Page 14 - Classically Carolina 2019

DOWNTOWN

Up for the

Challenge

Cobbler Pete France

keeps Camden running

on the right foot

place. C

Camden’s Broad Street is a sleepy place on an early Looking around the small place, it seems like
Saturday morning, save for a remarkably small the first challenge might be finding something in
shop tucked between a gift store and an antiques particular among the hundreds of shoes; heavy
machinery; and shelves stocked with polishes,
leather soles, threads and glues.
The blue and red “OPEN” light is flashing in its
circular pattern at Pete’s Shoe Shop. It’s not a challenge for France.

“When that light goes on, I’m here,” says Robert “You been here 20 years, you better know where
“Pete” France. “I get here at 7:30 in the morning, things are.”
five and half days a week.”
France, who grew up in Trinity, N.C., says he was a
France leans over a counter inside the shoebox- poor boy just like anybody else.”
shaped shop full to the brim with the business of
repairing shoes. Just above his shoulder, attached In the 1970s, he wended his way to South Carolina
to a shelf, is a sign with an index finger pointing to “through friends that I knew.” Eventually, he settled
the right: “COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT -- THREE in Sumter, working as a machinist sharpening tools
DAYS RIDE”. at tool factories.

“Look here,” France says, “if it’s anything to do As a father of two, he decided he wanted to learn a
with shoes, I’ll be doing it. Shoe repair is a craft. second trade. “When I got older, I thought it would
Every day is a challenge. You got to be up for the be something I could fall back on,” France says. “I
challenge.” had two children I had to educate. That was the

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