United Shoe Repair, a family business founded in Concord by Italian immigrants well over a century ago, is expanding the store from cobbling and leather work to include retail sales.
“We haven’t had a huge retail presence in the past,” D.J. Annicchiarico said. “We have been in a growth state since COVID and I’m pumped for it.”
They’ll still do plenty of leather working and cobbling, but will also bring in three shoe lines to sell inside the store, along with candles, walking sticks and other products that jive with his day-to-day life, said Annicchiarico.
He said that growth over the last three years has put him in a position where he can comfortably afford to transform the store into a vision he’s curated since moving into the space 11 years ago.
Before, while waiting for their shoes and leather goods to be finished, customers would have to meander along Main Street or return at a later time. With the expansion, Annicchiarico hopes clients will stay, wait and watch the work being done in the back of the store through viewing windows.
Now, instead of boxes and lumpy displays catching the eyes of passersby through the bay windows lining Main Street, the open space features a lounge area with reading material, retail space along the walls, plant decor and hand-painted wildlife portraits. Annicchiarico hopes to add a coffee station featuring local grinds with the option to purchase.
The expansion will fill the area of the retail space formerly occupied by Makers on Main.