Comments
41
Tue Apr 15 09:16 PM
by Joe LatinoI see mentions of Talmadge Deramus Bill Payne both lived in the Memphis area Bill Day was the DM. Jim Talent was the regional I managed Southland Mall store 78 later ran every N O store at one time or another except the Plaza store Dave Faircloth was the DM later Bill Day then Tom Stone who I think stills lives in N O area
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Tue Sep 24 04:27 PM
by Ted ThomasonI worked for Butler Shoe Corporation in Phoenix, AZ from 1977 to 1987. It was originally Ansonia Shoes then switched to Butlers. I then went to work for Hot Feet and then a Malings in California. My District Manager was Armando Angulo. He was a great guy.
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Mon Sep 9 02:51 PM
by Stan BushHEY.. thanks to Tim Isaac for sending me this link. I worked for George Croft and Tim. I eventually moved as a manager to Tallahassee, Florida. I spent most of my time in Past Time Billiards in Tallahassee. Nothing but good memories for me with Butler’s.
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Tue Aug 20 07:27 PM
by Ray GlassStarted in 1973 with Butlers while in HIGH school in Valdosta Ga. I remember Jim Talent as DM I think. Then moved to Macon Ga worked under Tim Isaacs then Lynn Kilpatrick.Frank Hicks was DM and Ray Boroughs Regional. Later took a store in Johnson City TN DM was Harvey Clark. Later he moved me to Ashville NC then to Anderson SC. Changed DM to Kim Pittman. Few years later Juan Watts and Boroughs calls me at home to go to Hollywood FL. Tom Stone was DM. Eventually transferred back to Macon where Butler began to change. Evander Pender had become an auditor. Tim Watts my DM. Moved to Carolina again as DM. Met many great people–Dan Gourley Mark Thomas JR Freeman Aubrey Shatzman Don Lastinger Paul Barbarisi Ken Forman and many many others. Butler’s was a great company and knew how to give excellent customer service. Great training.
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Mon Aug 12 10:39 AM
by Keith SchatzmanEveryone in my family worked for Butlers at one time or another. My sister Anita and my brother Robert. My father however was Aubrey Schatzman and he was at one point Vice-president under Joe Shapiro. When I was a young boy Mr. Shapiro and a few other I don’t remember used to come to our house for cocktails. My father passed away in 2011. He devoted much of hois life to Butlers.
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Wed Aug 7 04:06 PM
by Mark ThomasMy first job was with Butlers starting in 1972 at 15 years old in Greenville SC. 1st mgr was Bill Payne, then one of the finest in the business, Warren “Red” Christian. He passed away just a few months ago. Continued in the business with Rack Room Shoes. A 30 plus year career in shoes. Dan Gourley, old buddy, I see your name on this site. Some other great friends I remember are, Harvey Clark, JR Freeman, Evander Pender, Ray Burroughs, Juan Watts, Charlie Hudson, joe Shapiro, many others. Great times and memories. Should have a Butlers reunion one day. I can be reached at mathomas504@cs.com
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Sat Jul 13 10:26 AM
by Dan GourleyWould love to hear from old Butler friends and associates. dg530@comcast.net
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Thu Jun 20 11:14 PM
by irvin levinei started to wk for butlers as a saturday extra/marty mittleman was mgr charlie hudson dist mgr i helped open store in later years charlestonsc-gastonia nc-jacksonville fla worked many seasons in miami beach-hollywood-ft laudrdale atlanta-ga clarence furer-perry smolen buddy chatham-max beach russ certo richard knuckles walter randolph-these men were some of the best shoe men i ever worked for.winsto salem nc charlote nc you cannot replace these men they new how to sell shoes evena 7/1/2 i hope all is well with x butlers employees grear memories
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Wed Jun 5 02:14 AM
by Marybeth Upchurch CallisonIn the early 1970’s I worked for Murray Kalish in the display department for Butlers Shoes. It was an interesting place to work. I made some good friends that I still keep in contact with today. .
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Fri Apr 26 02:46 AM
by The CoeusNice click. Perfect view of the store.
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Fri Mar 29 04:59 PM
by Some pix of Florida stores
Close-up view of the building on Monroe Street at the corner of Jefferson Street in Tallahassee, Florida. 17482 Date 2009 Collection Florida Photographic Collection Image Number PR76097 The building used to house the Butler’s Shoes store located next to McCrory’s.
Thanks to Donnie M. I post these pix of Butler’s Stores in Florida. Still wish we could start a “Butler Alum” site!
