VALDOSTA – A family-owned shoe store is closing it’s doors after 55 years of business.
The Country Cobbler in Valdosta says times have changed, and many of those changes are not in the favor of local businesses.
“I can’t believe that. I’m sorry to hear that. It’s not going to be the same. I don’t know where to get shoes,” says Chason Williams, store owner.
He says that’s the response he’s received from the community after sharing the bad news.
Even with a polished record for customer service, Williams say their worst enemy is the internet.
“They would rather have no one speak to them, and not anyone helping them,” says Williams. “They want to go pick it up, pay for it, and leave, or shop online.”
The owner says their biggest competition isn’t nearby shops, but the brand of shoes itself.
“Everyone has their own website and they supply shoes to themselves before supplying them to us,” says Williams.
Monday, Country Cobbler is closed and preparing for their big sale on Wednesday.
A rainbow of colors label rows of inventory with high hopes to sell.
“When I look at it from a purely analytical point of view, it was a pretty easy decision, but emotionally, it was gut-wrenching,” says Williams.
He says the hardest goodbye is not the store, full of around 15,000 items.
“The people that are not only good customers, but become very, very good friends,” says Williams. “You’re going to miss that interaction and seeing them on a regular basis. It’s those types of things.”
The store is closed until the sale begins Wednesday morning.
Next week, they will return to regular hours until everything in the store is sold.
