In 1922, the founder Elbert W. Allen launched his new shoe company (originally called the Allen-Spiegel Shoe Company) at the shore of Lake Michigan in Belgium, Wisconsin, crafting great Goodyear welted shoes for men. Today they continue the manufacturing tradition of the early days and offer high end men's dress and casual shoes featuring classic American styling and craftsmanship.

Allen Edmonds gained much of its following after providing shoes to the US Army and Navy during World War II, when they made shoes for officers to wear with their dress uniforms. Many of the recipients of the shoes stayed loyal to the brand for the rest of their lives. With proper care, a pair of Allen Edmonds can last for decades. The company offers full re-crafting services of their shoes for a fee.

Allen Edmonds is among a small minority of companies that still produces shoes domestically in the US but also produce some of their products and parts in Italy and the Dominican Republic. Until 2009, all US presidents since Ronald Reagan took the oath of office with their feet in a pair of Allen Edmonds Park Avenue shoes.