Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 8, Issue 7, July 2004

Copyright 2004 Seattle Sun. Please feel free to use the article below in your research. Be sure to cite the Seattle Sun as your source.

Tradition, technology coexist at McManus Shoes

By JAMES BUSH

When John McManus is helping customers to isolate and address foot problems, he brings the skills of a therapist.

That's hardly surprising, since the owner of McManus Shoes and Footcare Center spent a dozen years as a licensed counselor after earning his master's degree in psychology from Antioch University.

Now, McManus uses his people skills to diagnose foot problems and create custom orthotics to sooth their aching feet. Think of orthotics as high-tech versions of the Dr. Scholl's shoe inserts. Although older Americans have long benefited from orthotic technology (in orthopedic shoes), in recent years, health professionals have expanded its use to deal with sports injuries and chronic foot conditions, and just to improve day-to-day foot comfort.

"It's dramatically increased: the use and the knowledge of how to use [orthotics] in the last 10 years," says McManus, "and the awareness of people that they don't have to suffer."

Accommodative orthotics are aimed at accommodating the shape of the bottom of the foot, which can dramatically increase comfort, he says. Functional orthotics are designed to correct individual foot problems. For example, if a person's arch drops down as they walk, a custom orthotic can keep the arch at a higher level. Or, if a person's ankle turns in as they walk, they may need extra cushioning.

Diagnosing foot problems and creating orthotic fixes can be quite time-consuming, he notes. A lot of customers "haven't really considered why their foot hurts" and have a hard time articulating their problem, says McManus. "Every case is so individual."

Carole Grayson, a McManus customer since sustaining a sports-related injury two years ago, says the owner's manner is a major draw. "I think he brings that ease with people here," she says. "It's not a business thing: get them in and get them out."

There's also one more reason McManus insists on keeping the customer first. "A lot of people know my Mom and Dad," he says, "and it's important that we carry on the customer service that they started."

Founded in 1946 as McManus Shoe Repair, the business was located in a nearby storefront until 1953. Fifty-one years ago, it moved to its current location. John's father, Hugh, died in 1971. John's mother, Margaret, ran the store until he bought the business in 1999, then continued as a full-time employee until last April.

Until he came back to help out his mother in 1994, John hadn't worked at the store since he was in college. In the interim, he and his wife, Sally, had owned and run three Mexican restaurants (most recently La Concha at Northeast 65th Street and 11th Avenue Northeast, now the site of Jalisco's) and John had worked in his second career as a therapist and counselor.

He put his own stamp on the family business by adding lines of new shoes specifically designed to accommodate modern orthotics and by going back to school at the University of Oklahoma-Okmulgee to earn his board certification as a pedorthist (someone who fits and designs orthotic devices).

Many of the shoes he carries are European brands. "The (emphasis on) foot comfort and matching the actual shape of the foot came from Europe first," he says. "But all manufacturers are starting to make better, more supportive shoes."

In addition to several makes of dress and casual shoes, the store offers athletic shoes from New Balance and Brooks, plus an extensive selection of sandals which accommodate orthotics. In addition to the custom orthotics he designs, the store also stocks a large selection of over-the-counter orthotics and foot care products.

The repair business still accounts for a major portion of the store's revenues, and McManus is proud of his repair team. Victor Pranger, a master shoe repairman and orthopedic shoe technician, has worked in the shop for 23 years. Vito Albanese has only been with McManus for about a year, but he has more than two decades of experience working with leather and handles purse and handbag repair work.

McManus notes that even inexpensive shoes often feature well-made leather uppers and can be resoled several times before being discarded. "It's becoming more of a throwaway society," he says. "I think it's great to recycle and give a little business like ours some business."

And, despite his love of tradition, McManus is learning to appreciate progress. Although computerized fitting systems for orthotics have been around for more than a decade, "I kind of resisted it for a while, thinking the old-fashioned way was better," he admits.

Two years ago, he set aside his plaster molds and purchased an Amfit Foot Facts Digitizer. "It's a computerized system for designing custom orthotics and we love it," says McManus. "We think it's great."

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McManus Shoes and Customer Footcare is located at 3404 NE 55th St.