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Vanishing Cobblers: The Decline of Shoe Repair Shops
Description
Eagle Shoe and Boot Company, a ninety-four-year-old staple in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, is closing its doors, marking the end of an era for shoe repair shops across the nation. Once numbering around one hundred twenty thousand in nineteen twenty-eight, only about three thousand five hundred remain today, with many owners nearing retirement and no young apprentices stepping up. The decline is attributed to the rise of cheap fast fashion kicks from overseas, rising rents, and the shift to remote work. Industry reports show a three point nine percent growth rate over years, but a dip is expected this year. As these old-school trades slip away, were left to ponder what were losing in the rush for the new and cheap—quality craftsmanship that built communities, now just a memory in empty storefronts.
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