Porter's Shoe Repair finds a new home on North Court Street

MEDINA — After 64 years, Porter's Shoe Repair has found a new home. The shoe repair shop, owned by Herb and Phyllis Porter, will move to 799 N. Court St., Unit 26B, Medina, next month. The city of Medina has agreed to move their equipment to its new location. The Porters were hit hard by COVID-19 and almost were forced to close. Luckily, they received a Paycheck Protection Program loan. "People were not bringing in shoes because of COVID," Phyllis Porter said. "We got the PPP money, but ended up using the stimulus money to keep us afloat. We thought we would have to close it up." Two concerned residents started raising funds for the couple and generated more than $11,000 through Huntington Bank's "Phyllis Porter Fund." They are still taking donations at the shop, at the bank and via Venmo; search for "portershoedonation." "My heart was filled with joy and love," Phyllis Porter said. "I was amazed and thankful." When they showed up for work one day, a man was standing by the front door and handed Phyllis Porter $1,000 in cash. After struggling mightily, Phyllis Porter said business has picked up. Medina Mayor Dennis Hanwell said they will sign a three-year lease at their new location. The landlord has agreed not to raise the rent during that time period. The new shop will double their space, from 400 to 800 square feet. "I am somewhat relieved," Phyllis said. The shoe repair shop opened in September 1956 at 137 W. Liberty St., Medina, by Robert Porter, Herb's late father. He went on to have shops in Fairlawn, Rittman, Akron, Brunswick and Wellington, among others. Herb and Phyllis took over the operation in 1980. "It hasn't been all roses," Herb Porter said. "All in all, it's been good. The residents have supported us." The building is part of the city's development effort and will be demolished in the spring. Phyllis Porter said the shoe repair business is a "dying trade." According to the Shoe Repair Institute of America , there were about 5,000 shoe repair shops in the United States in 2019. Medina At-Large Councilman Bill Lamb said Porter's Shoe Repair is one of the three oldest business establishments in the city of Medina, behind Medina Hardware and Huntington Bank, formerly Old Phoenix Bank. The shoe shop was originally opened as a Buick and Mercury car dealership and later was an ice cream stand. Lamb and Miles Reed are working on a documentary on the shoe shop that will air on MedinaTV in the next month. "My wife and I didn't want to move," Herb Porter said. "It's a nicer building. We were there last night." He said he has much respect for the mayor and City Council for their consideration for the Porters' welfare, and spoke of his medical problems, which included him going into cardiac arrest. "It's been a rough year," he said. "I've come a long way. This (shop) is in my blood. God is good." Contact reporter Bob Finnan at (330) 721-4049 or rfinnan@medina-gazette.com.