You know the saying “they don’t make things like they used too before” and that stands true with this story. a Vintage Sole started unexpectedly and has turned into walls of history and good shoes. I was able to meet the proprietor to hear how the business came to life, and where people can take step back in time.
“I’m fourth generation shoe business,” Jim Brouwer, Proprietor said. “My great grandfather was a cobbler that immigrated from the Netherlands. Came over here in the late 1800s.”
Brouwers ran the family shoe business for 20 years in Milwaukee Wisconsin. He made his way to northern Michigan with his wife. It wasn’t until they ran into someone, they knew in Frankfort who offered them a shoe store.
“The store was more than we were interested in, but the basement was stacked to literally stacked to the rafters,” Brouwer said. “Thousands and thousands of unworn, now what are considered vintage shoes. The back of the store started in the 30s. So, we have some that go back that far. We have lots of 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s shoes.”
The project was started by Brouwer’s daughter, and they turned 6 thousand vintage shoes into a Vintage Sole.
“They literally do not make shoes like this in this fashion anymore, in this construction technique anymore,” Brouwer said. “And in the 70s, things really changed radically as manufacturing went offshore. New machinery made shoes in different ways. “
And walking through the barn you take a step back in time.
“These are some of the older shoes going back to the 30s and probably can’t pick it up on the camera, but the stitching is close to microscopic,” Brouwer said. “There’s a lot of interesting use of multiple materials in the 30s and 40 is not so as much anymore.”
For Brouwer he has been able to step back in his roots and carry on what his grandfather started.
“Getting back into this has really been fun,” Brouwer said. “I’ve met a lot of really interesting people from, and one of the advantages of being in the greater Grand Traverse area is so many people come from all over the country, and literally all over the world.”
If you are interested in buying a pair of shoes you can make an appointment with a Vintage Sole by email: hello@aVintageSole.com