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Mon Mar 25 05:46 PM
by Mike WeifordStarted with Butler Shoes in 1984 at Merritt Square Mall in Merritt Island, FL. Transferred to Hollywood Fashion Center in 1986, Broward Mall 1989, Pembroke Lakes Mall 1992, and finally Boynton Beach in ’96. Met some truly wonderful people along the way: Ray Burroughs, Jim Talent, Aubrey Shautzman, Tommy Stone, Dan Gourley, and Rick Anderson. Some of the greatest times of my life were spent at Butlers. The comical changes when they tried to divide the company into 4 separate divisions in the late 80’s (Dolcis, Tip Toe, Ansonia, etc.) have never dampened my love for this once great shoe giant! Hey guys! Keep that “findings” % up! I also wanted to say that Mr. David Bissland was one of the greatest shoe salespersons I ever saw!
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Mon Jan 28 10:32 PM
by Rommie KelleyAs I previously stated, I was with Butler’s for 27 years and managed 5 stores across 3 states. My last store was in McCain Mall in North Little Rock Arkansas. I opened it and closed it. I never got to see the profit my store made, but, I was in competition with Memphis and Dallas and was always in the top 5 volume wise and always managed a bonus. Maybe not always a big bonus, but, a bonus. Mr ID Shapiro was president when I came with them in 1964. I also remember Al Greenfield even though I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting him. Mr Hudson called me into Atlanta numerous times to pick out merchandise and offered me a district on several occasions. I hated travel and being away from my family so I never accepted one. I really enjoyed the years I was with them. They always gave me whatever I needed to do the job, and, they listened to me. Outside of my family, they were my life and I still miss working for them
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Sun Jan 27 03:26 PM
by TOWARDS THE LAST DAYS OF BUTLERS[Thanks to Steve Rowland for this. I recall fondly the happier days, pretty much all my early life till I was 24.] February 1988 articles Footwear News Sears PLC chief hedges on possible Butler sale. (Butler Shoe Corp.) Footwear News | February 22, 1988 | Fallon, James; Tahmincioglu, Eve | Copyright Sears PLC chief hedges on possible Butler sale Responding to a report that Sears PLC plans to sell its Atlanta-based Butler Shoe Corp. and that store closures are imminent, Geoffrey Maitland Smith, chairman of Sears PLC, said, “There are plans afoot to do certain things, which we are investigating. “Closures are one of the possibilities open to us. We also have toyed with the idea of a management buyout. What I’m saying is that there are all sorts of things that could be in play.” “There is no third party involved,” he added, in reference to a report that New York-based investment bank Shearson Lehman Hutton has been involved in the effort. “Something happens there from time to time. I always say I’m a good listener.” Lynn Kelly, president of Butler, confirmed that closures were definite, but in regard to the sale of Butler, he said, “That’s news to me. I’d be alarmed to find that out. There are a tremendous amount of rumors. “As far as closing stores (goes), there is no question of negotiations (to close) unprofitable (locations). Some of the stores are very unprofitable, and others are profitable. I don’t know of a retailer that isn’t looking to close unprofitable stores. Normally, we close 20 stores because of leases coming up. “We have targeted 30 unprofitable stores to close over a 24-month period and replace those with at least that many in shopping centers where we don’t have a good penetration.” When asked about reports from a source close to Butler that the company had suffered a 1987 loss of $20 million, Kelly said, “That’s not accurate,” though he added that the company went through a restructuring and that it “had a difficult year.” As for ’87 sales, Kelly said, “There was a downturn in total sales in the fourth quarter, but the end-of-the-year figures were marginally ahead of last year.” He added that business in January and February was “slightly ahead.” p.s. Someone want to start a “Bultlers Veteran Site”? Allen Greenfield
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Wed Jan 23 03:55 PM
by MaryI worked with The Butler Group from 1982-90. I managed a store in Georgia, was an assistant manager for a few years, sold shoes at multiple stores around Atlanta. Times certainly have changed, you had to prove yourself then and things were very competitive.I worked with some amazing people and didn’t mind making the guys look bad, back when they could still take it and it was all good fun. You didn’t have to “perform” if you were female,although I heard of some (all rumor) who thought it would help them and did. There were some Al Bundy’s for sure. I left for Banker’s hours, but appreciate all I learned about business from Butler’s.
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Thu Jan 10 12:44 AM
by Tim IsaacWhat a pleasure it is, reading everyone’s posts, and seeing that some of you worked for the same men I did, and had similar fond memories. I think the idea of a Butler’s and etc. vetran’s site is great.
