A new western-wear brand store is inviting local consumers to embrace their inner cowboy with a pair of crocodile, python, ostrich or dazzling disco-ball boots, exploring everything from the rustic to the exotic.

Boot Barn has arrived in Pocatello at 700 W. Quinn Rd., and will be serving area residents from the rodeo to the ranch and everywhere in between.

Since 1978, the American retailer has specialized in a wide array of western wear, cowboy boots, workwear, home decor and other outdoor recreation merchandise.

One of the key features of the store is its focus on cowboy boots, which have hundreds of different styles ranging from traditional and rustic to high-end statement pieces.

“I think there’s a style for every type of person,” said Dakota Metteer, store manager. “Whether you’re more of a designer boot person and you want the exotic skins, whether it’s crocodile or ostrich, or pirarucu — those exotic boots, they’re up to like 1,500 bucks. Then we have your working boots, your everyday walking boots. There’s literally a pair of boots for every single person that walks in the store.”

Metteer said many customers who walk through Boot Barn’s doors, referred to as guests by the company, gravitate toward treating themselves to some of the higher-quality items like boots or stylish attire.

“A lot of people recently have been coming in for wedding shopping since it’s wedding season,” Metteer said. “I feel like the Idaho lifestyle is kind of like western wear, so this is a good place to get your pearl snaps and your nice dress jeans.”

Other merchandise at the store includes high-quality workwear and belt buckles — including expensive, customizable variations — along with cowboy hats.

“We have our Cody James hats, that’s a Boot Barn brand, and then we have our Stetsons,” Metteer said. “Stetsons are a widely known hat brand. It’s been around for a really long time. We shape hats free of charge for people. We clean them so they can drop them off. They can stay here, watch us shape it, and we can shape it however they like. We have different sizes too. That way, they can get the right size, the right shape they want, the right color — a little bit of everything.”

Old-fashioned Wranglers and heavily starched jeans are also available for any size and shape of cowfolk, along with traditional, casual attire.

The hardworking woman also takes precedence here, showcasing styles that include dresses and boots with showy, glamorous patterns, as well as traditional work gear and steel-toed boots.

“We definitely have more of the western style for the women,” Metteer said. “A lot of girls come in here for concert outfits, and then you have the girls that grew up country. They’re western. They’re in the lifestyle, so these are the type of jeans and type of shirts and patterns they like to wear. There’s a lot of floral, a lot of turquoise that we have, and that’s definitely a very big color in the western world. Then you got your disco boots, and you got your snip-toe boots, you got your knee-high, super tall boots. But you also have your work boots for women too.”

Additionally, customers can order anything available on the Boot Barn website and have it sent to the brick-and-mortar location completely free of charge.

In keeping with its country-focused philosophy, Boot Barn sponsors more than 800 rodeos along with community events and nonprofit organizations. It also has a key focus on military veterans and first responders, who always get 10 percent off their purchase. Boot Barn functions on the honor system, so guests need only mention it at checkout to receive the discount.

Boot Barn is currently in its soft-opening phase after opening on July 14, but will host an official grand opening from July 31 to Aug. 2.

The celebratory event will feature an on-site hat brander, live music each day, ice cream, face painting and a photo booth. Boot Barn will also run special sales on brands including Cody James, Idyllwind and Cheyenne. Guests can also spin a wheel for a chance to win a free pair of boots.