Robert Williams remembers back in 1945 when a shoe shine was a nickel. He has been shining shoes since he was 7-years-old and has 70 years worth of experience at the task.

After his retirement from the Carrier Air Conditioning plant 11 years ago, Williams got back into the shoe shine business for Front and Beckham Barber Shop and said it is a joy.

“I started out on a shoe shine box downtown around the square,” Williams said. “It’s an amazing story because I got my first show shine box as a gift on my seventh birthday and I went in business for myself.”

Williams shined shoes on the square from 1945 to 1951. By the time he was 13, shoe shines had gone up to 15 cents. He continued to shine shoes throughout his years at Carrier and ran a business out of his own home.

“It was a blessing because I met a lot of people,” he said.

Williams said meeting new customers is what keeps him going. The Front and Beckham Barber Shop is owned by Larry Childress, who has 28 years of barber experience.

“We are one of the last shops that offers straight razor shaves and shoe shines while you get a haircut,” Childress said. “Between all the barbers, we have 200 years of experience.”

The Front and Beckham Barber Shop will celebrate its 60th year of business in November. Childress is pleased with Williams’ return to the shop and said he does a great job shining up to 25 pairs of shoes a day.

“Robert is an absolutely incredible man and he’s celebrating 70 years of shining shoes,” said Mr. Childress. “He is a blessing to this shop and he is a lot of the reason why we have the good business that we do – because people come to see him.”

Williams charges $7 for a shoe shine and $8 for boots. The shop is located at 506 E. Front Street in Tyler.

 

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