My BO posted this on her FB page last month, and I’m finally getting around to posting it here. I’m hoping that maybe someone here will read this and might know of someone else who can potentially help. Randy makes beautiful boots, and it would be awesome if we could spread the word and hopefully find somebody to help them repair their machinery when needed.
I really hope they can find someone to repair the machines! What a shame it would be if this shop had to close.
I have wanted for years to get a pair of Kroop boots, but even if I never do, I’d like to think they will be able to stay in business.
[QUOTE=Dewey;7814973]
I really hope they can find someone to repair the machines! What a shame it would be if this shop had to close.
I have wanted for years to get a pair of Kroop boots, but even if I never do, I’d like to think they will be able to stay in business.[/QUOTE]
Agreed! I desperately hope to order a pair of new sdressage boots before the end of this year, but even so, I worry about the future of the store. It’s a piece of history that is so close to home - they just don’t have many places like this anymore.
Does anyone know how this ended? How is Randi doing?
I don’t think anything’s ended; barring anyone buying out the business, I expect she and the crew will keep cranking out boots for a while longer and then retire. How long “a while longer” is I have no idea, but I had a long talk with her about it all with her a few months ago and it sounded like she was willing to keep going for a while yet. Never can tell, though, and at the time there was one fairly critical machine that was giving them trouble and slowing down production.
The boots that showed up a while later are an absolutely perfect fit on my really-hard-to-fit feet, too.
Thank you for the update. I have ALWAYS wanted a pair of dressage boots from her but every time I have the money one of the horses decides to visit the vet for an emergency spending spree :sigh: . I will have to hurry up and buy some this fall, just in case something changes.
Thanks again!
When we lived in Maryland and hubby and I galloped our race horses…Kroop’s were the ONLY boots we wore!! Great boots, great people.
Kroop boots is now closed. 
I last talked to Randy Kroop about a year ago, at which point she said she was expecting to go for about another year, and now the phone is disconnected and the website is offline, so there ya go.
I found an online auction of their equipment and remaining inventory; I wish I’d known, it was back in September. (Some people got amazing deals on boots!) https://rasmus-auctions.appspot.com/auctions/r7fXxK0Yk6PsGvavDGsv
I’m surprisingly sad about this; I can’t think of anybody else in the industry who I’ve liked dealing with as much as the Kroops, and the layers of history in the shop were such an experience. I hope Randy is enjoying retirement, though!
Oh no, and how did I miss this old thread? My paddock boots are just about due for replacement. Darn. I’ve been wearing Kroops for decades
Bummer…I have a pair and would have bought another set of boots if I had known they were in trouble or going our of business.
Kroop was an institution in Laurel.
I dealt with Randi and she was great to work with.
When I went down to get fitted for my boots, I got to see Michael Matz paddock boots sitting on the counter that were waiting to be picked up.
I still have my 2 pair of Kroops from my days as an exercise rider – best boots ever! Unfortunately they no longer fit my calves but I’m keeping them anyway.
Very sad news to hear they have closed.
You can probably get them stretched out a bit - I got mine stretched. They are good quality leather. But I’m also in the camp of 
since their boots are gorgeous.
I might just try that!
