Owensboro, Ky. — The last cobbler in Owensboro is retiring his career later this year. 

What You Need To Know

  • Terry Moss Shoe Repair has been a city staple for the past 43 years, fixing hundreds of shoes daily

  • When owner Terry Moss acquired the shop, there were seven other shoe repair shops in the area. Now, it's one of a kind

  • Moss explained that he was in his 20s when he took over the shop, but started help around the business with his grandfather when he was a young boy

  • Once Dec. 30 rolls around, he will use his skills part-time to make build ups for shoes of people who have one leg longer than the other

The man, Terry Moss, has been a city staple for the past 43 years, fixing hundreds of shoes daily.

Moss is a lover of a niche trade: fixing up shoes that were once thought to be unwearable, and ending it by shining them so they look nice and new.

“This is the finishing touch on a shoe, is when you get to shine it up,” Moss shared.

In Owensboro, Moss has been the owner of Terry Moss Shoe Repair since 1981, after acquiring it from his family. At that time, there were seven other shoe repair shops in the area.

He was in his 20s when he took over the shop, but started helping around the business with his grandfather when he was a young boy. 

Now, Moss Shoe Repair is the only one of its kind in town. And more often than not, he has piles of shoes lined across the shop, waiting to be fixed. Some are minor fixes, while others take a little more time.

He says he’s fixed some pairs of shoes “two or three times” over the years.

Often, he’s repairing boots, flip-flops, tennis shoes; he sands them, brushes, sews and glues them to make them look brand new.

Eventually, they are returned to his loyal customers he’s developed over the years.

Customer Doug Bassett shared his reaction when getting his shoes back. “Oh boy, they feel good. They feel like slippers,” Bassett said.

Although his impact has been substantial on the Owensboro community, Moss said it’s time for him to hang up his line of work. “I’ve done it for so long. And I’ve been looking forward to retiring, and I think it’s just time, there’s a time for everything,” he said.

Moss plans on selling his shop and leasing his building to whoever is eager to buy it.

Once Dec. 30 rolls around, he will use his skills part-time to make build ups for shoes of people who have one leg longer than the other.

Moss said, “That way, we can build that shoe up to make it even.”

It’s a trade job worth millions that has brought Moss happiness and friendship, and looking back on his 43 years of hard work, he can safely say, it was time well spent.

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