Best Foot Forward
Best Foot Forward, a family-owned and -operated shoe and leather restoration company, is moving to Alexandria.
The shop has been in Pentagon Row in Arlington for more than 20 years and is moving to a new home at Bradlee Shopping Center. Their last day at Pentagon Row will be June 25. The Alexandria location will open in the first week of July.
"According to the Shoe Service Institute of America, as a consequence of the COVID pandemic, over 75% of all shoe repair shops in the whole U.S. went out of business. Most people stayed home and traded-in their dress shoes for house-slippers, affecting our industry greatly. We were in deep trouble, but with our loyal clientele and their assistance spreading the word, we strove through it, reinvented ourselves and came out the other side even better," said Victoria Lopez, operations manager at Best Foot Forward.
The company adapted and added services and products, including leather restoration services, luggage repair, designer bag repair and care and service for collectible shoes and sneakers, leather clothing and more. In addition, the shop will sell American-made handbags, leather care products and in-house, handmade leather goods.
The store will be at 3686 King St., on the west side of the shopping center.
Bradlee Shoe Repair, located on the other end of the shopping center, closed during the pandemic.
