The beast

The Beast Project: Red Wing Shoe Company Store

Right next door to Norton's restaurant is the new Red Wing Shoe Company store that is being built. This store will be a showcase for The Shoe, which has its world headquarters directly across the street. Red Wing Shoes are simply the best-made boots and shoes in the world. I wear my Model 414 boots for nine months out of the year, and I personally vouch for the high quality and ruggedness of their products.

This project is labeled "The Beast" because of the conditions that these images have to tolerate... beastly. The first day of installation, the weather was -15°F with snow and high winds. The construction wall is literally 6 inches from Highway 61, and the images have to tolerate heavy truck traffic, dirt, grime, and salt, not to mention the weather extremes.

Each image (there are two) is 6' x 15'. The final architectural concept drawing is included, along with an opening date and Shoe logo. A heavy-duty scrim material was deployed, and it was further protected with the thickest laminate available. The edges were treated with a super glue-like adhesive, and 1/2" weather-resistant and reinforced nickel grommets were used every 2.5 feet.