05/06/2025
I grew up in Colorado, surrounded by horses, cattle, and rodeo. My dad started building saddles, learning from a local craftsman, but I had no interest in it at all.
That changed after I was in a car wreck. While recovering, I built my first saddle from a wheelchairโironically, the same sport that put me there led me to my craft. Iโve always loved working with my hands, fixing things, and creating, and from that moment, it just grew.
In college, I started making chaps and rodeo gear for friends to make extra money. I went to school in Torrington before moving up here, and for some reason, I always had an interest in shoe repair. I canโt explain why, but boots and leatherwork fascinated me.
As a broke college kid, I saw a โHelp Wantedโ sign in Bobโs Shoe Repair and figured Iโd check it out. Bob put me to work that same day.
That was 26 years ago.
Bob was always good to me. He kept a paycheck in my pocket, whether it was working in the shop or helping him out at his cabin. Even after I got married and had to focus on full-time work, Iโd still stop by to see him during lunch. He was a great guy.
Sixteen years ago, Bob passed away. I always told myself that if I ever had the chance to buy the shop, Iโd do it. One day, his wife, Laurie, told me she had signed the papers to sell the place. I called my wife immediately. Back then, we didnโt have cell phones, so I had to go back to work just to reach her. Her response? โHereโs our opportunity.โ
I pulled everything together, got a loan, and bought the shop. Now, almost 15 years later, Iโm still here, carrying on Bobโs legacy, doing the work I love, and keeping the tradition alive.
-Chad
Note from Travis: Shops like mine (Rapid City Vacuum) and like a shoe repair shopโhold an important place in our communities. These days, people are quick to throw things away when they break. But a good vacuum, just like a well-made pair of boots, isnโt just another purchaseโitโs an investment. Whether itโs a high-quality vacuum thatโs been keeping a home clean for years or a pair of boots thatโs seen miles of wear, these are items people rely on daily.
So whether itโs a pair of boots thatโs walked a thousand miles or a vacuum thatโs kept a home running smoothly for years, thereโs value in repair. And as long as people still believe in fixing whatโs worth keeping, shops like mineโand Bob's Shoe Repair, founded in 1946โwill always have a place.
