SYDNEY, N.S. — The Meloney shoe business has survived two world wars, the Great Depression, multiple recessions, mall openings, online shopping and now a worldwide pandemic.
It’ll be up to another family, however, to guide the almost 120-year-old business into the future with word of a ‘for sale sign’ on the entity best known these days as Reiker By The Shoe Tree.
“I remember when I took over from dad, I wanted to make it different and I did. That’s the way it works,” said Bruce Meloney, the store owner about the potential impact of new ownership.
“I’d be anxious to have somebody come in. Probably it will happen in 2021 but if somebody came tomorrow, I’d entertain everything.”
The history of North Sydney’s Meloney family in the shoe business began around 1900 when Bruce’s grandfather George Meloney began selling for the Vooght family.
About five years later, George would open his own store known as G A Meloney’s Boots and shoes and would run it until his death in 1928.
His wife Jean, Bruce’s grandmother, quickly learned everything there was to know about the family business and ran it successfully until her son Sid returned from the Second World War in 1945.
As the story goes, Jean asked her son Sid to ‘hang out’ at the shop for a while, which he did, allowing his mother to pursue other interests.
Just two years later, Bruce’s father incorporated the business and renamed it Meloney’s Limited, leading to several forms of expansion, including a move to Smart Shop Place in Sydney under the name the Shoe Bar.
The family business would move to the other side of Charlotte Street in the 1960s and then move back to Smart Shop after long-time Smart Shop owner Harvey Webber granted Sid’s request to have an outlet on the shop’s ground floor.
Bruce and his wife Lizz entered the family business in 1982 and purchased it in 1986. Prosperous times followed despite the Mayflower Mall opening some 13 footwear outlets at that time and two to three more operating in the North Sydney Mall.
The Shoe Tree downsized four years ago when the new Smart Shop owner asked them to move to make way for another business.
Meloney, now 66, calls that a blessing in disguise that led to a new location on Charlotte Street and a great partnership with Rieker Canada, a distributor that brings quality shoes to independent stores like his.
Downsizing first got him to thinking about a semi-retirement, too, in part because he felt that the Rieker partnership would benefit a new owner and keep the business on solid ground heading into the future.
Thoughts of a simpler life would grow throughout a pandemic-imposed closure earlier this year as well.
“I think what pushed me was when we were closed for three months this year, I really did enjoy my time at home,” Meloney said.
“I got eight years of Lizz’s 10-year ‘honey-do list’ done. She was surprised I liked doing that stuff but I had time to do it and I kind of realized I could semi-retire and do stuff like that and enjoy it. I think that’s what pushed me over the edge. I would like to do it sooner than later. I’m young enough to do that sort of thing.”
There have already been two quality offers for the business. One fell through, while a second one is still being mulled over by the potential buyer.
Meloney admits to some sadness over the notion of moving on, even though he’s looking forward to having more time with his family.
When the time does come to sell, he’ll miss his loyal customer base, many friends and family he’s made in the footwear industry across Canada, and his loyal customer base.
"I remember when I took over from dad, I wanted to make it different and I did. That’s the way it works." — Bruce Meloney, store owner
Meloney’s presence in the downtown core will also be missed.
“Bruce has been a mentor to many business owners over the years, including myself,” said Michelle Wilson, executive director of the Sydney Downtown Development Association.
“His presence in the downtown core has always been positive and encouraging. He played a large role in the organization, being past president of SDDA, and always available for words of advice and leadership.”
Wilson expects a buyer of the Shoe Tree to benefit from Meloney’s wisdom during their transition to ownership and said they will be welcomed into the downtown Sydney community with open arms.
Although he’s moving on from the shoe business, Meloney plans to continue his retail operations at the Port of Sydney when cruise ship traffic returns.
Those interested in purchasing Rieker By The Shoe Tree can contact Meloney at the Charlotte Street location.
You can read more about the Meloney family story at www.riekerbytheshoetree.com.
Greg McNeil is the business reporter at the Cape Breton Post.
