June 2009: Bob & Daniel Walling, Babu Shoes
You know how sometimes you meet somebody, and you feel like you've known them forever? Like they are part of your family you just haven't met yet? I think Babu Shoes is like that for the Market. They just fit right in from the start. Like, say, a pair of comfy shoes! Their tiny shoe emporium fits right in to the 4' x 4' spaces along Park St. Yes, a whole shoe store in sixteen square feet. Luckily, Daniel and his dad, Bob, are talented at woodworking as well as shoes, so they knew how to optimize that tiny footprint to display their plethora of wares. Shelves upon shelves hold the shoes, but space above is not wasted, it's filled with great felt hats! There are even wooden spoons tucked in there.
I had a really nice chat with Daniel, and he filled me in on the history of Babu Shoes. Seems that Bob Walling was involved in many aspects of the shoe industry for thirty-five years, from selling shoes to making shoes to designing for an Italian shoe manufacturer. He just kept feeling that people weren't able to easily get excellent custom made shoes. He started Babu Shoes in 2004, and they made their Market debut at Holiday Market last winter.They were an instant hit.
Both Daniel and Bob make the shoes, and make them out of all kinds of materials. Leather and felt are predominant, but they also have a whole line made out of recycled wool sweaters! He tells me that they thrive on custom work, making shoes to fit just right.
Daniel is the hat maker, using felt to create hats in all sorts of whimsical shapes and colors. Need a bright green felt top hat? He's got one. Or perhaps a white pillbox with a spray of feathers? Got that too.
You can find out much more about Babu Shoes at their website BabuShoe.com but it's so much better to see them in real life! You can find their booth along South Park most Saturdays, or stop by the info booth for their specific location if they've migrated to another Market spot.
