Randy Baucom in his showroom at 40 Union Street South in downtown Concord. Baucom's Shoe Store, a 71-year-old fixture downtown, is closing on New Year's Eve. Beth McLaughlin/Special to the Independent Tribune
Randy Baucom and family have kept many of the news clipping from the 71-year-history of the store.
Randy Baucom shows off an old advertorial from the Concord Tribune featuring his father and himself, both wearing neckties in a nod to the shoe store-founder's emphasis on professionalism and customer service. Randy Baucom still keeps a tie in his desk drawer, even though his father died in 1999. Beth McLaughlin/Special to the Independent Tribune
By Beth McLaughlin/Special to the Independent Tribune
On Dec. 31, a downtown Concord retail institution is closing its doors, a full 71 years after its opening on Jan. 1, 1947. Baucom's Shoe Store, which began in the back seat of its founder's 1939 Dodge as a rolling shoe-mobile, is closing at the end of the year.
Randy Baucom Jr. is pictured in this holiday ad from days gone by. Baucom Jr. became the third-generation employee of the store when he was in his teens, but the business could not sustain a third-generation career, said Randy Baucom Sr.
Randy holds up Brannock Device which is used to get precision measurements of customer's foot to get the best fitting shoe. Beth McLaughlin/Special to the Independent Tribune
Randy Baucom in his showroom at 40 Union Street South in downtown Concord. Baucom's Shoe Store, a 71-year-old fixture downtown, is closing on New Year's Eve. Beth McLaughlin/Special to the Independent Tribune
Randy Baucom Jr. is pictured in this holiday ad from days gone by. Baucom Jr. became the third-generation employee of the store when he was in his teens, but the business could not sustain a third-generation career, said Randy Baucom Sr.
Randy Baucom shows off an old advertorial from the Concord Tribune featuring his father and himself, both wearing neckties in a nod to the shoe store-founder's emphasis on professionalism and customer service. Randy Baucom still keeps a tie in his desk drawer, even though his father died in 1999. Beth McLaughlin/Special to the Independent Tribune
Randy holds up Brannock Device which is used to get precision measurements of customer's foot to get the best fitting shoe. Beth McLaughlin/Special to the Independent Tribune
