The system for storing and retrieving shoes includes a cabinet defining a housing enclosing storage units. The housing defines a central shaft for raising and lowering shoe trays, and defines two columns of storage rack units for the shoe trays on opposite sides of the central shaft. A portal at the base of the central shaft provides access for placing shoes on a shoe tray and retrieving the shoes from the cabinet. A long support arm is movable horizontally to align a shoe tray in either the left or the right column of rack units. A short support arm is movable vertically on the long arm to align the shoe tray vertically, and has clips for grasping and releasing the shoe trays. An electronic control system controls movement of the two arms, and issues a card or claim check identifying the storage rack unit for later retrieval of the shoes.