Keating Capezio

This store just moved! It’s no longer inside Vallco mall, but at Main Street Cupertino (across from Philz Coffee). I went in looking for ballet shoes — I’m just starting — and the gentleman there was a great help. He explained all about ballet shoes and was very friendly. This is a little store, but nice, and it’s a great place to go if you’re just starting to dance and need a little help figuring out what to get.

I’ve been to so many dance shops in the area, and none come close to this store. The staff is very friendly, and are always ready to help. I’ve never felt pressured to buy anything and they are extremely helpful when I have questions. They all really know the merchandise. The fitters, Allie and Katie, are wonderful! I get my pointe shoes exclusively from here. They’re super helpful and even order items they might not have in stock. Also a pretty good selection, one of the only places in the area that sells Gaynor Mindens! (My pointe shoe brand!) So impressed by this store, it might be small, but they are pros!

Got help quick and got what I needed fast! The person who helped me was supper nice. The only downfall would be is its a very small space and not much room

Allie and Katylynn are both former dancers, and have the attention to detail required when fitting pointe shoes. They have patience, knowledge and were extremely helpful and helping my daughter find the right shoe. This place is a jem.

Great experience here with pointe shoes! This store has wonderful fitters who are very experienced and professional. They were able to fit my daughter into a great pair of pointe shoes. Our fitter’s name was Ali, and her coworker Katie also assisted us. Very strong recommendation to get points shows fitted here!

Extremely poor choice of merchandise! No help was offered! Expensive! Don’t waste your time and money and buy online!

So here’s the deal — I’ve done ballet for awhile as well as dabbled in other kinds of dance as an adult and I have had fine service here.
The issues are largely with 1. people who are beginners and/​or; 2. people who do not do ballet. Capezio is largely ballet but is more than adequate in other disciplines (ie. jazz/​lyrical, modern, ballroom, etc.). It’s a very tiny space they have (about the size of a SF studio apartment — seriously) so don’t expect them to have an extensive range of merchandise that isn’t ballet.
Anytime you start an activity that requires special shoes and has participants speaking what sounds like a foreign language is going to be scary and I think a lot of people project that into these reviews. Again, as someone who started ballet late, don’t be afraid to ask questions and to tell people you’re a beginner or if you’re a dance parent. Places like this literally thrive on your desire to dance so it’s not in their interest to put you off.
A word about teenagers — they are not the most sociable of people and this is a mall job. At least for ballet dancers, they start getting more serious when they’re about 9, if not younger. That means that by the time they can legally work (15?), they’ve had a few years of dancing under their belts. You don’t really get that kind of intimate training for teenagers in most jobs teens are qualified for. While I’ve seen them carry on conversations and do things most teens do, I haven’t met one here that was ever outright rude or incompetent (ie. cussing in front of little kids, dressing inappropriately, was really ignorant about shoes, etc.). If it truly bothers you that much, speak to someone in charge.
A word for dancers: though I have not inquired about it, Gaynor Minden lists this place as having certified fitters their shoes. It looks like the place to go if you don’t want to trek to SJ or the city.

Would give them 0 stars if possible. They have the most limited and overpriced selection of ballroom dance shoes available and they don’t even sell Capezio brand ballroom shoes. What a frickin’ misnomer for a store name! The sales assistants there are also very young and have little to no knowledge about ballroom shoes. If you need ballroom heels, go to Ballroom Connection in Sunnyvale instead.

I have no idea what these other bad reviews are talking about. I walked in, and was promptly helped. It is NOT expensive or overpriced. Their prices are the exact same as the Capizio website, and this way I got to try them on first.
They weren’t trying to up-​sell anything other than what I wanted. They had the exact character shoes, ballets, and fishnet tights I needed in my size and correct color. I was in and out in less than ten minutes and the girls working were pleasant and helpful. They had tons of accessories and even gifts for dancers.
This place rocks!

Stopped in to see their tap shoes for my daughter. Where do i start? They have a limited supply of different styles of tights. Of course they didn’t have what I needed. Then the girl helping us came out with tap shoes that were two sizes too big. I asked her for a smaller size. She came out with a size 11 and we needed a 10.5. I asked if she had a 10.5. She said they didn’t but could order them. Fine, but what bothered me was that she tried to sell me on the 12.5 as giving my daughter room to grow. Hello, the shoes were 2 sizes too big. My daughter wears a 10 (which of course I mentioned) and a 10.5 would give her room to grow. I felt like the girl (although nice enough) was only out to make a sale (and not concerned that my daughter could hurt herself by wearing shoes too big). I’m saving my business for SJ dancewear (formerly Victoria’s dance) where they are knowledgable AND well-​stocked.

