George Marinakes Shoe Service
Marinakes Shoe Service has been a part of downtown Richmond since 1928. It all started when George Marinakes’ father, Theodore G. Marinakes, opened his shop at 1030 E Main Street on September 1st, 1928. That’s nearly a century of serving this amazing community!
George was born on May 14th, 1929, right here in Richmond, IN. He began working in his father’s store at the age of 13, learning the business and offering shoeshines for the low price of just $0.15. He later taught clarinet lessons all around Wayne County and the surrounding area for just $1 per lesson. In 1951, George was drafted into the United States Army. From 1951-1952, he served in the 198th Tank Battalion in Fort Jackson, SC, and later transferred over to serve in the 31st Infantry Division Band also at Fort Jackson. Thank you for your service, George! During WWII, shoes were difficult to find and purchased with stamps. This meant that shoe repair stores were very busy as many folks could not afford multiple sets of shoes. After his father’s passing in 1952, George took over the family business and has been a staple downtown business ever since. At that time, Marinakes Shoe Service offered shoe repairs, shoe dyeing, shoeshines, zipper repair, purse repair, and rip work on coats, just to name a few. With 20 other shoe repair stores in the area back then, George knew his services needed to be the best. To this day, people from miles away come to his store in downtown Richmond because they know that he offers the best service around. George added “If you’re happy with your work and your customers are happy with it, then I feet accomplished.” Outside of work, George enjoys music, attending different types of shows, and loves to fish. His favorite spot was the Middle Fork Reservoir located near his home on Northmont Blvd where he lived for 23 years. He served on the Board of Health for ten years, directed the Tarum Shriners Club Band for five years, and has been selected as this year’s Grand Marshall at the upcoming Veterans Parade on November 11th.
We want to congratulate George on his retirement as of October 25th, 2023. When asked what he would miss the most, he stated “I will miss my customers and my friends. Thank you all so much.” George’s son, Theodore, plans to take over the family business in the future.
We’d like to thank you, George, for providing such excellent service to the community for over 80 years! Enjoy your retirement!
