Hub City Times

Top Menu

  • Contact Us
  • E-Editions
  • Subscribe

Main Menu

  • Home
  • News
    • Around the County
    • Arts & Ent
    • Education
    • Government
    • Local
    • Police / Sheriff Calls
  • Covid 19
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • Sports News
    • High School Sports Scores
    • Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
  • Coming Events
  • Business
  • Obits
  • Classifieds
  • Military Photos
  • Contact Us
  • E-Editions
  • Subscribe

logo

Hub City Times

  • Home
  • News
    • Around the County
    • Arts & Ent
    • Education
    • Government
    • Local
    • Police / Sheriff Calls
  • Covid 19
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • Sports News
    • High School Sports Scores
    • Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
  • Coming Events
  • Business
  • Obits
  • Classifieds
  • Military Photos
BusinessHistory
Home›News›Business›Their heart and sole is in shoe repair: Part II

Their heart and sole is in shoe repair: Part II

By Hub City Times
August 25, 2016
653
0
Share:
Carol and Denny Nelson attend Marshfield’s Senior Ball in 1952.
Carol and Denny Nelson attend Marshfield’s Senior Ball in 1952. (Submitted photo)

By Kris Leonhardt

Editor

What began in the Purdy Junior High building so many years ago blossomed into a marriage that welcomed two children, Dennis Jr. and Jeff.

While growing their family, Carol and Denny Nelson were growing their shoe repair business. They moved the business from their home to a location on Central Avenue.

“We moved it behind a shoe store. It was called Colbert’s,” recalled Carol. “It was in the back of the store. Colbert used us for traffic.”

The couple stayed there for two years but soon outgrew that facility.

“It wasn’t enough,” explained Carol. “That’s when we went into used skates to supplement our income.”

Carol also worked at the lunch counter at Woolworth’s, as the shoe repair business was getting its start.

The couple then looked for a larger building to house their expanding shop.

“We went into a place that had been a harness shop,” recalled Carol. “It was Gaulke’s Harness Shop. The hobby business started there in that shop with model airplanes, model cars, and things like that.

“Then, one day the door opened and a salesman came in that Denny knew from Colbert’s, and he said, ‘I’d like you to sell Red Wing Shoes.’ He even bought the first $500 worth, and we paid him back. That’s how we got started.”

The Nelsons remained loyal and grateful to the man who had given them their start.

“We closed the store when he died and went to the funeral because we had so much respect for him, and we were so grateful to him for starting us out,” added Carol.

Nelson's Shoe & Shoe Repair in its current location on South Central Avenue in Marshfield.

Nelson’s Shoe & Shoe Repair in its current location on South Central Avenue in Marshfield. (Eric LeJeune photo)

With the growing demands of the store, the Nelsons soon needed another set of hands.

“Denny was working alone in shoe repair, and Don Zager was a new fireman here,” said Carol. “He walked in one day and said, ‘Do you need any help?’”

Zager remained with the Nelsons for 50-plus years.

Over the next decades the family and business continued to grow. Denny and Carol welcomed two more children, Jill and Chris, 13 years apart from the first two siblings.

The Nelson’s business made multiple moves before landing in its current location at 912 S. Central Ave. as well as expanding into shoe repair outlets in area towns.

“Shoe repair was a big business,” said Carol. “We had Don and Denny repairing shoes. We branched out, and we had about 13 outlets. We had dry cleaners and other places take in shoe repair.”

After Denny’s death in 2007, Carol struggled to get through the pain and loss of her longtime steady. “I think coming back (to the store) helped her get through it,” said daughter Jill Spindler.

Today, their card file is a reflection of 60 years of business and customer loyalty.

“There are people with three cards stapled together,” explained Jill. “They are single line back and front, and they are full.”


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWcrEKtvL4A&feature=youtu.be

Nelson’s Shoe & Shoe Repair owner Carol Nelson recalls her job working the lunch counter at Woolworth’s in Marshfield.


Read “Their heart and sole is in shoe repair: Part I” here.

TagsanniversaryCarol NelsonDenny NelsonDon ZagerFeaturedinterviewNelson's ShoeRed Wing ShoesWoolworth's
Previous Article

Marshfield cross country hosts annual Alumni/Intersquad Scrimmage

Next Article

City leaders consider renovation options for community ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • The Hannah Center
    Local

    Hannah Center adds Urgent Housing Program

    January 28, 2018
    By Hub City Times
  • Michael Gui Josh Lang Aaron Peters Jenna Nordin Leo Steiner badger boys girls state marshfield high school leadership government
    EducationGovernmentLocal

    Marshfield High School students attend Badger Girls, Badger Boys State

    September 11, 2015
    By Hub City Times
  • Students circulate to different stations in the Reality Store on April 12 at Marshfield Middle School, and they allocate their assigned salary to various real-world expenses.
    EducationLocal

    Eighth-graders get a dose of reality

    April 14, 2016
    By Hub City Times
  • Mayor seat
    Government

    Wagner elected council president by the flip of a coin

    April 19, 2017
    By Hub City Times
  • Education

    Meet UW-Marshfield/Wood County student Ginger Sternweis

    February 25, 2017
    By Hub City Times
  • Video

    First look: Marshfield PD’s armored rescue vehicle

    August 29, 2016
    By Hub City Times

Leave a reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

About Us


Hub City Times is published by Multi Media Channels LLC, N2919 County Road QQ Waupaca, WI 54981.

Timeline

  • April 10, 2021

    Video: Hub City presents – The Hannah Center

  • April 9, 2021

    Forward Bank donates $60K to Marshfield aquatic center

  • April 8, 2021

    Bauer retires from MACCI

  • April 7, 2021

    Longtime community advocate dies at 79

  • April 7, 2021

    Varsho wins District 4 seat

Find us on Facebook

Copyright © 2020 Multi Media Channels, All Rights Reserved. Designed by MMC Team Awesome
×