August fifth, 1981 was the day the doors opened on a then tiny shoe store, under the name of Kiddie Kobbler. It was a cute little shop complete with a fish tank which my mother, Darlene Kunitz, figured would be an indispensable tool in impressing our would be clientele: – Children.

Much to the shock of our new little customers, measurements taken (sometimes accompanied by tears!), and shoes were brought out. Each person was individually sized and fitted.

This first idea of service is what has carried Kunitz Shoes’ through the decades and why it remains an outstanding shop today. I don’t remember much about those first few years, but I wouldn’t, considering I was born 5 months after the opening day. Those first 10 years were tough. Struggling through the problems that will always face a new business, while trying to forge ahead in a time honoured philosophy of service and quality above all else.

Luckily, as they were soon to find out, Dwane and Darlene Kunitz were a sturdy match for the fight. By 1991 the little shoe store had established a core of regular customers, who after the initial scare of a full service retail shop, simply couldn’t shop anywhere else. The shop was in need of renovations, (and quite badly, I might add). I was only 10 years old, but my opinion would be heard in choosing new colours, carpets and a bigger fish tank! With the renovations came 2 major steps in our history. The first was leaving behind the franchised name of Kiddie Kobbler in exchange for Kunitz Shoes. The second was the move into adult shoes. The Kunitz’s started to realize that now that they were 10 years into the children’s business most of those original little clients were growing up. The idea of a sit-down-and-let-me-fit you shoe shop seemed to be even more needed by grownups than it did for the kids. New vocabulary started to spring up in the shop. Words like, “comfort” and “Support” begin being common place lingo when speaking with customers. 7 eager years of shoe sales continued, establishing Kunitz Shoes as the place where you could come in, sit down, and have yourself fitted into quality shoe with no compromise to style.

In 1998 the Kunitz’s felt that it was time to expand the shop a bit, in an effort to reflect the quality of their stock in its home. The fish moved into an even bigger home and (perhaps because of that?), business soared. The staff was doubled: Darlene realized that a new type of specialized employee was needed. Sisters were hired as well as overachieving piano students, some of whom remain with us a decade later. With the third version of Kunitz Shoes, the philosophy of quality and service was ingrained In 2000, the Kunitz’s realized a goal that had been a dream since the beginning. They were going to move into a free standing location where they could stand alone (supported by their own tradition and philosophies that had, by now, created a strong enough base in returning customers) and operate as the shop was always intended to be – family owned and independent. The store was built where it stands today dubbed “the cathedral of shoe shops” by one customer. The fish, again, were offered more space.

In the year 2005, the Kunitz’s opened another store in the downtown area called “Ecco by Kunitz”. This was a concept store that would house and showcase the entire Ecco shoe brand.

In early 2009 Kunitz Shoes once again pushed out its walls for a bit more elbow room. With the addition of a third more floor space on the southside, we are now better equipped to help our customers on our increasingly busy days. The stock space was also doubled- this lesser seen area of the store is the nerve center and heart of the operation and with a much needed expansion we were able to add 10 new lines of shoes. Our south side location now exceeds 5,000 square feet, and boasts a fish tank that exceeds 100 gallons. Who knew fish, or shoes for that matter, needed so much space!

Coming late summer 2011 (and just in time for our 30th anniversary), the downtown store is relocating to a larger, more convenient location on Jasper Avenue and 109th street. In an effort to maintain unparalleled merchandise selection and quality service in an independently owned shoe shop, the second generation of Kunitz’s are taking the family name to new heights and ensuring “that really good shoe store” will be there to find you footwear for years to come. This time my sister and I are picking out the fish!

Today the Kunitz Shoes is better than it ever has been. We have added many reputable names to our ever growing list of brands over the last few years, to complement our existing lines in an effort to create unparalleled merchandise stock in an independently owned shoe shop. As the second generation of Kunitz’ are joining in it looks as if “that really good shoe store” will be there to find you footwear for years to come.

Okay. We’ve covered a lot of ground. Here’s the ending – for 3 decades Kunitz Shoes has been fitting people into the shoes that they need. It is not a shop where one often comes with the intentions of buying a certain shoe. Instead, we like to operate like a good bookshop should. First we’ll figure out what you need, and then we can start to suggest a good title. Every day we bear everything we have on our feet. Don’t you think they deserve better?