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Business & Tech

Local Shoe Store Prepares to Close

Happy Feet kids, once known as Stride Rite, is going out of business.

In a letter to their customers earlier this week, Happy Feet kids announced that they will be “closing forever after over a decade of family ownership.”

“It’s time to make a change,” explained owner Harvey Shanbaum. “When you have a business, it is always with you.”

Many families in the area have reached out to Shanbaum to wish him well. “I’ve gotten so many phone calls and comments from customers. They tell me it’s been a pleasure to come to our store, they appreciate our service and we’re nice to work with. And it’s mutual; it really goes both ways,” he said. 

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A customer from Westborough told Patch “It’s a shame. I’ve been coming here for years and they have been so helpful. I’m not sure where I can go now for this kind of service.”

Shanbaum recalled buying the store in 1999. “I grew up working in my father’s retail clothing store in Southbridge, so I had worked with kids’ shoes before.”

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After the purchase, Shanbaum expanded the merchandise line at the store, computerized the system and made further enhancements. Three years ago, he changed the name from Stride Rite to Happy Feet kids to clarify that the store sold brands other than just Stride Rite, such as Merrell, Kamik, Skechers, Teva and more. 

When asked how many shoes the store has sold under his ownership, Shanbaum replied “an awful lot of shoes. I’d have to crunch some serious numbers.”

Shanbaum said he will “miss the customers, the people. You develop a relationship and I’m gonna miss that. It’s a big change.”

He fondly recalled a touching occurrence he witnessed regularly in the store. “Over the years, I’ve seen a lot of little kids come in, and many of them are afraid of the measuring device. They are terrified, like they are the doctor. But in the end, we make them feel at ease and they become friends with the device. Sometimes you even get a hug. It’s very sweet.”

In his letter to customers, Shanbaum stated that all merchandise except Scout and school uniforms are now discounted up to 70 percent. He said that even though the store has been incredibly busy, his excellent staff will still provide outstanding customer service, measure accurately and offer advice to determine the best shoe. “People can come in for shoes for the summer, the school year, and even for next year, too.”

While he does not have a firm closing date, Shanbaum anticipated being open through September so as not to leave his Scout and school uniform customers in a bind. 

As for future plans, he said, “I’ll take a rest and then see how bored I am, and then I‘ll explore other ventures.”

Happy Feet kids will be open at the following times:  weekdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. 

 

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