CLEVELAND — There are few feelings in the world better than rocking a new pair of shoes.
But what if you could get that same feeling – without breaking the bank on a new pair? If you're interested, a local man is putting a modern twist on making what's old, new again.
Justin Boyd is the owner of Concession Stand in Cleveland's Larchmere neighborhood. Opening in July of 2020, the storefront offers several shoe cleaning and restoration services.
While the art of shoe cleaning isn't new, the unique twist provided by Boyd and his staff certainly is.
“You can get a bowl of cereal, get your shoes cleaned, shop these dope brands that we have and it's just like a full-blown experience,” explains Boyd.
Boyd began his journey with entrepreneurship working under luxury brands Tiffany and Co. and Balenciaga. Learning the ins and outs of the business, Boyd wanted to bridge the gap of a high-end experience with his passion for fashion and creativity, thus creating the Concession Stand.
"I wanted to be that first interaction that people got as a luxury experience," said Boyd.
While the experience may be luxurious, the prices are affordable. The most basic cleaning, called a classic, will cost you $17 while the most expensive cleaning, called the supreme, will cost you around $40.
The Concession Stand is open six days a week and customers can choose to have their shoes cleaned on the spot or drop them off and have them serviced with a three to four day turn around.
And while Boyd has seen success, opening a business in the thick of a pandemic came with some challenges. According to Boyd, he had to water down his ideas, but says he wouldn't change a thing and is excited about what's to come.
“I think with everything opening back up, I’m excited, I have high hopes for what we can do. My goal is for us to eventually be a staple in the city,” said Boyd.
And Boyd is working to do just that. While making sure your kicks stay fly is important, Boyd want to make a difference in the community as well. Concession Stand has partnered with popular brands and organization for pop ups and neighborhood initiatives.
One of those initiatives is "Repurpose with a purpose," an effort that takes donated shoes, restores them and provides them to local students in need.
"Customer service is number one, and servicing the community is right after," said Boyd.
The Concession Stand is located at 13006 Larchmere Blvd. It's open Tuesday- Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays noon to 6 p.m.