
The foundation for Rack Room Shoes was set up in 1920 in Salisbury, North Carolina by Phil Levinson, and later passed on to his son-in-law, Mort Lerner. The period from 1920 until 1984 was one of modest growth. However, in 1984, the 22-store firm was purchased by The Deichmann Group, a Germany- based shoe retailer, beginning a period of accelerated growth and infrastructure modernization.