“I came in and he said ‘what can you do’ and I said ‘what do you want me to do?” Turner recalls.
The proprietor hired the 17-year-old to shine shoes in the shop on Main Street. More than 60 years later, you’ll still find him there — at least for another two weeks.
On March 1, the popular Turner, now the owner of the Berlin Shore Box, will officially retire. His well-worn Main Street shop will be turned into a nail salon.
“I was going to retire in December of this year anyway,” said Turner, 86. “But they sold the building so I got an early retirement.”
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God blessed you when you blessed God! Thanks for your love, and enjoy your retirement!
ReplyDeleteSad. We took our shoes here to get repaired. Yes we still get some of our shoes (and my bags) repaired.
ReplyDeleteBummer!!!! This was the ONLY place on the Shore that I am aware of to get a dockside shoe sticking repaired. This cuts at least a year off the life of my shoes.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to go through my shoes quick to see if any need sticking before he closes.
A real craftsman without baggage like you see so many of these days. He will be missed.
Another instance of the big stores (Wal-Mart, Best Boy, Staples, etc.) doing away with smaller, locally owned business -- like Brainwave Computers in Salisbury and many others. The big get bigger and others fade away.
ReplyDeleteHe is such a nice man. He and his craft will be missed.
ReplyDelete6:49 PM did you even read the article? that is not the case at all.
ReplyDeleteHe is a wonderful man , and a craftsman like no other , he will be missed, typical Jessie encounter " can you sew this part back on my belt " sure I will take a look at it , comeback tomorrow , next day , " what do I owe you ?" How about $? , I would leave the shop feeling guilty , that a true craftsman would only charge me a fraction of the true value of his work .Berlin will surely miss him ,and his smile !
ReplyDeletem/m 7:17,
ReplyDeleteIf that business were really viable for a future owner, it would continue under new ownership. "Big business" is making it impossible for such small operators to survive. When there are no places like this one nearby, the only alternative is to "go to the mall" or big box store or Amazon, etc. -- the very mega firms that caused the scenario -- and get a new pair(s) of shoes or whatever.
The demise of Brainwave in Salisbury is another instance, and there are many others. Compare the downtown plaza in Salisbury today to what it was several decades ago when there were a number of local, established merchants -- Hess Apparel , Benjamins, Fashion Shop, Ralph & Gaskill, etc., all long gone. Now, that business is done entirely with much larger and non-locally owned firms.
717 they don't care about facts. They insert their fantasies into every story.
ReplyDelete1052 do you really think there are enough business men and women running around the Shore needing their shoes shined or repaired to really attract new investment in this business? Do you really think that many people are worried about fixing old clunker computers to send them to brainwave? Both are outdated business models.
He fixed my first pair of dress shoes in 1987 when I started working at Taylor bank. Thank you sir, many of us owe you more than you know. God bless and enjoy time with your family.
ReplyDeleteHe build my shoes up will miss him.
ReplyDeleteThis story should be an inspiration to all. This is a true entrepreneur who made a life for himself. Obviously from other posts he did good work. Good for him and a well deserved retirement.
ReplyDeleteThank you for running what is now a dying business, working hard, and being an example you have much to be proud of.
ReplyDelete