Union Shoe Store has been in the Mehos/Pappas family since 1929. The store came into the family when brothers Alex and George Mehos bought it upon their arrival from Greece. The shop’s original location was at 924 Rosser Ave (now the location of The Monacle Opticians) and offered services for custom-made shoes, repairs, shoeshine and blocking and cleaning hats.
In 1952, Constantine Pappas came to Canada. 6 years later, Constantine, or Gus as his customers more commonly knew him, took over the shop upon Alex’s retirement. Before taking over the shop Gus spent many hours quietly observing his father-in-law. Gus picked up the trade during those hours of quiet observation and was self-taught.
The retail aspect of the business was introduced in 1960. In 1973, the shoe store and repair shop moved to its present location of 618 Rosser Ave and continued to offer services in shoe repair and shoeshine. For a short time the shop also sold and repaired hockey equipment.
Gus’s son Bob started in the business as a shoeshine boy in 1967 at the age of ten, working every Saturday. In 1973 when the store moved to its current location, Bob ran the retail end of the business, while he was still in school. Gus and his nephew Bill ran the repair department. Eventually, Bob, after finishing school, decided that the business was what he wanted and moved up to full time work in the store, and completely taking over in 1987. Gus semi-retired, while Bill continued to run the repair shop, with Bob helping him out as time permitted. Today Bob and his wife Angela run the shoe store with very knowledgeable staff.