If you’ve lived in Kingsport for any amount of time and owned a pair of dress shoes, work boots or sandals in need of repair, then you’ve probably paid Harold Joseph a visit.

Originally from Harlan, Kentucky, Joseph has been the owner of Shoe Wiz for more than 37 years. This fourth generation cobbler explains how he got into the business of repairing shoes for a living.

“My profession is absolutely a family affair,” Joseph said. “I have nine uncles and five brothers in the business, though a lot of them are retired now. When all of my uncles got out of the military, they all opened up shoe stores and did repairs.”

To further elaborate on his family’s shoe repairing origins, Joseph said his grandfather had a contract with the State of Kentucky to repair all of the boots from Fort Campbell and Fort Knox. The military would send the boots to Harlan, via train, and the grandfather, his brothers and children would repair them, lace and polish them, put the boots back in boxes and send them back to the bases.

Joseph said he’s always had a passion for his job, even after nearly four decades in the business.

“My father had a nice plan. When the boys turned 12 in the summer they would send us out to work with another uncle in the repair business, doing shoe repairs and other things,” Joseph said. “So, I’ve done this since I was little and I’m still not burned out.”

Shoe Wiz is capable of performing boot and shoe repairs, jacket repairs, orthopedic work (lifts, adjustments, build ups), luggage and bag repairs, work on harnesses, saddle bags, holsters, belts and bridles.

“Anything imaginable that I can repair, I’ll repair it,” he said.

Over the years Joseph’s shop has bounced around the Model City, first starting out in World of Clothing (for four years), then in the lobby of Burlington Coat Factory (for six years), at the corner of Eastman Road and Fort Henry Drive for a decade and finally in its current location at the Kroger shopping center the past eight years.

At one time, the Tri-Cities had up to seven shoe repair businesses, but as the cobblers got older their children or other apprentices did not take up the profession. Today, Joseph is the only one in town.

Being the lone cobbler in town has allowed Joseph to essentially watch three-quarters of the city grow up.

“I’ve seen three generations of folks and their kids come through my door. I’ve seen a ton of Eastman employees and many I became friends with,” Joseph said. “I don’t think there’s another repair shop in Bristol, Johnson City, Morristown or Greeneville. I’m the last one and there’s not a new generation coming up.”

At this point in his life, Joseph could retire but chooses not to because he loves his job too much. However, he does have a plan – find someone in their 30s, willing to learn the trade, teach them for about a year or so and then give them the business.

“I just love helping people out and every day I try and take care of everybody,” Joseph said. “Just fixing shoes is all I’ve ever done and all I want to do. There’s no sense messing up a good thing.”