The Bootery

2015-09-18 120 N Main St_1186I’ve probably been in Broussard’s a dozen or so times when a Cajun craving hit, but I never noticed “The Bootery” set into the entrance before this visit.

If you click the photo to make it larger, you can see my reflection in the glass. It was a warm day, so I didn’t commit the terrible fashion faux pas of wearing socks with my sandals.

Search came up empty

Fluroscope at The National Museum of Nuclear ScienceA search of The Missourian archive for “Bootery” turned up empty. I turned to Google next. It took me to a 1959 Life Magazine ad for Roblee shoes. The word “bootery” was used by a lot of shoe stores, but the only listing for Cape was C.S. Gaylor.

Gaylor’s was where we usually went to buy shoes. I was always disappointed that Mother wouldn’t let me play with the neat fluoroscope that let you see your toes inside your shoes (while delivering a mass of x-ray radiation to your gonads). You can read more about the machine here.

What was at 120 Main?

1938-08-15 Missourian AdMy next trick was to search for the store’s address, 120 North Main street. Still pretty much dry except for a 1938 ad for The Smart Shop. The building next door at 118 North Main was being vacated by Vogelsanger Hardware Company.

The Smart Shop was showing furs from St. Louis, but you could buy a quality rayon Giana crepe for $6.50 at Hecht’s. (I don’t know whether you’re supposed to eat, hang or wear a crepe, so you’ll have to tell me if that’s a good deal.)

Follow Santa’s Trail

12-06-1939 Missourian contest adThe Smart Shop was mentioned in this Christmas contest ad in the December 6, 1939, Missourian. It’s fascinating to see how many businesses were still around 30 years later. You’re definitely going to have to click this one to make it larger to read the names.

Bootery mystery

2015-09-18 120 N Main St_1179Someone else is going to have to fill me in on the background of The Bootery. I couldn’t come up with any information about it.

13 Replies to “The Bootery”

      1. When I clicked on the link, it worked fine for me.

        If you can’t click on it, just go to the googlenews page, Southeast Missourian May 18, 1928. On page 8 column 1, 2nd from the last item under Personals.

  1. PS
    I see from other articles of that era that the main Sample Shoe store was at 122 Main, so perhaps the Annex was a bargain outlet of sorts?

  2. That looks like more of a modern script in the photo, but I have no recollection of such a place. I do, however, recall fondly when Broussard’s was the Town Pump which had some of the best dry-rub barbecue in history. Moreover, the comment on the x-ray doohickey to which you referred as we also had one in the children’s shoe department at Buckner-Ragsdale. Indeed we still have it, though the ‘guts’ are long gone. Somehow we’ve survived its evil rays.

  3. Southeast Missourian
    Out of the past 6/17/10

    75 years ago: June 17, 1935

    A two-story brick building at 122 N. Main St., owned by Morris Shaltupsky and occupied by the Bootery, a shoe store managed by Shaltupsky, has been purchased by Mr. and Mrs. August Lang; a lease has been taken by the Bootery, and it will remain in its present location.

  4. Thanks Ken I love a mystery!

    Southeast Missourian
    Out of the past 8/11/06

    75 years ago: Aug. 11, 1931

    The name of the Sample Shoe Store, 122 N. Main St., has been changed to “The Bootery,” it is announced by M. Shaltupsky, manager; the store has been in Cape Girardeau 17 years and two years ago underwent extensive remodeling, enlarging the shop and adding new features.

  5. It was T.E. Clark Music Company in 1920, “Exclusive Victor Victrola Dealers”. So at least we know the mosaic is not original to the building.

  6. It has always been interesting to me how Cape Girardeau seemed to have businesses flourishing and maintaining commerce in the 1930’s. The Boy Scout council was formed in 1930, and grew by leaps and bounds in the following decade. A book on Cape Girardeau and the Great Depression would be an interesting read. I wonder if it was a bit like the recession we have been weathering. Cape was not hit nearly as hard as other parts of the country.

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