The Perth Courier March 21, 2019

Page 1

THURSDAY

MARCH 21, 2019

WEEKLY IN PRINT. MUCH MORE ONLINE ANYTIME. InsideOttawaValley.com $2.00

callanmotors.com Check Out All Our Cool Cars

Highway 7, Perth 613-264-0115

Serving Perth and Area for over 24 years

IT'S THE END OF AN ERA FOR PERTH COBBLER EYE OF THE COBBLER LAURIE WEIR ljweir@metroland.com For 45 years, Dennis Marks has been the go-to guy for footwear and shoe repair in Perth. The 74-year-old has been a staple in the community for almost half a century, fixing shoes, selling boots, sharpening skates and repairing things - all sorts of things - at the 98 Gore St. location. "Marks' Cobbler Shop - where they sell the best and fix the rest," he said, behind his trademark grin. Or how about this slogan: We doctor shoes, heel them, attend to their dying and save their soles. "I definitely am going to retire at the end of March, and my employees (Jim Buchannan and Terri Wright) are going to run it." It's the plan that Buchannan, who does all the sewing and custom work, and Wright, who

613-688-3265

sharpens skates, and does footwear repairs, will run the cobbler shop, closing on Saturdays starting in April. Marks said they both plan to retire in three years. "Then, probably I'll have to close it, because nobody is going into this trade anymore," Marks said. His clients come from across eastern Ontario. Most of his business is now footwear repair, and some sales. He said free trade made its mark on Perth as three major factories shut down. Just last year, he lost business from 3M in Perth. "This business is down $175,000 since free trade came in and all the factories left," Marks said. With that and skate-sharpening business declining, Marks said, it's time to retire. "My skate sharpening is down 50 per cent," he said, as kids are not skating like they were a generation ago. "And it's so expenSee PERTH, page 3

Now Open at 8:30 am for bake shop takeaway, coffee and tea

40 Gore Street, Perth 613-267-2152 Like Us On

CALL TODAY WE ARE MOVING APRIL 1ST TO 6615 HIGHWAY 43 PERTH 613-267-2818

READ MORE @ INSIDEOTTAWAVALLEY.COM Looking for more online? Check out these stories...

Laurie Weir/Metroland Dennis Marks, owner of Marks' Cobbler Shop in Perth, is retiring at the end of March.

Perth set to declare April as Parkinson’s Month Messiah set for St. Paul's United Church in Perth April 28

ExpEriEncE cadillac luxury 2019 CadillaC XT5

Each OfficE indEpEndEntly OwnEd & OpEratEd

www.ColdwellBankerPerth.com

lease from $272+HsT b/w wiTH $0 down and CosTCo membersHip Features include: pwr liftgate, remote start, Bose speakers, heated leather seating, 8 way pwr seat; 18” wheels; apple/android car play; XM radio

cOngratulatiOns tO Our award winning tEam!

2 Wilson Street East, Perth

613-264-0123

·

1-800-552-7242

Smiths Falls 613-283-3882 · mikefaircadillac.com

Stock# 19078 Expires 04/01/2019. 4yr/64,000km lease OAC, GMFinancial; Costco membership prior to 01/04/19 to qualify.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
The Perth Courier March 21, 2019 by Metroland East - The Perth Courier - Issuu