East Ridge                   This article was written this last month

Merchants Association Welcomes

Shoe Findz & Repairz

Shoe Findz & Repairz is the swing version of the mom & pop cobbler store.  In keeping with the old saying, “You don’t know a person until you’ve walked a mile in there shoes,” this leather goods shop is full of surprises.  

The shop’s owner, Mary Mills, is originally from N. Chattanooga. Upon graduating from Chattanooga High School, she married a military man from Kentucky with a background in wood and leather.  Mary subsequently learned the art of shoe cobbling, having mentored under some of the best cobblers in the country.  She says, “When your feet hurt you hurt. So fix it.”

With most cobblers retiring or closing shop, Mary felt the need to open shop – despite her nervousness about starting a new business in the present unstable economy. However, she says that it feels good to be able to help people save money by keeping the shoes that they already have, especially since a new, quality pair of middle range shoes costs from $100 to $300.

Shoe Findz & Repairz services include, but are not limited to: ladies’ and men’s shoe & boot repair;shoe shining, stretching, and sewing;purse, belt, & leather jacket repair;shoe modifications; work boot toe caps;ladies’ shoe taps; and horseshoe taps for leather motorcycling boots, biker’s saddlebags, & chaps.

As a full service shoe repair and foot care store, Shoe Findz & Repairz also sells quality new and used shoes & boots, a full line of gel insoles to comfort sore feet (including those especially made for diabetics), leather & vinyl care products, and Mary’s personal favorite – a wall of Swarovski crystal figurines.  

This unique shop is also a collection point for the “Soles for Souls” program. Being a firm believer in recycling, Mary sends shoes and leather goods that would otherwise end up in the landfill to the charity. She has had the privilege of seeing firsthand how children of extremely poverty-stricken areas of the Appalachian Mountains have benefitted. Soles for Souls also serves Guatemala and other Third World countries.  For some children, the shoes they receive through this organization are the first that they have ever owned. So, before you discard your children’s shoes, please consider dropping them off at Mary’s shop, where they can become a blessing to a needy child.

When not practicing her trade or caring for patrons, Mary, along with her husband, enjoys spending time with her daughter and granddaughter who have recently moved “home” to the area.

Visit Shoe Findz & Repairz at 6210 Ringgold Road (beside Taco Bell). You will be impressed with Mary’s welcoming smile and the service that you receive from one of East Ridge’s newest and most unique businesses.