Look Sharp, Sconnie - Midwestern Fashion Nerd, Chronic Over-thinker

Cecil: The Shoe Doctor.

You know when a person is so shockingly no-nonsense, that they make even your best attempts at intellectualism seem inane?

Meet Ronald Cecil Burk.

Ron owns "Cecil's", a shoe repair shop on the west side of Madison, WI that's been around since 1962.  His father, a WWII veteran, was given the store by the Veteran's Association after losing his leg in a logging accident, and when Ron himself returned from the military in 1966 at 25, he took over.
Back then, the store specialized in making custom sandals. Unfortunately, despite their beautiful craftsmanship and exquisite cut, the rigid structure of the shoes and the physical labor required to make them led to their demise. 
 
 So while Ron no longer makes footwear (believe me, I asked), he now invests his energies into fixing the endless list of assaults we take out on our material possessions. And don't be fooled by my leather footwear-focused photos (it's a problem - sue me), Ron remedies everything from decaying purse straps to gel heels to uneven human strides. 
 "I'm good at it", he said. And as I gushingly referred to him as an "inventor", he recounted seemingly unfixable scenarios - like when he adjusted the height of a rubber tennis shoe or toyed with the air chamber in a modern day sole. 
Nowadays, though, the items we buy tend to deteriorate past the point of salvage - a phenomenon for which we have our increasingly disposable culture to thank. 
 Ron summed the situation up nicely: 
"Things made then, were meant to be repaired," he said, "But things today - they're meant to be replaced". 
In all honesty, though, I'm not too concerned. 

Whether it was the line of noticeably fashionable female customers spilling out from the small shop's wooden door, or their slightly smug assurances that they'd been coming here for ages - something told me that Ron will be OK. 
Excuse the blur; I didn't want to startle him (her?) with a flash.
 And thank goodness. Because of him, my favorite favorite favorite boots ever have been given a second chance at life.

6717 Odana Rd
Madison, WI 53719
(608) 833-5010
[map.]


Cheers.




Facebook tweet this Pin It Share on Google+

5 comments:

  1. winda octaviaMay 28, 2012 at 7:10 AM

    woww.. very great article and photos =)
    amazing post, dear..
    keep blogging !

    take time to visit mine..
    hope you'll like my blog too =)
    www.melodyofmywords.blogspot.com

    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
      Reply
  2. Tarah and the CityMay 28, 2012 at 6:33 PM

    Gabrielle,
    I really love what you've done with your human profile piece. I love the history and I always love a story behind a business. It's so inspiring and the pictures are vivid and intriging!
    Thanks so much for sharing.
    Your new follower,
    Tarah and the City

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tarah and the CityMay 28, 2012 at 6:41 PM

      P.S. I really enjoyed reading your comment on my blog. Your words meant so much to me. It let's me know all I'm doing is not in vain. I appreciate it from one blogger to another.
      Yours truly,
      Tarah and the City

      Delete
      Replies
        Reply
    2. Reply
  3. AnonymousMay 28, 2012 at 9:32 PM

    Im not entirely sure why but reading your story on Ron made me tear up a bit. Thinking about it, I think its because hes doing something he obviously has a big passion for and I think thats one of the things that I can only hope to find and be doing. His shop looks so charming and he seems like such a lovely man. Thankyou for writing such a piece on him Gabrielle ^_^

    Eeli xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
      Reply
  4. twocentseachMay 29, 2012 at 12:26 AM

    this is really insightful. i absolutely adore this post.
    "Things made then, were meant to be repaired," he said, "But things today - they're meant to be replaced". --> is so true.
    xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
      Reply
Add comment
Load more...

Newer Post Older Post Home
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
about
facebook twitter instagram pinterest in udder news bloglovin polyvore subscribe Image Map

watch me

watch me
download the app to see me move
© Look Sharp Sconnie. Design by Lindsay Tratz. Powered by Blogger.