Page 15 - Classically Carolina 2019

DOWNTOWN

Fast fact

“Pete’s Shoe Service is
one of the Downtown
Camden businesses
who have jumped into
the Google landscape,
and the results have been outstanding,”
said Downtown Camden Program
Manager Kat Spadacenta. “He can track
who’s found him through Google Maps,
and he’s had a big increase in phone calls
and walk-in customers since listing his
business.”

biggest thing -- that my two daughters got an
education. At the time, there was a guy who lived
down the street from me: William Cantey. He was
an instructor at what was then the Denmark Area
Trade School. He taught shoe repair. He told me
that if I was gonna go to school, he wanted to be my
teacher. It was the best thing that ever happened to
me. William was my mentor and best friend.”

France studied shoe repair for two years. He gave
up tool sharpening and repaired shoes in Sumter, They want their shoes and they want them looking
Orangeburg and North. Then, in 2000, he made his good every day.”
way to the Christmas Shoe Shop in Camden.
Above the front door, on the outside of the building,
“William called me one day and said, ‘I got a job for a large sign says “CHRISTMAS SHOE SHOP.”
you.’ He and his brother had reopened the Christmas
Shoe Shop. I said I didn’t need a job; I was retired,” The building is said to have housed a barber
France says. “He talked me into coming up here shop and furniture store before a shoe shop was
and working three days a week. About three weeks established there by the Christmas family.
later, I was working full time. Then I took the place
over in 2006. Though Pete’s Shoe Shop is the official name of the
place now, France has no plans to take away the
“If it’s anything to do with shoes, I can do it. Full Christmas Shoe Shop sign or, just above it, the two
soles, half soles. Heels is one of the biggest jobs. I fix brown boots made of metal.
’em and polish ’em up before they go out the door.
Now hunters, they don’t want polish on their boots. “It’s a landmark,” he says. “History is important, no
Deer can smell it, and when they do, they’re going matter what.”
the other way.
France also says he has no plans to retire. “That’s
“Now, you want a fight? Mess with a woman’s shoe. the good Lord’s job.”

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