Smith’s Sport ’n Shoe moves, renames

FROM IDS REPORTS

Local sports store Smith’s Sport ’n Shoe has a new location and name, but owner Steve Smith says the economy is not to blame.

The store, now called Smith’s Shoe Center, openead Jan. 23 in its 11,000 square-foot new location at the corner of South Walnut Street and Miller Drive.

Smith’s Shoe Center bought the building in August and renovated it through September and October, Smith said.

The location might be a little harder for college students to get to, but Smith said it isn’t too far away.

Smith also said college students aren’t the only demographic, as their selection ranges from infant shoes to running shoes.

“Our customers are really Monroe County and surrounding counties,” Smith said.
He said the store had been in the College Mall since 1965, but he wanted it to get out of the mall and have their own building.

The decision to move was not related the economic crisis, Smith said.

The mall wasn’t interested in keeping Smith’s in its former location when the shoe store’s lease ran out in January, he said. He said he felt the mall made his store more visible but at the same time many customers disliked mall congestion.

“(The mall) just helped me make my decision,” Smith said.

Smith said the shoe store will occupy one-third of the building. He said the rest of the building is currently leased out to Maxwell Office Products, Enterprise Rent-a-Car and My Sports Locker.

CVS will lease some of the space through 2010, but earlier they moved down the street. Their space is going to remain empty for now.

“This was just a perfect match for us,” Smith said.