Glenn Haught repairs a shoe. (Photos: J.D. Pooley/Sentinel-Tribune)

Glenn Haught almost never takes a vacation.
He doesn’t want to.
“I don’t like sitting at home,” Haught said. “I don’t know what I’d do.”
Being the owner of Glenn’s Shoe Repair is a dream Haught didn’t start off with, but he’s sure glad he has
it now.
After selling Western attire for several years, Haught took a special interest in boots, and ultimately
shoe repair.
“I just like everything I do,” Haught said. “I enjoy taking old shoes and making them look good again.”

Haught has been getting down to the sole of the matter for 38 years in Bowling Green. He’s been at his
current location at 117 Clay St. for six years.
For Haught, repairing shoes has a deeper meaning – especially in the hustle and bustle of 2014.
“Today’s world is a throwaway society,” Haught said. “It’s nice when I see the younger generation have
their things repaired instead of throwing away. It’s cheaper just to have it fixed.”
He’s seen his business change over the years. Decades ago, shoe repair shops were common.
Now, Glenn’s Shoe Repair is one of the only ones left.
“People just don’t have stores like this anymore,” Haught said. “In the last 20 years, people have been
buying shoes not meant to be repaired.”
But for the people who do buy sturdier shoes, they have a place to go.
Haught has customers from Findlay, Fremont, Napoleon and Defiance.
“There’re customers I’ve had that I’m doing work for their kids now,” Haught said. “I’ve had people
coming to me for 38 years.”

They come for more than just the shoes. Haught also services leather, zippers, coats, purses, boots and
sports equipment.
While Haught is the sole employee working at the store, the same can’t be said for at home.
“My wife helps me out at home,” Haught said. “She’s every bit as good at what she does.”
Linda Haught used to work at the store with her husband, but now she repairs items out of their home.
“I like to try to make them look like they did before,” she said. “I’ve seen shoes where dogs have chewed
through them and I try to match the leather – that way you don’t have to throw them away.”
After 50 years of marriage, Linda Haught shares her husband’s motto.
“I’m always thinking ‘you can fix that,’” she said.
One store aspect that doesn’t need fixed is Glenn Haught’s time there and his “no vacations” attitude.

For right now, he wants nothing more than to keep repairing shoes while listening to country music.
“People wonder when I’m going to retire and ask who will take my place. Nobody wants to do it, so people
tell me I can’t retire,” he said. “As long as I’m physically able to do it and I feel fine, I’m going to
do it.”
For more information about Glenn’s Shoe Repair, please call 419-352-0175.