Las Vegas’ newest cowboy-boots slinger is open for business.
Tecovas, a western-wear chain from Texas, opened its first permanent store in Nevada on July 29 in Downtown Summerlin.
The store — sandwiched between a Zales jewelry store and the LoveBug baby shop in the sprawling open-air mall off Sahara Avenue at the 215 Beltway — sells men’s and women’s boots, along with cowboy hats, belts, jeans and other apparel.
Plus, customers can get their leather goods branded in-store and have their boots shined and stretched.
Despite the rugged connotation, cowboy boots can be a high-priced luxury item, especially the so-called exotic leather options.
As seen on a recent visit to Tecovas’ new store, its offerings on display included $385 goat-skin boots, $425 deerskin boots, $575 lizard-skin boots, $675 ostrich-skin boots, $995 alligator-skin boots, and $1,995 Nile crocodile-skin boots.
‘Natural next step for us’
Sales of western wear are strong nationally, and Las Vegas already has several places where shoppers can buy cowboy boots and the like, including retail giant Boot Barn, which has had a location in Downtown Summerlin for years.
But the newest competitor in town says that shoppers wanted its store in America’s casino capital and that the existing lineup of western-wear retailers in Southern Nevada shows an appreciation for the style.
All this in a metro area that also hosts a huge western-themed gathering each year that draws masses of people in big hats and boots to Las Vegas: the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
Total attendance at last year’s NFR, held in December at the Thomas & Mack Center, came to 175,846, organizers said.
Kim Heidt, chief retail officer with Austin, Texas-based Tecovas, said in an emailed statement that customers asked the retailer to come to Las Vegas “for quite a while” and that opening a store here was a “natural next step for us” as the company grows its footprint.
Founded in 2015, Tecovas has 60-plus stores and pulled in more than $350 million in revenue last year, according to a representative for the company.
Tecovas is not entirely new to Las Vegas, as it had a popup store in Fashion Show mall from March to July, the representative confirmed.
“We see a lot of opportunity in the market, not only because of the local community, but because it’s a place where people from all over come to shop and explore,” Heidt said of Las Vegas.
‘Give the locals of Las Vegas their own store’
Tecovas picked Downtown Summerlin, with its 106-acre retail and dining complex, over other retail hubs in the Las Vegas Valley because it’s a place where “people come to spend the day, discover brands, and enjoy the experience — not just make a quick stop,” Heidt said.
She added: “Probably most importantly though, we asked our customers and they voted for Summerlin. We wanted to give the locals of Las Vegas their own store before we looked at areas near and around the Strip.”
Boot Barn has several locations in the valley, while other western-wear shops around town include Ariat, on the Las Vegas Strip; Cowtown Boots, on Flamingo Road near Maryland Parkway; and Old Country, a custom boot maker on Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas.
Heidt said that any time a market has great western retailers, it shows there are customers who appreciate the style and craftsmanship.
Asked why these kinds of boots cost so much, Heidt said that every pair is “built by skilled artisans using premium materials and time-honored techniques with over 200 steps in every single pair of cowboy boots.”
Plus, when it comes to exotic leathers, “they require even more specialized craftsmanship and sourcing, which is reflected in the price,” she said.
Money maker
Across the U.S., selling cowboy boots and other western wear is a lucrative business.
Boot Barn Holdings, which had 566 stores as of mid-year, booked nearly $226 million in net income during its most recent fiscal year, up from almost $181 million the prior year, according to a securities filing.
Denim brand Wrangler, meanwhile, generated $440 million in profit last year, up from $366 million in 2024, according to parent company Kontoor Brands.
“At the end of the day, we love seeing more boots on feet – ours or not – because we believe it’s a silhouette everyone should have in their closet to wear on those days when you just need to walk a little taller!” said Heidt, of Tecovas.
Contact Eli Segall at esegall@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0342.
