87 years and Counting – Model Shoe Shine Continues to Believe in Downtown Albuquerque
When you think of Albuquerque, you think of balloons and chile – you might think of Breaking Bad and sunsets – movie sets and now, Netflix. But, you might not think about a thing, a family, and a business that has been here for all of that – and in many cases longer than everything but the chile – that business is Model Shoe Shine.
Model Shoe Shine has been around for 87 years. Yes, you read that right, 87 years. We asked, now owner, Adam Campos to tell us about how it got started. “It was started in 1931 by Bill Cheers, in 1989 my uncle Rick Campos took over and my dad Chuck Campos and I, Adam Campos took over in 2000,” he said. The downtown tiny shop is a well-known spot for the whos who of ABQ. Politicians, business owners, and your regular joes, all get their shine on, downtown. Downtown is seemingly a great location for such an outfit – and Campos is hopeful about the neighborhood. When we asked him about his feelings for the area and the future of the city, Adam said, “It’s getting better with the new mayor adding more police Downtown. I feel safer and my clients feel safer.” Exciting right? Commitment and perseverance are obvious traits of Adam’s and it takes folks like him and businesses like this to make sure we stay the course of cleaning up more than shoes on Gold Street.
Speaking of shoes, just for fun, we asked Adam to share one of the most obscure requests that Model Shoe Shine has received and fulfilled. “We had a guy that had boots with some type of fur and we gave his boots a haircut. weird but he was happy,” he said with a chuckle. Haircut ah? Well, it’s not that far off for a gentlemen’s shop. We should make the point known though, that it’s not just a shop for men… They cater to everyone. Services range and vary as do prices; our standard shine is just a “five” – with a tip appreciated of course – but the buck doesn’t stop there. Adam offers a number of other things including shoe shine, shoe repair, drop off and pick up, die and conditioning of leather, purses, and handbags. So the next time you’re hanging around downtown, stop in and say hi. Make sure it’s before five. Model Shoe Shine is open and ready for your business Monday through Friday 8:30-4:30. Support an amazing local business and hit the street with fancy feet. Tell Adam hello from JohnnyBoards. Cheers.