One of Canada’s most iconic luxury shoe retailers will be celebrating a special milestone this fall — Davids Shoes 60th anniversary, 40 of those years at the flagship location of Bay and Bloor streets.
Founded by husband and wife team of Louis and Julia Markowitz in1951 at the corner of College St. and Brunswick Ave., Davids Shoes has set standards in the fashion world by defining style, elegance and quality in women’s and men’s footwear, handbags and accessories.
“And yet my grandfather, Louise — Lou the Shoe as he was called — made sure everyone who came through the doors was treated special,” says Richard Markowitz V-P of operations and whose father, David, is president and carries the company’s name and works alongside other family members.
“Even when he retired and in a wheelchair … you would see him in the store greeting people and making them feel welcome.
“He had a profound presence, a true retailer and a great guy who talked to everyone.”
That said, he deferred all fashion decisions “to my grandmother, who started the business with him. She was the head buyer and she had the pulse of the fashion scene – she was the fashion behind my grandfather’s sale personality.”
“We’re proud to be celebrating 60 years of Davids — our longevity and success in the Canadian marketplace is attributed to our hands-on approach and buying expertise of the best of the best in the designer footwear category,” says David Markowitz of a company that has grown throughout the years to include other locations as well as Capezio shoes for over 35 years. (Capezio has 7 AAA locations in Toronto and is the city’s go-to shop for the trendiest collections in the contemporary shoe market.) The company carries exclusive lines of designer brands including Christian Louboutin, Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, Stuart Weitzman, Valentino and Salvatore Ferragamo amongst others, “but we are first and foremost a family-run business,” says Richard.
“It was the foundation my grandfather started and built on, and one we continue to solidify through the needs of our clientele. We really know our customers.”
Lou Markvoitz certainly left big shoes to fill. Which is family is doing nicely as they celebrate their anniversary with the upcoming launch of the Ecommerce online store coming up in October and a retrospective of their store’s design.
Check out Davidsfootwear.com.
— Rita DeMontis
Article source: http://www.torontosun.com/2011/08/31/davids-celebrates-60-years-in-shoe-biz
Filed Under Fashion News
Tags: Ladies Shoes Fashion
