Waxahachie shoe repair business is part of a family tradition

Tag : used shoe

The owners of Elf Shoe and Boot Repair at 507 N. U.S. Highway 77 inWaxahachie, Mr. Luckau and his wife, Sarah, work side-by-siderepairing and making custom alterations to footwear, purses andbelts.
At the age of 12, Mr. Luckau's grandfather made the boat trip fromGermany to Ellis Island with his widowed mother and youngerbrother. When U.S. immigration agents were reluctant to allow thefatherless family into the country without a breadwinner, a cobblercame to their rescue by volunteering to take the lad in as anapprentice.
While the tools of the trade have remained much the same, consumermotivation for repairing shoes instead of replacing them hasshifted repeatedly since 1920, when Mr. Luckau's grandfather firstlearned the craft.
In that day, most were forced to be frugal and discarded nothingthat could be repaired. They practiced a "green" lifestyle longbefore Earth Day was on the calendar. The current economy, alongwith the initiative by many to consider environmentally friendlyoptions, has prompted many to return to the philosophy of lesswaste, thus creating a recent increase in Elf clientele.
Regardless of the nation's money flow or ecologic trend, however,business has never waned for three generations of Luckaus.
There has always been a segment that recognizes the value in havingboots resoled and pumps reheeled and appreciates the quality of theLuckaus' craftsmanship.
"I have customers who travel from as far as Denton, Waco, FortWorth and Forney to our store," he said.
Mr. Luckau, who began his career in the business as a third-graderin an elf costume shining shoes at his parents' mall store, isthankful for the privileges his business has afforded their family.
"It allowed me to get into my other hobbies like skateboarding andpaintball. Those are my passion," he said.
Alongside shoe care products at the retail store, Mr. Luckau sellsequipment and accessories for enthusiasts who share his love forthose sports.