I'll tell you why shoe stores are cool:

Say there's a transit strike in your city, and suddenly your leisurely Wednesday trip to the comic store is a two hour, 100 block slog. At various points along the way, it would be nice to have a place to stop, catch your breath, and regroup.

Especially if this hypothetical transit strike happens in, say, late December. The Winter Solstice, maybe.

You could stop in a restaurant, sure, but then they'll want you to buy something. And if you're fine with buying something, you could stop into a Starbucks and sit with a hot cocoa for ten or fifteen minutes.

But, by far, the best place to stop to rest is a shoe store. Why a shoe store?

Where else can you stop in, have a seat, take your shoes off, TRY ON A PAIR OF MORE COMFORTABLE SHOES, not buy anything, and leave without getting anyone upset at you.

Not Starbucks, I'll tell you that right now.

So if you're ever stuck walking 100 blocks through your hometown to buy comics during a transit strike on the Winter Solstice, remember:

Shoe stores.

But if you're a guy, don't go into the Lady Footlocker. That just creeps people out.