Andalusia residents will have one more place to get their kicks beginning in January with the opening of The Shoe Dept. next door to the Wal-Mart Supercenter.

The Andalusia store will join 1,123 other locations spread throughout 36 states.

Paul Walton, district manager of The Shoe Dept., said the store is anticipated to open Jan. 16 and employees were selected during interviews earlier this week.

“We had 425 applicants, which is the most I have ever had,” he said. “It was a bit of a shock. We have pretty much hired our staff for the store.”

Walton said the store will employ eight or nine people with a few additional staffers to help out during the opening days of the location.

Shoe Show, located in Enterprise, is the closest location owned by the parent company and offers price-sensitive merchandise for customers. Walton said The Shoe Dept. location in Andalusia will offer all name brand merchandise.

According to the company’s Web site, Shoe Show was founded in 1960 in Kannapolis, N.C., has maintained its formula of success through technological advances and operating efficiencies; such as, standard store design, an efficient distribution center and computer links with stores and vendors.

Shoe Show also places great value on social and community activities that assist the local area. The company is active in a number of charitable causes including Cooperative Christian Ministries, Bible Teaching Associations, Salvation Army, Gardner-Webb University and the Association of Retarded Citizens.

Walton said most Shoe Show and The Shoe Dept. locations are found next to Wal-Mart stores or within shopping malls.