Founded in 1964 by Nikolai Blahuczyn, a second-generation shoemaker who learned the trade from his parents in Eastern Europe, Nicks Handmade Boots embodies the American Dream. Born in 1922, Nick’s early life was shaped by war and survival after escaping German-occupied territory during WWII. Captured and forced into labor in Hamburg before being liberated in 1945, Nikolai immigrated to Spokane, Washington, with his family, where he honed his skills with local boot-making brands serving the industrial community. He channeled his legacy trade into Nick’s Shoe Shop, providing durable boots made entirely by hand for loggers, firefighters, and tradespeople. Nick’s reputation grew quickly, and by the 1980s, his small shop had become a trusted name across the Northwest as the product evolved from hand-lasting and welting to include Stitchdown construction for added durability and ease of repair. For over 60 years, Nicks has upheld a core belief of doing things the right way from start to finish, using time-tested methods, premium materials, and an unwavering commitment to quality and the work ethic to achieve it. Still built to perform in the most demanding conditions of the jobsite, forest, or wherever life takes you, every pair is crafted by skilled craftspeople who understand that a boot isn’t just footwear. A Nicks Handmade Boot is a tool, a companion, and a reflection of the person who wears it.