PD News

By Jack Smiles jsmiles@psdispatch.com
Times Leader Staff Writer

In 1928 Giuseppe Esposito – an immigrant from Naples, Italy – opened a shoemaker shop in Exeter. Today, 81 years later, the business is still operating in Exeter and still in the family.

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Giuseppe Esposito, Ron Rome, Nicholas Esposito, and Joe Muti at the original Esposito’s Shoes in Exeter.

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Ed Esposito shows one of the antique shoe repair machines at Esposito’s shoes which has been in operation in Exeter for 81 years.

Photo by Jack Smiles

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Ed Esposito, 52, is Giuseppe’s grandson and he is the proprietor of Esposito’s Shoes Inc. at 1054 Wyoming Avenue, just a few blocks north of where the original business stood.

The business has evolved over the decades from a traditional shoe repair shop, to an athletic shoe reconditioning business, to the orthopedic shoe business that Ed runs today. In the beginning, a big part of Giuseppe’s business was repairing work boots for coal miners. Though he spoke little English, he was successful enough to open a second shop in Nanticoke.

Giuseppe had his share of heartbreak. His wife and a daughter, one of five kids, died in 1944. In 1945 his youngest son was killed in action in WWII. His son Nicholas survived the war and took over the business when the war ended.

In the 1950s local high schools brought their football spikes to Esposito’s to have them reconditioned for the next season. Nicholas and his employees replaced cleats, repaired rips and replaced insoles. As more schools brought their shoes in, Nicholas saw and opportunity to make reconditioning athletic shoes a full-time business. It worked. Esposito’s won subcontracts from large national firms to recondition shoes for college and high school athletic departments in several states. He also sold children’s shoes.

By the mid-90s the athletic repair business was tapped out by school mergers and changing demographics. There were far fewer players and most of the larger schools bought new shoes every season.

Ed Esposito took over the business and closed the athletic and children’s shoe ends of the business and developed the first specialty, or orthopedic, shoe company in Luzerne County.

Diabetes, arthritis and hip surgery patients and toe amputees are examples of the customers Ed serves. Diabetics often have nerve damage and lose feeling in their feet which can lead to serious problems from untreated simple injuries or blisters. Nerve damage can also lead to changes in the shape of feet and toes.

Ed, a board certified pedorthist, uses a device called Aetrex I/Fit. Computer software identifies pressure points in customers’ soles. This allows for the proper insole design to relieve pressure. A device called an AMFIT System manufactures arch supports to a doctor’s specifications.

Though a computer-aided orthopedic shoe business is light years away from Giuseppe’s miner’s boot repair business, in a way, Esposito’s has come full circle. About three years ago, in response to a walk-in demand, Esposito’s reopened the traditional shoe repair end of the business.

Charles Falchetti, who is also a board certified pedorthists, also does the general shoe repair.

Esposito’s Shoes can be reached at 655-2254.