After the closing of Shaft-Pierce in 1934, Ferdie, with his wife, Martha, decided to put his knowledge and skills to good use by opening a shoe and harness repair shop. By 1936, "Ferdie's Shoe Shop" in downtown Faribault was established in the aftermath of the Great Depression, keeping the shoes of the community in good shape through hard times. The three Burkhartzmeyer sons - Alvin, Walter, and Donald - were fixtures at Shaft-Pierce and in the shop throughout their youth. All three served together in the U.S. Navy during WWII, and upon returning home, joined the family business. September of 1949 marked the beginning of “Burkhartzmeyer Shoes” when the family expanded their inventory, offering a full-line of family shoes, work boots, and repairs.
During these early years, their name became synonymous all throughout southern Minnesota with quality shoes and quality service. Visitors became loyal customers as the business grew to meet their needs; boots to protect factory workers, repairs and custom orthopedic services to keep people on their feet, and everyday shoes to fit every foot. In addition, the Burkhartzmeyers all played active roles in the Faribault community; the Exchange Club, the Rotary Club, Welcome Committees, Chamber of Commerce, and multiple downtown projects. As the business grew, it was time for the family to relocate to the corner of Central Ave and 2nd Street NW in 1967.
Ferdinand (Ferdie) Burkhartzmeyer started his shoe journey at the "Shaft-Pierce Shoe Company" in Faribault, Minnesota. Ferdie started as a young man and worked his way up to become a leather-buyer and cutting floor supervisor. Shaft-Pierce started in April of 1892 and at the peak of its run from 1903 to 1934, the company employed more than 700 people and manufactured as many as 7,000 pairs of shoes daily. To this day, one of the original Shaft-Pierce buildings is still in use on the corner of 3rd St NE (now the "Redemption Restaurant").
As the three Burkhartzmeyer sons took over the business, they all found their places accordingly. Alvin (Al) had shoe experience from Oaks’ department store, so he focused on the store’s sales and bookkeeping. Walter (Putts) was a jack-of-all-trades and got his nickname from constantly “putzing” around the store, so he ran the repair shop. Donald (Buck) took an interest in foot health during his time in the U.S. Navy, helping fellow officers with their various foot ailments, and then became one of the first CPeds, or Certified Pedorthist, in Minnesota. In 1973, they also purchased the neighboring building to expand the work boot and repair departments. With a new facility and greater inventory, the store became one of the largest shoe retailers in southern Minnesota.
Ferdie and Martha remained heavily involved in the store’s operation throughout their later years as their sons kept the family business moving. After Ferdie's passing in 1974, Martha made sure to keep an eye on things; walking from the upstairs apartment down to the store below every day at noon to greet customers and check on the boys, even until her passing in 2005 at 107 years old.
Naturally, as the three Burkhartzmeyer boys progressed in their years, ownership of the store transferred to Bruce (son of Al) and Brian (son of Buck) Burkhartzmeyer in 1986, carrying the store into its 3rd generation,
The two cousins followed in their Father’s footsteps; Bruce had taken over sales and the business-side of things, and Brian ran the repair shop, work boot department, and became a CPed himself. The staff grew and the trends changed, but the Burkhartzmeyers continued to build their reputation for foot-health and comfort shoes. Bruce and Brian were determined to grow the business once again, and they kept their model simple: serve the community.
The retail and shoe business has drastically changed since 1949, but our focus remains the same. We don’t just sell shoes; we care about shoes. We educate ourselves on the inner-workings of shoe-design and manufacturing, and then pass that knowledge on to our customers. In an age where “sit-and-fit” shoe stores have become less common, we prioritize our customers by discussing their needs, finding the right fit, and offering quality footwear that is functional, as well as fashionable. As long as we keep putting our “best foot forward,” Burkhartzmeyer Shoes will be around for the long-run.
