Three generations work at Carl’s Shoes on Main Street.
Having worked in shoe stores since age 12, Carl Barone was age 26 when decided he was going to open his own. Now, decades later, Carl’s Shoes is celebrating its 60th anniversary this month.
For Barone, his proudest accomplishment is not the store itself, but the three generations working inside it.
Barone was born in 1932 in Camden, and he got his first job at age 12 as a stock boy at Shapiro Shoes in Camden. He worked at Shapiro’s for eight years before he was drafted into the Korean War.
Following two years overseas, Barone returned to New Jersey and began working at Ricky’s Shoes in Haddonfield.
Then, one day, Barone said he was driving from Haddonfield to Moorestown when he saw Moorestown’s Main Street for the first time and thought the location would be perfect for a store.
After around seven years at Ricky’s, Barone saw the orthopedic work taking place and decided to strike out on his own.
“I felt that I could expand the process that they were doing at that time and go further, and we have, by far,” Barone said.
He opened the doors to Carl’s Shoes in 1958, and the family moved to Moorestown shortly thereafter.
In the 1980s, Barone became a certified pedorthist, which enables him to fill orthotic prescriptions. Today, more than 600 doctors in the tri-state area send prescriptions to Carl’s Shoes.
In the years since Barone first opened the store, Carl’s Shoes has become a family business. For the last 15 years, Carl’s daughter, Patti Higman, has handled billing, and her son, Jeffrey Higman, is also a certified pedorthist.
Jeffrey Higman said he has worked in the store in some capacity since age 14. He started out by putting stock away and taking out the trash, and today, he serves as vice president of the business.
He said what sets Carl’s Shoes apart is that he and his grandfather are certified pedorthists, and that specialty is difficult to come by in the area. To earn his certification, he said he attended classes, took a board exam and does continued education.
Barone and his grandson agreed the key to their success has been in their approach. They listen carefully to every customer that comes in and can spend upward of an hour with a customer to ensure their shoes are the right fit.
Barone said the store’s shoes are not about fashion, but comfort. For people coming in with an array of orthopedic issues, the store provides shoes customers can’t find elsewhere.
Barone and his grandson work at the store six days a week. Barone, now 86, said while he doesn’t need to come in six days, he does so simply because he loves what he does.
Jeffrey Higman said he has great admiration for his grandfather, who started with nothing and built a successful business that has continued to grow for the last 60 years. In 2018, Carl’s Shoes saw its most successful year to date.
The admiration is mutual. Barone said one of his proudest accomplishments has been watching his grandson get his certification and work alongside him at the store.
“We’ve been here 60 years — I want to see Carl’s Shoes go another 60 through him,” Barone said as he turned to smile at his grandson.
