Rios of Mercedes

The Rios family's bootmaking began in 1853 in General Terán, Nuevo León, Mexico, where they made cavalry boots for soldiers under Maximilian. In 1901, the family relocated to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, where they continued their trade. Zeferino Rios moved to Mercedes, Texas, in the 1930s, expanding the family's business in the region.

Zeferino Rios retired in 1969 and sold the business to Joe and Trainor Evans. The company increased production and introduced new product lines under their leadership. Pat Moody joined the business in 1983, adding management experience from the retail sector.

The company launched Anderson Bean Boot Company in 1987 to make all-leather Cowboy Boots at a medium price level. In 1999, it started making boots for children under the Anderson Bean brand. Rios of Mercedes acquired Olathe Boot Company in 2001, a manufacturer with a heritage dating to 1875. The Horse Power line was introduced in 2005. In 2007, the company introduced Macie Bean, a line aimed at the women’s market. In 2015, Miss Macie combined western and bohemian styles.

Rios of Mercedes operates two factories in Mercedes, Texas. As of 2017, the company employed about 110 workers in its Texas facilities. In that year, the company opened an international distribution center covering 20,000 square feet to support global storage and shipping.

Rios of Mercedes uses hides such as alligator, ostrich, and caiman in its boot manufacturing. Each boot is hand-stitched, hand-lasted, hand-pegged, and hand-finished according to traditional footwear techniques.

Rios of Mercedes manufactures cowboy boots for men, women, and children. Major brands in its portfolio include Rios of Mercedes, Anderson Bean, Olathe Boot Company, Horse Power, Macie Bean, and Miss Macie. The company distributes its boots through over 500 retailers in the United States and in markets that include Japan, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and France.