SL Charlotte ShoeIt had become obvious to Travis Lyon that his business, Charlotte Shoe Repair, was quickly outgrowing its space on Lovett Street in downtown Charlotte. Repairing between 700 and 800 shoes a month coupled with an ever-expanding retail business, Lyon had kept his eyes open for the right opportunity to make a move.
He found the right opportunity on a chance encounter with Bob and Jan Phillips, owners of Johnson’s Paint in downtown Charlotte. Over the course of a year, the three kept in contact, working out the details that would allow Lyon to purchase the building and move his growing business into a more suitable location.
The transition took some time — eight weeks of completely renovating the building at 215 S. Cochran Avenue, which included 300 sheets of drywall and the removal of five layers of flooring. In the end, though, the hard work was worth it as Charlotte Shoe Repair reopened its business shortly after Frontier Days in a building that triples it showroom floor and doubles its repair shop.
“Henry Ford definitely got it right with the assembly line,” Lyon said. “Everything is much more fluid. We can now do more repairs in less time.”
Customers have already taken note of the increased efficiency. Already pleased with the turnaround time, some of Charlotte Shoe Repairs’ regulars have been astounded with how quickly repairs can be done.
The efficiency comes at the right time as Lyon estimates the business will increase its repair work load, handling close to 1,200 repairs a month.
“We provide service from start to finish,” added Sarah Schreiber. “Customers can purchase their shoes here and we can help ensure their longevity with the proper care, and take care of any of their repair needs.”
While the repair side of the business is what has allowed a rapid growth in the business, the retail side of the business has also grown. Charlotte Shoe Repair offers an extensive line of work boots, but also includes casual wear, performance hiking shoes and cowboy boots. Lyon encourages customers to stop in and check out the store’s increased retail selection and improved location. Charlotte Shoe Repair went from a 1,000-square-foot shop to 3,500 square feet of space.
“We did everything we could ourselves,” Lyon said of the renovation. “But, we have to give a huge thank you to Maple Grove Flooring, ServePro of Charlotte, John-Boy Electric, Centerline Mechanical, Lonnie and Sarah Ricketts, Steve Schreiber, Dave Lyon, Tiffani Alwardt, Riedy’s Pizza, the Rubber Biscuit, Tina VanSyckle’s design class who designed our new logo, and Bob and Jan Phillips for the opportunity to purchase their beloved building.”
Charlotte Shoe Repair is located at 215 S. Cochran Avenue in downtown Charlotte and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.