After nearly half a century of providing specialized footwear care in Massachusetts, the revered shoe repair and custom orthotics shop Footworks is closing its doors. Gary Lavoie, its 70-year-old proprietor, is hanging up his tools and calling it a career. His journey—from starting out with a tree and plowing service in Attleboro that got buried beneath the snow of the 1978 blizzard to becoming a beacon for shoe aficionados and those in need of foot pain relief—is concluding, leaving a legacy of meticulous craftsmanship and customer care.
The store was born from humble beginnings, with Gary and his wife Dorothy investing their tax return to pivot toward the shoe repair industry. Despite skepticism from their peers, the small business struggled in its early years, but perseverance paid off as it eventually became a staple in Attleboro, a city not previously known for its selection of fine footwear, including women's shoes with price tags reaching $300. Lavoie’s dedication to his craft saw the addition of two more locations at one point and a robust arrangement with Providence-based dry cleaners to provide a quick, reliable repair service. However, with the prevalence of online shopping, that steadfast demand for shoe repair has been waning, prompting an existential shift in Footworks' business model.
Lavoie's commitment to his customers' well-being went beyond repairs, after becoming a board-certified pedorthist in 1997, he found greater fulfillment in creating custom-made orthotics to alleviate foot-related issues, with a testimonial on the Footworks website declaring "Footworks has my utmost confidence, I recommend them highly," and another proclaiming “My FEET love Gary Lavoie & FOOTWORKS!!" and "I walk into his shop with sore feet and walk out with happy feet!”
The landscape of shoe retail has shifted dramatically over the decades, and Footworks' adaptation to include sales of high-quality, internationally sourced shoes reflected the necessity for an evolved business approach, as traditional shoe repair services faced decline due to the convenience and disposability of online shopping options. Despite the adoration of Gary's customer base, some of whom have pleaded with him to reconsider his decision, the reality is that the "Store Closing" signs have been placed, and an era is drawing to a close. Lavoie expressed his sentiment towards the inevitable, saying, "I'm going to miss it," but he also recognized the time had come to step away as he told MassLive, "but I know I've had enough."
