Continuing three decades of business, the apprentice has become the master at Broadway Shoe Repair

(Image: Broadway Shoe Repair)

Just over 33 years ago this December, Broadway Shoe Repair began serving the community of Capitol Hill. Founder Ward Luhman would continue to own and run his business until this summer. During the last six years of her father’s ownership, Shelly Luhman worked an apprenticeship leading up to her taking over the leather repair shop in Broadway Market. Ward can finally rest and enjoy a well earned retirement. Broadway Shoe Repair, on the other… hand, still has work to do.

Since September, Luhman and her business partner Bobby Glukhov who joined the shop after moving from Portland four year ago, have been working to keep Capitol Hill’s shoes looking good.

The shop has seen “steady” repair business and return clients even as the neighborhood has grown more and more expensive. Of course, all that wealth has a side benefit to a business like Broadway Shoe Repair.

The biggest change the business has seen over its more than three decades, Luhman says, is “an increase of more expensive shoes.” Continue reading

CHS Re:Take | Broadway Market v1.0, created by a developer, a lawyer, and a saloon owner

Eba's Mutual Market mixed with QFC

Eba’s Mutual Market in 1937 mixed with QFC a week or two ago

Broadway Market must have the most varied history of any grocery center in Seattle. In the last 88 years it has housed QFC, Fred Meyer and its predecessor Marketime, Safeway, independent grocers, and Tradewell and its predecessors. Bitter corporate rivals have swapped spots.

This article focuses on the site’s pre-history and the first era of Broadway Market through 1940. The last 75 years are captured in photographs and quotes.

It was almost Broadway Theatre
Broadway Market sits on the west side of Broadway between Harrison and Republican. This block was developed in the early 1890s as part of the Broadway section of the Pontius Additions, which was unveiled in last month’s time trip. By the 1910s the block was completely filled with homes. Continue reading