Terry Moss has been a professional shoe cobbler for the past 45 years. He began working with his grandfather Jesse Frakes when he was 9, eventually buying the family business and changing the name to Moss Shoe Repair a decade later.
He plans to sell the business and retire at the end of the year, leaving Owensboro without a cobbler for the first time in well over a century unless someone buys the operation.
As a young adolescent, Frakes began his foray into the shoe repair business by making bicycle deliveries for Raines Shoe Hospital in the early 1920s. This initial experience paved the way for his next venture, Frakes Shoe Repair, which he established inside Slaton’s Dry Cleaners on Triplett Street after gaining a few years of valuable experience.
He operated inside the dry cleaning business for 22 years before purchasing a shotgun-style house on Triplett Street and erecting the current building in 1971. That’s when Moss started hanging out around the shop, helping his grandfather in any way he could.
“I loved being there with him,” Moss said. “I was always interested in repairing shoes, and as soon as I was old enough, he let me start helping. I’ve been here ever since.”
Frakes purchased the building with his son Bobby, who sold boots out of the front of the store for supplemental income. They called the operation the Bootmaker.
After purchasing the building and the business in 1981, Moss grew tired of customers asking him to make them boots, so he changed the name to Moss Shoe Repair.
“I’ve seen a lot of changes and several different styles of shoes throughout the years,” he said. “I stay plenty busy – it’s more work than I’m capable of doing at times.”
Moss said he’s seeing more plastic and less leather in today’s shoes, but plenty of quality shoes are still available on the market.
“We replace soles and heels and offer all kinds of repairs,” he said. “People have a couple of choices: buy new shoes and throw their old pair away, or buy really good ones and have them repaired.”
Judging by the vast number of shoes awaiting repair in his shop, it’s safe to say several Owensboro residents prefer the latter.
“Some people grow fond of a specific model, and they can’t find it anymore, so they keep having it repaired,” Moss said. “Or some people just like how well they have their shoes broken in and don’t want anything new.”
After retirement, Moss plans to continue offering specialty work to accommodate individuals with one leg longer than the other. He’s also looking forward to volunteering more at his church, enjoying time with his grandkids, and potentially finding an 8-to-5 job where he doesn’t have to worry about the stresses of running a business.
“I have boots and shoes everywhere. I’m doing my best, but I can’t get it done fast enough,” he said. “I will miss my customers the most. I have met a lot of loyal customers and developed several friendships over the years – that’s what I’ll miss the most: those interactions.”
