If an establishment says shoes needed, then just listen! Nothing more irritating than these group of people that constantly protest everything because they can't go barefoot somewhere, give me a break. Throw some flip flops on and call a day!
I have osteoarthritis in my 1'st metatarso-phalangial joints and shoes cause extreme pain. Flip flops cause those joints to ache for days after just walking through a Home Depot (That's why I frequent Lowes)
My wife's knee osteoarthritis hurts like heII when she wears anything on her feet.
Flip Flops create a very unatural gait that causes her knees to rebel as well.
As a matter of fact, the researchers studying this have always recommended against flip flops.
Shoes are not like shirts or short shorts or any other article of clothing, they indeed drasticaly alter the simple act of ambulation. Some of us would rather fight than end up in pain due to a minimum wage earner's attempt at creating a sense of power for themselves.
Most bare feet bans at retail establishments are just that.
The truth is that if an establishment requires shoes, they should be informed that it's not that easy for some of us and we will take our business elsewhere if necessary.
Also, in the majority of cases the establishment/owner/shareholders don't care whether or not the customer wears shoes, and an employee has just taken it upon themselves to enforce a non-existant shoe rule that would drive away our business. The owner often is thankful that we pointed out the retraining need of the subordinate.
With a better than 90% success rate in private businesses fighting the self appointed shoe cops, you won't change my mind with your simplistic solution that ignores the facts
I will fight to the end for an individual's right to set any dress code they see fit in their private establishment,
but am comforted knowing that most people listen to a well thought out request asking for modification.
I've only been running barefoot for 2 1/2 years, but have been a member of The Society for Barefoot Living for a decade.
During that time I have reversed, modified, or been told there is no rule at dozens of businesses that my wife or myself or other members of the BRS or SBL have been denied service at.
Throw on some flip flops and call it a day?
Whatever for!