions that require long hours on their feet such as chefs, waiters, hair stylists, doctors, nurses, teachers and salespeople. In fact, Dansko currently has 8 collections that carry the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Seal of Acceptance. Dansko is best known for their classic rocker-bottom stapled clog, but they now offer heels, boots, flats and sneakers. Like many of the brands we choose to carry, Dansko is committed to leaving the world a better place than they found it by protecting the community, promoting philanthropy and minimizing their negative impact on the environment. For example:
This entry was posted in Clogs, Dansko, New Arrivals on January 31, 2012 by admin. This entry was posted on December 16, 2011 by admin. When you stop in to shop with us, we encourage you to bring in your gently used shoes to deposit in our Soles4Souls boxes. With your support, we have donated thousands of shoes to people in need through our association with the Soles4Souls Program. Soles 4 SoulsSoles4Souls is a Nashville-based charity that collects shoes from the warehouses of footwear companies and the closets of people like you and distributes these shoes to people in need. Since 2005, Soles4Souls has delivered over 16 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes. The shoes have been distributed to people in over 127 countries, including Kenya, Thailand, Nepal and the United States. Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS and donating parties are eligible for tax advantages. Go Green by Donating shoes through Soles4Souls is also a way to “go green.” Last year alone, Americans discarded more than 300 million pairs of shoes. When these shoes break down in our landfills, the toxic glue that holds the shoes together can leak into our water supply and atmosphere. Reduce the strain on our environment by donating your "gently worn" footwear to people in need instead of throwing them away. Thanks to the assistance of Atlanta do-gooder Barry Corker, founder of Destiny, we are now able to accept large donations of shoes from your organizations. Make a difference by organizing a shoe drive in conjunction with your school, church, non-profit organization or even your local running group! In partnership with Soles4Souls, some of these shoes will also be distributed locally to organizations such as the Atlanta Union Mission. When you stop in to shop with us This entry was posted in Giving Back and tagged charitable donations atlanta, soles for souls, soles 4 souls, shoe drive, donate shoes, shoe donation on December 16, 2011 by admin. This entry was posted on October 1, 2011 by admin. Lost: 140 pounds Gained: Impressive 9-pair Collection of Vibram Five Fingers and a Pain-Free Workout! We have been so inspired by our customer, Ron Skopitz, that we wanted to share his story with all of you. So on those days when you just don’t feel like working out...remember Ron’s story, get your Abbadabba’s on and get out there! “About 8 years ago, I saw some pictures of myself and decided that I had to make change. Over the next 3 years, I lost about 140 pounds through diet and exercise. Getting the weight off was easy - keeping it off has been the challenge. I was plagued with chronic lower back, knee and foot pain, so I would have to stop exercising and then the weight would start creeping back on. About a year and a half ago, a co-worker mentioned these funky shoes with toes in them. The engineer in me was intrigued so I looked them up. When I read about the Five Fingers shoes on the Vibram site, I became more and more convinced of the logic involved and decided I had to try a pair. Last October, I walked into Abbadabba's and tried on a pair of Bikilas - and fell in love. Anna at Abbadabbas was very helpful and informative, and I felt comfortable that if I had problems, Abbadabba’s would work with me to make things right. I had read on the Vibram site to start slowly. I wore them around the house for a few days, but finally I took the plunge and wore them out on the pavement. I only expected to get a short distance on that first walk, but I felt great and just kept going. I went almost five miles on that first walk! About 3 miles in, a big knot of pain let loose in my back and has stayed gone ever since. It is so rare that the claims made by a manufacturer prove to be true. But everything - the natural walking position, the strengthening of the the arches and calves, the reduction of the impact to the feet/heels/ankles/knees/hips/back from leveraging the natural shock absorbent action of the foot, the lightness of the shoe reducing stress on the joints, etc. - I've experienced all of those things and more. The reduction in pain has been amazing. Wearing my Five Fingers makes me want to walk. In the past year, I haven't missed a walk due to pain. Wearing the Bikilas for walking and then changing to traditional shoes the rest of my day just wasn't going to work for me. I immediately went back and bought 2 pairs of KSO Treks (had to have one in each color) and started wearing them to work. The kangaroo leather worked well with dress slacks and a button down. Wearing them does raise eyebrows, but I don't care - the benefits to my health and wellbeing more than make up for my coworkers' ribbing - they're just jealous anyway! Seriously, most people are curious but think the VFFs are just too "weird". I would recommend to anyone to just let go of convention and give them a try. They aren't for everyone, but you owe it to yourself to try! I did, and I haven't worn any other shoes since. It was a sad day recently when, after about 400 miles, I finally wore out those original Bikilas. I recently bought a new pair, and grabbed some of the new styles, too. I was happy to grab a few pairs of the KSO LS, and I'm excited to try the new boots out this winter. I now own 8 pairs of Vibram Five Fingers (9 if you count those original Bikilas - can't bring myself to throw them out) and I couldn't be happier! I love my Five Fingers, and Abbadabba's is pretty awesome, too!” This entry was posted in Minimalist Shoes and tagged vibram bormio, vibram kso trek, vibram bikila, weight loss success story, weight loss, 5 fingers, vibrams, five fingers, barefoot shoes, vibram five fingers, barefoot running on October 1, 2011 by admin. This entry was posted on July 7, 2011 by admin. This month, Abbadabba's is partnering with Merrell to help a cause that is very dear to my heart - the fight to end mountaintop removal coal mining. What is mountaintop removal coal mining, you ask? Mountaintop removal (MTR) is a relatively new type of mining in which the entire tops of mountains are blasted away using millions of pounds of explosives to expose buried seams of coal. This practice can involve removing 500 feet or more of the mountain's summit to get at these seams. The earth that is removed is then dumped into the neighboring valleys, creeks and rivers, causing damage to the environment, water supply and health of the surrounding communities. According to an EPA environmental impact statement, more than 1,000 miles of Appalachian streams were permitted to be buried as of 2001, and more recent studies show this dumping causes increased toxins & higher rates of birth defects near MTR sites. In an effort to help stop this destructive practice, we partnered with Merrell - and you can help. From July 8 - 24, purchase any pair of shoes from our Merrell Barefoot Collection and Abbadabba’s and Merrell will donate $5 to Appalachian Voices, an organization that is fighting to end MTR. We wanted to partner with Merrell on this cause because mountaintop removal signifies the very antithesis of Merrell's "Get Outside" message. Merrell is a huge supporter of outdoor education and organizations, including the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the Conservation Alliance. They encourage environmental stewardship. Of course, I can't forget to mention that their shoes are fabulous for outdoor pursuits, such as hiking, trail running and more! And on a personal note...this cause is a deeply personal one to me as my family hails from the mountains of eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia. Over the last 3 decades, I've witnessed the destruction of my homeland, one mountaintop at a time, to the hands of a few big coal companies. A lake where I swam each summer that used to be surrounded by rolling summits is now bordered by eerie, tree-less flat-tops. Areas where my family used to hike are now barren craters. Each time I go home, the landscape has changed again and more mountains have been lost. The ecological damage is staggering, and yet not enough people are paying attention. Hopefully, that will start to change...Activists are growing in number, and films such as The Last Mountain are garnering more attention to the cause. Groups such as Appalachian Voices are working diligently on state and federal levels to make this particular breed of mining illegal. It's my hope that all of us -- as fans of outdoor activities, stewards of the environment, natives of or even visitors to the Appalachian mountains -- could all band together to help end the destruction caused by MTR. Kristen Smith CFO, Abbadabba’s This entry was posted in Giving Back and tagged Merrell, the last mountain, Coal mining, Mountaintop Removal, Appalachian Voices, merrell barefoot, barefoot running on July 7, 2011by admin. This entry was posted on June 30, 2011 by admin. We are often asked by our customers to recommend shoes for their upcoming trips. Our female customers are often looking for good, comfortable shoes that also look good with a skirt. Read below for recommendations from “Abbadabba” herself, also know as Janice Abernethy. I have faced the same concerns myself and this is what I chose:
What I usually recommend as bare bones for most women is a basic slip-on style from an outdoor brand like Merrell or Keen that can be worn as a city dress/ walker. Many of these styles have the added advantage of being weather proof. Add to that a hiker from a brand like Salomon, and you are good to go for most activities both on and off the trail. Picking lightweight, collapsible, and waterproof footwear will add positively to your travel experience. Bon Voyage! This entry was posted in Chaco, Keen, Mephisto, Naot, Salomon, Uncategorized and tagged Vibram FiveFingers, Chaco flips, Salomon trail shoes, Keen water sandals and mary janes, Mephisto walkers, Naot sandals, shoes for traveling, cool shoes, comfortable shoes, good travel shoes, atlanta shoe store, travel shoe on June 30, 2011 by admin. The excitement created by Vibram Five Fingers and other new "minimalist" styles raises obvious questions:
That Nike heel was designed to lengthen the stride, and it did, but at the cost of generating much higher incidence of injury. For running, specifically, the change from Nike heel to minimalist has a huge affect on the runner's stride, gait, and foot impact. The change allows the foot to function more naturally. At Abbadabba’s, we have been providing footwear that allows the foot to function more naturally for three decades. We have been committed to shoes that make sense starting with our early commitment to Birkenstock and other "Euro-comfort" brands and styles. We have helped countless customers make a change from fashion shoes that constrict your feet to comfortable shoes that empower feet to function properly. For walking, standing, and all kinds of everyday use, coolshoes from Abbadabba’s have always delivered exactly what the new Minimalist concepts advocate: shoes that make sense! This entry was posted in Minimalist Shoes and tagged barefoot ted, terra plana, vibram five fingers, merrell barefoot, barefoot running, minimalist on March 2, 2011 by admin. |
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