By Rene Torres
Today, under
new ownership, the building that was once owned and that housed the Olvera Shoe
Repair Shop is going through a facelift.
Victor Olvera started the business of mending soles in the Market Square
area in 1926.
from Brian Brodie's film "Siente la Ciudad"
In the
beginning, the square was one of the liveliest places in the city. It was the
center of business activity—a focal point in the city where vendors of all
kinds sold their wares.
Brownsville
and the country enjoyed the benefits of the roaring twenties, when the country
was in a festive mood and business was booming.
But just
like any business, the shoe repair shop had its ups and downs. Regardless of
the status of the economy, the shop survived the depression and war years.
A long-time
employee of the shop, Jose Llamas said, “As money gets tighter, people want
their things to last longer.” The
favorite footwear of then, was not ready for the shoe cemetery until it had
several visits to the repair shop and/or passed through the hand-me-down cycle.
The idea of
diversification, and the fact that it was the only shop in town that provided
“while-you-wait repair”, helped the store to endure. Yes, in the good days the shop had a gallery
of shoes perched among the shelves. When
that part of the business slowed, it was Olvera’s other business interest that kept
the cash register ringing.
According to
one of his sons, Rolando, a retired pharmacist, remarked recently that his
father never stood around to see his own shadow. He was never content with the status
quo— always on the trail to fill his
shelves with that unique product.
from Brian Brodie's film "Siente la Ciudad"
Besides
repairing wounded soles, the store also served as a pawn shop. His army surplus business did well enough to
compete with Whitman’s, which was mere steps away from the shop.
One side of
the building faces the heart of the historical Market Square, while the
opposite side, fronts Washington street. If you
needed money, Olvera could also accommodate you with loan and in the same
breath, rent you a room located on the upstairs of the building.
from Brian Brodie's film "Siente la Ciudad"
Mr. Olvera
died in 1973, and his son with the same name, took command of the iconic shop,
only to face some hard times in the 1980s.
But as time progressed, the shop avoided slumps by providing consistent
quality care at affordable prices. Victor
Jr., maintained a healthy list of customers by employing the same business
sense used by his father.
On or about
the year 1996, Victor’s son, Mike, oversaw the business that still employed
workable vintage equipment that dated to the early 1900s. Some of the tools of
the trade might have been old, but the quality and service was always up-to-date. .
City of Brownsville photo
As the
business ambiance around Market Square changed,
the shop made a move to a different site. Mike,
who vowed to keep the shop open if he could— relocated to Boca Chica Boulevard. After several successful years at that
location, the business took its final curtain call. The journey that began in the 1920s, lasted
long enough to be part of the world-wide web.
Victor
Olvera, restored thousands of soles throughout the decades. People from all walks of life came through
the shop— to leave behind their leather treasures to see another day. The
shoe shop business faded, but the building will remain etched in Brownsville’s
history, to serve as a remainder of the business stature of Victor Olvera. He was the epitome of a good businessman.
Google image of former Boca Chica location
