In 1956, two cousins started selling cheap shoes in Topeka, Kansas in stores known as Payless National.
Louis and Shaol Pozez started Payless as a small chain of stores but eventually expanded to a corporation known as Volume Show Corporation, Inc. The two cousins stayed on as president and CEO when the company was bought by May Department Stores in 1979.
In 1991, Payless ShoeSource Inc. was founded.
Throughout the years, the company remained a staple in the shoe industry.
The store has reached every state and countries all over the world.
Eventually, it became the No. 1 shoe retailer in the US.
In 2006, the company had another big change, introducing a new logo that many associate with the brand today.
"This new logo is designed to amplify the new Payless brand position--to inspire fun fashion possibilities for the family," CEO Matt Rubel said at the time.
In 2011, Payless saw one of its best years, with sales at $3.4 billion.
That year was one of the most successful years for the company, as it became a publicly held company.
But as online retailers become increasingly popular, Payless is set to close all of its stores in North America.
With the popularity of Amazon and other big retailers, Payless announced it will close all 2,500 stores.
The discount shoe store was always a perfect place to shop for a great, cheap pair of shoes.
From boots to flats and sneakers to flip flops, Payless had something for every customer.
It even had great options for kids when it was back to school time.
Partnerships with Disney, Marvel and even Jojo Siwa were popular choices among children.
Payless also partnered with a number of big designers to offer high end brands at lower costs.
Designers Christian Siriano and Martha Stewart both sold their shoes at Payless, while well-known brands like Champion, Airwalk, and American Eagle were also for sale.
The store also sold handbags and other accessories — all at cheap costs.
From jewelry to pillows, Payless had a wide variety of options for consumers that went beyond just footwear.