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Tue Jan 1 09:10 PM
by Rommie KelleyWorked for Butler’s from 1964-1991. Started in Pine Bluff Arkansas as Assistant Mgr and went on to manage 5 different stores across 3 states. Florence, al,Pine Bluff, Ar,Tuscaloosa, Al,St Joe, Mo,Little Rock, Ar. Was with them 27 years and must say that those were some very happy days. Worked for Charlie Hudson, Talmadge Tyler, Frank Hicks, Talmadge DeRamus, Everet Head, Jerry Etheridge, Romie Butler, Rick Croom, Bill Day are the ones that come to mind. I finished my career at McCain Mall in N little Rock in 1991 when the company was falling apart and they closed my store. They made me several offers but I saw the handwriting on the wall. I spent 12 years with Sam’s Club and retired in 2004.
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Thu Dec 13 12:52 AM
by MarkAfter working with them for about 3 years they had a big change new president, they changed all the Mailing shoe names to Tip Toe, I left there in 89 I think about a year after that they started closing the stores
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Thu Dec 13 12:49 AM
by markI worked for butler shoes in Tacoma, Washington I worked there from 1983 – 1989 I managed 5 different stores in 3 different states started in Washington, went to Oregon, back to Washington, then last in Los Angeles
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Sat Dec 1 10:19 AM
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Sat Dec 1 09:52 AM
by Steve RowlandI made a mistake on the ‘1500’ stores, that is the total they had when I left we did approx 950 stores in my time. Butler was sold by Zales to Sears Holdings of England. Butler had a hostile takeover and dissolution not too long after I left. There’s a long story behind that. In regards to a couple of comments below, I worked with Frank Hicks during my time, he was a class gentleman. Also. Murray Kalish, yes, he was VP, but was also in charge of the entire ‘display’ section of the business in how the shores were displayed to the customer, windows and interiors. That was truly an operation. I had 17 people under my supervision in Design/Construction and I reported to Howard Morgan, when I left. My previous superior, Mickey Bjork, went into the display design business and made a huge success of it.
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Sat Dec 1 09:37 AM
by Steve RowlandI had an urge to Google: ‘Butler Shoe Corporation’, a moment ago, and this link came up on top. I worked in the Atlanta, GA, Butler corporate offices, starting at the Brookwood office, beginning as a designer/draftsman in 1976 and ended as the Manager of Store Planning and Construction in 1986, at the Terrell Mill office. I had some class bosses in Mickey Bjork, who I am still in contact with, and who is truly a class guy, and Howard Morgan, Bruce Feuer, and others, as well as Joe Shapiro. We designed, built, and remodeled the stores in conjunction with the Dallas, TX office of Zales. Upwards of 1500 stores were built or remodeled in that span of time. I left to go into my own Design/Construction business. Very pleasant memories or those people and times.
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Fri Nov 30 04:13 PM
by Allen GreenfieldAmazing how many people show up here from all over the Butler’s-Marilyn-S&J Simowitz shoe universe. There really ought to be a “Butler’s Veterans” site. Anyone wanna go for it? I’ll certainly have some stuff to share.
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Thu Nov 29 11:05 PM
by bill drummondworked for butlers shoes from 1960 till 1978 managed stores in savannah ga, bradenton fl, bham al , opelika al, and was auditor for about two years west coast , my first dm was joe shapiro, later worked for frank hicks ,toby storey. ray bourrougs ,t.tyler and a host of shoe dogs,,, now live in dallas,tx
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Tue Oct 9 09:39 AM
by Ron BallI worked for them in 1984 to 1989 Moved From Jonesboro aR To Bryan College Station Tx then to houston Tx Ran One of the larger stores in houston I was only 19 when they made me mgr of the one in College station Bill Day Was my DM in Jonesboro or memphis area and Larry Byrd in bryan CS Ron Brown was my DM in Houston Mike Kennamer was in San Anotnio and New orleans I heard somone mention Talmadge D He was an auditor in the Mid 80’s with butlers I am very thankful for the training i Got with them. Loved most every minute of it.
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Fri Jun 8 12:54 PM
by richard jumpi worked at butlers in 1973 at lauderhill mall in ft lauderdale fl. i remember everyone made it fun, one of my coworkers charles carter was great. his brother played football for the denver broncos, rubin carter. i was 17 years old and made pretty good money. i got married and bought the ring at zales in 74 awesome memories there.
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Wed Apr 4 11:58 PM
by Allen GreenfieldWow, some familiar names here. My father, Albert S. Greenfield was Executive VP of Butlers and had a lot to do with the merger with the Zale Jewelry people in the early 1970s. He had come up with many of the people at Marilyn Shoes in Augusta GA, which belonged to my Uncles Sam and Joe Simowitz. http://allengreenfield.wordpress.com/2010/04/09/greenfield-greenfeld-simowitz-my-family-history/During the Great Depression he’d been looking for work, met Issie Shapiro (my Godfather) who recruited him to come South and work for S&J. Butlers eventually suffered the same fate as lots of regional businesses in America – bought out and shut down. I can be reached at bishop171@gmail.com
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Thu Jan 19 06:39 PM
by Tim IsaacI just wanted add that I remembered the name of my last DM … Frank Hicks. He was one hell of a nice guy, a gentleman, and an inspiration.
