MUSCATINE, Iowa (KWQC) – After nearly half a century in Muscatine, The Quality Cobbler, a popular shoe store, was on the verge of closing as its longtime owners Larry and Nancy Miller retire. But new owners have stepped in just in time to keep the business alive — although some changes are on the horizon.
For the past 46 years, Larry and Nancy Miller have been repairing soles and rescuing shoes, but now they are ready to take a well-deserved step into retirement.
“We now have the opportunity to attend family gatherings and do other things that we have missed in all the other years, and we can enjoy the holidays,” they said.
The story of Quality Cobbler began in 1978 when Larry and Nancy took over the store and made it their own. “We started with a small, kind of niche store, and then it just kept growing based on the needs of the community,” Nancy Miller explained.
For Larry, who grew up in the shoe industry, this was a natural decision.
“Larry is an orthopedic shoe technician and can therefore help people who have problems with their feet,” said Nancy Miller.
“He’s been fitting shoes since he was 14, so for quite a few years, and he understands people’s feet – the need to find the right shoe for the job, the one that fits your foot.”
As the Millers prepared to close their doors forever, a new family stepped in to carry on the legacy.
“These are big shoes to fill,” said Emilee Crumly, one of the new owners. “I don’t think any of us take this lightly, and we’re certainly doing our best to make sure we take on as much as we can.”
However, this new chapter will bring some changes.
“The shoe repair service is going out of business,” said Ryan Crumly. “Maybe there will be a deal later to bring back the shoe repair service, but right now the shoe repair service is going out of business.”
The new prospective owners, who will take over later this month, said they are looking forward to the company’s expansion.
“We plan to expand some shoe styles a little further and maybe introduce things that appeal to different demographics and generations that haven’t been done before,” they said. “You can’t fix what isn’t broken, but it never hurts to try to expand.”
The deal is expected to close in the next few days and will usher in a new era for The Quality Cobbler in Muscatine.
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