Your first look at the crazy deals at the new Zappos outlet in Louisville

Courier Journal

This popular outlet store, where shoppers find name-brand and designer shoes, accessories and apparel at 50 percent or more off the regular retail price, has made a move to Louisville.

For more than a decade, fans of Zappos' 6 pm Outlet hopped in the car to make the drive down Interstate 65 to Shepherdsville, but no more.

Starting Friday at noon, Zappos' redesigned and rebranded store, The Outlet Powered by Zappos, opens at 9101 Minors Lane.

"It's a great little store," said Justin Brown, senior director of operations at Zappos. "People are really into this place, and this new location is going to make it a lot more convenient for Louisville residents."

We couldn't wait, so we got you a sneak peek of the new location before the doors open to the public at the end of the week.

Background:Zappos is moving its 6 pm shoe outlet from Shepherdsville to Louisville

The 13,000-square-foot space, which will hold 30,000 pairs of discounted shoes plus handbags, jewelry and clothing, is in the northwest corner of the new Zappos fulfillment center, but trust us, there is nothing industrial about the store.

Large windows allow plenty of natural light into the showroom, while modern accents such as newly built wooden counters and overhead light fixtures hanging from artistically designed dark-stained wood pallet give the space the feel of a chic boutique — if a boutique could hold thousands of shoes.

"We wanted to bring in the feel of the warehouse to the store, but it's also a warm and comfortable feeling," Brown said. "We've built new roomy dressing rooms and restrooms, and for anyone who was a regular shopper at the Shepherdsville location — you'll recognize the ornately carved wooden throne from the old entrance. We brought that with us."

So where does all the inventory comes from?

Each year customers buy more than 25 million pairs of shoes and other items from zappos.com. If items are returned in perfect condition or when styles on the website are discountinued they make their way to the outlet. Some of the most sought-after brands include Frye, Ugg, Brooks, Asics, Nike, Birkenstock, Hunter, Stuart Weitzman, The North Face, TOMS, Sam Edelman and more.

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In celebration of its new location, Zappos is hosting a grand opening party on Friday. Ceremonies will kick off at noon when the first 10 customers in line will be granted access to an exclusive stockroom full of products.

If you plan to be one of those lucky shoppers, take note. Brown expects some customers will camp out to be first in line.

The festivities will include local food trucks, the University of Louisville pep band and Ladybirds, complimentary champagne and beverages, and perhaps best of all, an additional 30 percent off your purchase on top of discounts as high as 70 percent off the original manufacturer retail price.

A subsidiary of Amazon.com, Zappos (derived from the Spanish word zapatos, which means shoes) plans to grow the new 325,000-square-foot fulfillment center and retail outlet by more than 100 new employees over the next two years.

“We have always felt at home in Kentucky,” said Brown. "Since our very early days, we have grown and deepened our strong relationship with Louisville. We're thrilled to bring even more Kentuckians in the family. From the city's many art installations to the slogan 'Keep Louisville Weird' — it’s a match made in heaven!"

Reach Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com or Twitter @kirbylouisville. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/kirbya.