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Wed Jan 18 10:24 PM
by Tim IsaacI started part-time with Butler’s in Little Rock, Arkansas in late 1969, and became a manager about a year later, in Jackson, Tennessee. I subsequently got stores in Clarksville, TN, Macon, GA (#333), and Warner Robins, GA. I left Butler’s in 1976. Names that were important to me at that time: Tommy Stone, my first manager, about 2 years older than me; Talmadge DeRamus, my DM for most of my time as manager; Charlie Hudson,General Manager, I think. I can’t recall the last name of my last DM, and even though our parting was a bit strained, I admired and respected him from that day to this. I worked with some great people: Freddie Joseph, Billy Lile, Bobby Bell, Stan Bush, George Croft. Many more. I was just a kid when they made me a manager, and it was the best formative experience a young man could have. I am grateful for every moment.
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Wed Jan 11 12:23 AM
by Don ThompsonI worked with many wonderful people for almost 25 years. I have a lot of great memories. I started in Daytona Beach in the 70’s and ended up in CA before the company changed it name Butler Group. They changed all the stores to either Sam & Libby or Jones New York. During the second liquidation I left the company. They sold the remaining stores to Bakers/Leeds around 2000
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Sat Dec 3 05:38 AM
by Steve I worked for Butler’s in Florence, AL in 1973 when they closed the store. My first day of looking for work in Tuscaloosa I was hired at Butler’s in McFarland Mall (now gone) I loved it and made a fortune. At 8% comm I made about 8 bucks an hour. They did not drug test but my asst manager flunked his polygraph. A few days later my manager found a dead armadillo in his car. itsten
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Sun Nov 6 08:55 PM
by Sharon I just found this newpaper article on the internet from 1936. http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1964&dat=19361120&id=A_0sAAAAIBAJ&sjid=m7YFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1029,1672660
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Sun Nov 6 08:44 PM
by My gradfather was Joseph Kalish. Did he have any other roles with Butlers in addition to being a Vice President in Atlanta?
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Sat Nov 5 11:45 AM
by Leah Shapiro KleinMy father, Israel David Shapiro was president of Butler Shoe Corp. and then he was the Chairman of the Board when my brother, Joe Shapiro took over as President. Butler’s was the second largest Women and Children shoe chain in the country that did not manufacture their own shoes. They ended up with over 847 stores when my brother resigned to persue other interests.
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Sun Aug 21 08:42 PM
by joe latinoworked for Butler for 16 years managed stores in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Memphis, Pompano Beach Florida. What a great experience that was.
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Mon Jul 25 12:36 AM
by Don McGinnisI was Southeastern Regional District Mgr. for Butlers Shoes Discount Division. It was in the 60s and 70s.that Butlers began leasing the shoe depts. of the big discount stores that were opening. It was a new era of shopping and Butlers was in on the ground floor. K-Mart was one of Butlers large accts. I enjoyed working for Butlers and my managers were the best. Hope some of you guys read this, it would be great to hear from you. Don
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Mon Jun 6 02:37 AM
by Jim PriceI was a store manager for Butler’s Shoes for over ten years.The home office was in Atlanta, GA. Marilyn Shoes was part of the same company. At one time we had over 300 stores, mainly in the south and along the East Coast.Greatest company I have ever worked for in over 55 years of working.
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Tue Apr 27 02:28 PM
by shahqueenButlers was one store that was very affordable and you could always find shoes that were different (style) from all the rest and pay less.Thanks Butlers for all that you’ve done.Now is there any store any where today?
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Mon Apr 12 03:36 PM
by danny toddworked at Butler Shoes at Southside Plaza from 1972 to 1980 what a great place to make money selling shoes worked Mr James Westbook
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Wed Mar 17 03:46 PM
by Susan BHow many weekends before Easter did my mother drag my sister and me to Butler’s Shoes for Easter shoes? We’d start at Belks on the lower end of Main Street, walk all the way up to the Fox or Carolina Theater, have lunch at either Tanner’s Big Orange or Pete’s, and all the way back down and when we were through, we each had new shoes, socks, dresses, purses, gloves and hats. I’m 55 and my sister is 57. Those were gentler, happier times. We just didn’t know it. . .
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Wed Jul 22 07:47 PM
by Don HattenButler Shoes was a company that had several stores throughout the US. They also were associated with Mailing Shoes in some northern states like Michigan and N. Ill. In it’s later days they were owned by parent company Zales
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