Kerrisdale Bootery: Fitting Feet Since 1949 Story by Sarah Gordon
Photos by Carolynne Palla
At 71 years old, Kerrisdale Bootery is one of the neighbourhood’s oldest businesses. It has stood the test of time and endured some challenges, but it has marched on with clever management decisions and the support of loyal customers. The 2008 market crash took its toll on the shop for a few years. The biggest threat currently not only to Kerrisdale Bootery but also to businesses worldwide is the COVID-19 pandemic. In the spring of 2020 when many businesses temporarily closed, owner John Lewis continued working on his own to help his shop survive.
shoe stores in Newfoundland, New Brunswick, and the Lower Mainland. John says, “The store was started by a Mr. Ferris and a Mr. Fairhurst in partnership I believe, and at some point, they sold it to Pete Holmes. In 1965, Jim and Kay Peart bought the store and made the store a success. Their son Murray took over in 1986 and owned it until 1992 when they sold out of the family to Laurene Clark.”
He says, “It has been rough, but we are thankful for the government programs and our landlord Lorne Goldman who stepped up to keep us alive.”
After six years as the store’s manager, John became the sole owner and has now been with Kerrisdale Bootery for 20 years.
Before becoming Kerrisdale Bootery’s manager and then owner, John worked as a manager of
This is the shop’s original location; John believes it was previously a printing shop. He
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November 15, 2020 - February 15, 2021
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