Owners, Michael and Poppy Vassiliotis of Redpath Shoes celebrated 100 years last week since the shop first opened its doors in Garema Place, Canberra.
The Redpath Shoes business began in 1922, and in 1985 Mr and Mrs Vassiliotis, took over the store, according to the Canberra Times.
In an interview with the Canberra Times, Mrs Vassiliotis shared the history of Redpath, as one of the first shoe repair stores in Canberra. The exact date of the business opening is still unknown and the owners have found it difficult trying to find clues in advertisements or newspapers around 1922.
The business was first owned by Alec Redpath, a bootmaker who had previously mended the boots of Royal Military College cadets. The store originally opened in Manuka and later moved to Garema Place.
In 2019, Redpath Shoes was listed as one of the oldest businesses in the national capital by the Canberra Business Chamber when it was 90 years in the running.
In celebration of 100 years this year, Mrs Vassiliotis, “It’s really an honour to be here and have the business running 100 years. It’s taken a lot of hard work, it didn’t happen overnight.”
“It’s a family local business, so our boys that have grown up now into young men, have a big input in the business as well,” Mrs Vassiliotis added.
Source: Canberra Times
