Thursday, March 28, 2024
Michael Stone Online

Shoeshiner Keeps Old-Timey Tradition Alive in Downtown Gainesville

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Jim Goff poses atop his shoeshine stand in downtown Gainesville. Photo by Michael Stone

At the intersection of Southeast First Street and Second Avenue in the heart of Gainesville, businesspeople shuffle to and from their offices, friends pick out a spot for lunch, and bicyclists leisurely pedal by.

And all the while, someone is watching, carefully examining something no one leaves home without — their shoes.

“When you’ve been in the business, you can’t help it,” fast-talking Jim Goff said of his mindful eye, sneaking peaks at the pairs of Oxfords, loafers and sneakers as they pass.

Keep reading in the Gainesville Sun.

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