Terrible service. These girls dont even know what the prices are for each shoes and give you different pricing everytime. I ask this girl why there are scratch marks on the shoes and she says it wont matter for dancing wtf? Would u like a brand new scratched laptop or a car cuz its still gonna work? What a dumb thing to say. just made me laugh at her ignorance. Then she gives me attitude cuz i asked her why the pricings different everytime. Grow up little girl the world doesnt revolve around you.

Terrible service when they are open. At 10:10am they are locked tight with not even a light on. This would be a prime example of how to poorly run a business.

Shopping here can be intimidating, but the staff is actually very friendly and helpful. Beth is a real gem — she’s knowledgeable and helpful, as well as budget conscious with her suggestions. I came in on a Saturday and it was really busy. When I was a dancer and still in school I had ventured here once and felt so put off and ignored by the girls at the counter that I left. Ten years later I came back and started to feel the same way after standing awkwardly there for five minutes watching all the mothers and little girls get helped with shoe fittings. But this time, instead of giving up and walking out, I went up to the counter and explained that I had signed up for a beginners ballet class in an attempt to relive my childhood dreams of going en pointe after a 15+ year hiatus. Beth was so very helpful and gracious in bringing me different sizes of shoes to try, picking out leotards that properly fit an adult, and she even called the dance studio I had enrolled at to check the dress code for me. All this while juggling the steady stream of customers that were still coming through the store. Their prices are standard retail prices, and I do wish the selection was a bit larger — but they already have managed to cram a lot into a very small space. I will definitely be back!

Meh… It’s expensive, and the owner seemed sarcastic. Some of the girls a friendly, some are snooty.

I have purchased dance sneakers for several years, all of them at this store. Originally, it was because a fellow dancer recommended Capezio dance sneakers for our dance style, and this was the closest place that sold them. About once a year I go in and ask for what I want, and usually they are out of my size, so they offer to order them for me, which I take them up on and within 1 week I have my shoes. I’ve always received pleasant service, and feel no pressure to purchase anything, though perhaps it helps that I know what I want before I walk in the door. In addition, they give me a 10% teacher’s discount. That’s worth 4 – 5 stars.
This past year, I tried Block dance sneakers for the first time, and a few weeks ago the soles split on both shoes. I assumed it was time to buy new ones and went to this store to buy a new pair (Capezio this time). The owner, Patrick, overheard what had happened with the Blochs and asked me to bring them in. I did, he looked at them and decided it was a defect (not due to wear-​and-​tear) and gave me a new pair — without me even hinting that I wanted replacements.
Now *that’s* 5-​star service!

Need to learn to open on time! Very disappointing to open 1 hr late!

Great Store. I guess reading the reviews some people (The G) needs someone to hold their wittle hand while they shop. Or be recognized as a «Professional Dancer» LOL, and then to compare Bloch shoes to those found at Payless Shoes? This is a great store with a knowledgeable staff that is very helpful especially with toddlers. Not to mention they have been in the same location for 30+ years… I also went to payless, they had ballet shoes for the exact same price. The quality you can see is far from Bloch. Ok rambling on now, but reading some peoples reviews (The G) irritated me.

I find this place to be either well loved or … not loved at all. I’m not sure why this would be since I’ve been there a few times and had a reasonable experience given the size of the store, the selection and the staff. I actually always felt that the staff was overly helpful than under helpful as they are always asking me what I want or if i need them to grab something for me even though I’m just looking. I think it is definitely not a bad place to grab some dance accessories if you need them.

FINALLY a dance store that knows their stuff! I came here today on the recommendation by my dance teacher Jenny G. to check out their tap shoes. I was very much impressed with their selection and helpful service by Beth.
When I arrived I was immediately asked if I could be helped. Explained I needed tap shoes for a class and Beth showed me two different types, Capezio and Bloch. She measured my feet (which is not a service you get these days!) and determined my correct size. She brought out two shoes, one more expensive and the other one a little more economical in price. I tried both on and fell in love with the more expensive one (of course!!) I figured my feet won’t change size and I will be using these regularly until I am 85 years old, I might as well go for the more expensive ones. They were like wearing slippers with taps Ha! Ha!
Beth rang me up and seemed to know her stuff! There was a buyer in the store working with the store manager and she was asking Beth’s input on products and what sells and what she likes and doesn’t like. Beth really knows this store and the inventory and it was nice to find someone who could finally help me. So for that I am grateful and I will be going back. One less star because their leotards and dance wear are a bit on the higher end as far as price goes.

I bought pair of jazz shoes ($ 40) and foot undies for lyrical at this Capezio’s. The service was decent, a smile and «Hello» when I walked in. The high school girls working there brought out the shoes in my size, let me test them out on their mini stage with mirror on the side.
The leotards, although good quality are a little too pricey for me, so I primarily stick to shoe purchases here. For me leotards you can buy anywhere but your dance shoes are a far more crucial purchase and this Capezio’s doesn’t disappoint.
The selection size is about the same size at Victoria’s but the «shoe» service is better.