Virksomheden blev etableret i 1969 som Shonac Corporation, as the shoe licensee for [[Value City]].<ref name=10K>{{cite web | url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1319947/000131994717000012/dsw10-k20170128.htm | title=DSW, Inc. 2016 Form 10-K Annual Report | publisher=[[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]]}}</ref><ref name="valuecity">{{Cite news |date=1998-03-14 |title=COMPANY NEWS; VALUE CITY IN DEAL WITH SCHOTTENSTEIN STORES |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |agency=Dow Jones |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/14/business/company-news-value-city-in-deal-with-schottenstein-stores.html |access-date=2023-07-19 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
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