Ottawa’s “shoeman” laces up for retirement; Kiddie Kobbler St. Laurent set to close

After over forty years in the shoe business, the owner of the St. Laurent Kiddie Kobbler is set for retirement. CTV’s Tyler Fleming has the story.

A familiar face in Ottawa retail is stepping out after decades as a trusted source for children’s footwear.

After 44 years in the business, Rob “The Shoeman” Krantzberg is retiring, and with no buyers stepping forward, the Kiddie Kobbler on St. Laurent Boulevard could close with him.

“If I was 20 years younger, I would do this for 10 more years but I want to start doing some other things I want to start all the things I’ve said no to for the past decades because work was always a priority. Work has been my first love, my main love,” he says. “There’s nobody that’s come up and wanted to buy it which surprises me so sometime in the spring I’m hoping maybe by the end of March I’ll be able to move out.”

The shop has operated in the same location, at 1177 St. Laurent Boulevard, for more than 20 years, and before that, across the street at St. Laurent Shopping Centre. For many Ottawa families, it has been a rite of passage, a place where first steps, school shoes and growing feet were carefully measured.

“We’ve been coming for 22 years. All my kids and my husband and I, we all buy our shoes here,” says Joan Brant, a loyal customer. “Rob has become like family and he’s got the best service him and his staff.”

Before Krantzberg owned the Kiddie Kobbler shop, he began working at the store part time as a teenager.

“That first day on the job was miserable,” he says. “But the I saw how footwear could benefit a child, that a proper pair of shoes could help a child walk.

That realization led him running toward ownership.

“I made a proposal to the owner as a teenage kid, begged, borrowed and did anything I could to try and put a deposit down on the business,” he says. “And here I am 44 years later, it’s been fantastic. We have such support from the community. They’ve supported me through everything and I couldn’t have been successful if I didn’t have the staff I have.”

Longtime manager Dan Denofsky, who has worked at the Kiddie Kobbler for nearly 25 years, says the atmosphere “the shoeman” created, made the store special.

“I started in university part time, and then I never left,” says Denofsky. “It didn’t feel like a job, so I always had a ton of fun every day when I came to work. We made a real difference in the community.”

For the loyal customer Brant, the emotions are mixed.

“I’m glad that he’s finally taking time off. He deserves it 100 per cent, but still sad,” she says. “But sad in a good way.”

Krantzberg says operations are expected to wind down in March, with the store likely closing shortly after.

Reflecting on his career, Krantzberg says he considers many of his customers family and after 44 years, it’s the relationships he’s built that mattered most.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better career than this one thanks to all the customers that come in and all the children that are so happy to be here,” he said.

• Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App