Remember Lester's On South? The shoe store is back in business
It had closed in 2008 when the former owner retired. It reopened in March, three blocks west of the old location. The former owners wife now runs the business.
THERESA KOGAN, 57, of Bella Vista, owns Lester's Shoes for Men, on South Street near 12th. The store, formerly Lester's on South, had been a fixture on South Street near 9th for decades and was a favorite of prominent Philadelphians, from boxer Bernard Hopkins to former mayor John F. Street. Kogan's husband, Jeffrey, 62, had owned the business and closed it in July 2008 when he retired. On March 16, the store reopened. I spoke with Theresa.
Q: Why'd you close and then reopen?
A: Jeff took over the store in 1988 from the original owners, Lester Margolis and Howard Lapin, who opened it in 1958. When Jeff retired, I was teaching at Haverford Middle School, and I took early retirement in 2011. Last year, our sales rep for Stacy Adams said the brand wanted to market shoes again on South. I was looking for something to do and thought I could use my teaching skills to sell shoes and Jeff could be my mentor.
Q: Your customers?
A: Men, mostly African-American, 40 to 75 years old, looking for the Stacy Adams fashion shoe, but we also have casuals and comforts. Some are walk-in, younger guys just starting jobs and looking for an inexpensive, well-made casual shoe like Nunn Bush. We also get older customers from Jersey and Delaware who are familiar with Stacy Adams and buy two or three pairs at a time. A lot are churchgoers who dress up on Sunday or for special occasions.
Q: Your most popular shoes, and their cost?
A: Stacy Adams' "Madison" is a lace-up dress shoe and a staple in the African-American community that older customers know. They come in suede, leather and high-top in black, brown and blue, and cost $99.
Q: What's special about Stacy Adams' brand?
A: You're getting a really well-made, well-constructed shoe that's comfortable at an affordable price point.
Q: What differentiates you from other stores?
A: We have the best price. We pride ourselves on personal service and special orders. If we don't have a color you like, we have a special relationship with Lenny's Shoe Repair and we can get shoes dyed. We have wide widths and large sizes , as well as belts and socks, and creams, cleaners, brushes and shoe trees to care for your shoes.
Q: Challenges?
A: Competition from big-box outlets like DSW who never used to carry Stacy Adams, and online retailers. We're also rebuilding the business. When you are closed for seven years, it's like starting over.
Q: How big a biz?
A: A part-timer helps me unpack boxes and does all the stacking. When we closed, we were selling 100 pairs a week sometimes. It'll take two years to get back to where we were.
On Twitter: @MHinkelman
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