A permanent fixture in downtown St. John’s, N.L., Modern Shoe Hospital has been operating for over a century. What started as a simple shoe repair shop between two business partners has survived four generations and lives on. Although shoes are no longer made like they used to be, the current team keeps busy rebuilding footwear and providing other services.

Early days

Modern Shoe Hospital was founded around the 1920s by Sid Wright and Earnest Winsor. The brothers-in-law became business partners and set up a shop on Steers Cove off Water Street in downtown St. John’s. Winsor had learned the craft of shoe repair in Montreal and presumably taught Wright the trade.

While they were primarily in the business of repairing footwear, at times operations changed based on societal demands. For example, during war times, Modern Shoe Hospital made boots for soldiers. However, the small family business primarily remained in its repair niche.

Gaining traction

As business grew, Wright and Winsor opened a second Modern Shoe Hospital location in front of the war memorial on Duckworth Street. Around this same time, Sid’s nephew Les Wright became involved in the business, representing the second generation.

Les enjoyed the work. In 1951, when a newly repaired and larger building became available at 244 Duckworth, he and Winsor purchased it and moved operations up the street. Sid Wright eventually left the business and the Water Street location was operated by another family member until it was later sold. However, the location on Duckworth Street remains in the same building today.

In the 1960s, Earnest Winsor retired and sold his share of the business to Les. Les’s son Kevin began working in the shop throughout school and joined full-time after graduating from university in the 70s.

 

Kevin Wright explaining how to winterproof your shoes (video credit: guide to the good on YouTube)

More than shoes

Thinking of the early days, Kevin remembers cutting leather for hand-sewn backpacks his father used to sell at the store. “We used to slide on those bags, they were almost indestructible”, he said with a laugh. However, they stopped making them when society moved towards more cheaply made backpacks decorated with Disney characters or superheroes. Wright says the quality of footwear has declined too, which has led to increased waste and makes it harder and more expensive to do repairs.

Shoe repairs are still a big portion of the business, however, the folks at Modern Shoe Hospital also mend hockey equipment, handbags and motorcycle clothing, replace zippers and sharpen knives. Committed to carrying quality products (that can be repaired), Wright also sells Biotime sandals, Canada West boots and Grohmann Knives.

Still saving soles

Today, operations continue for Modern Shoe Hospital at 244 Duckworth Street. The team of three includes owner Kevin Wright, his son Adam and Jim Whey (whose father worked at the shop before him).

When asked about the future of the business, Wright confirmed the plan is for Adam to take over someday. He also commented: “Adam’s got a little guy now too. He’s going on five. So in another 10 or 12 years, he might be down here too. Who knows?”

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