Chatting With Bruce Owensby

Imelda Marcos reportedly said, “I did not have 3,000 pairs of shoes, I had 1,060.”

We may be going out on a limb here, but we’re speculating that Bruce Owensby, owner of Wayland Square Shoe Repair, never touched Marcos’ shoes. Nevertheless, he masterfully restores Rhode Islanders’ beat-up and much worn shoes, boots, handbags, suitcases, etc., thanks to his attention to detail and expertise. (Disclaimer: I am a frequent and grateful customer.)

How did you get into this line of work?
I have a cousin in Massachusetts who is a cobbler. I was working as a restaurant supply salesman, and back in 1988 or 1989 – when the economy got tough – I would help him on the weekends with shoe repair. As the economy [worsened], I decided to go into it; I’m good with my hands. It’s all on-the-job training; there’s no school.

Who makes the best shoes? Is there any shoe manufacturing in the U.S.?
Shoes made [in the U.S.] are very high quality – you’ve got Alden, made in Massachusetts, and Allen Edmonds, [for] men’s shoes. Other high-end shoes [come from] Italy, Spain and Portugal. [Shoes from] China are cheaply made and not made to last. They’re not really in the fashion end of the business.

Who’s harder on shoes – men or women?
That’s a tough question. Men tend to have [fewer] shoes and wear [them] more; women tend to have a lot of different shoes that they wear less [often].

Is it better to own only a few expensive shoes or many moderately priced shoes?
It all depends; every shoe is made to do a different job. You can’t take a pair of fashion shoes and hike in the woods in them and expect them to hold up [or] wear a pair of fashion shoes in snow and water and not expect them to get destroyed.

Best advice for protecting shoes from winter weather?
With a leather-soled shoe, use sole pro- tectors, which act as a water barrier; polish the shoes periodically; waterproof occasionally and use shoe trees.

Tell us about your sign: “Whatever you are, be a good one.”
A customer gave that to me; it was a quote from Abraham Lincoln. I think we can all live by that.

You’re on your feet all day long. What shoes do you wear?
Danner boots.

Wayland Square Shoe Repair
148 Wayland Ave, Providence
351-0215