After five decades of serving Downtown Victoria, a “beloved” shoe store is closing its doors.
Effective in October, Baggins Shoes will be closing the Johnson Street store and they will be adapting an online-only model and expanding their custom print shop.
According to a news release from Baggins, the closure comes as a result of the “increasingly challenging” landscape faced by retail businesses and a decline of downtown foot traffic by an estimated 30 to 50 per cent in recent years.
“We’ve been around for 53 years and plan to be around for 53 more, at least. We’re not closing, we’re just adapting to the times,” said founder Glen Lynch in the release. “Part of the reason we’ve been around so long is because we see opportunity and act on it. We’ve adapted before and we’ll continue to thrive, just in a different way.”
The store was first established in 1969, and has carried one of the largest selections of Converse in the world, as well as other brands like Vans and Dr. Martens.
Although they are closing their doors at the retail store, they will continue to operate the online shop and the custom print shop department will continue operation and continue expanding, providing continued employment opportunities and shoe and garment printing services.
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