FOR over 70 years, the Hong Kong Shoe Shop has been producing high-quality, handcrafted shoes that combine history and modern design.
Owned by Wong Heng Mun, 62, the store stands as a dedication to the commitment and skill passed down from his father, the original creator.
Nestled in the heart of town, this quaint business has welcomed generations of customers seeking custom shoes tailored to their unique needs. Wong, the second-generation owner, fondly recalls a time when their most expensive custom-made shoes sold for RM500, reflecting the bustling activity of the shop’s heyday.
However, the landscape shifted since the Movement Control Order (MCO), posing new challenges for this enduring family business.
“After the MCO, it’s been hard to make ends meet. Customers have been drawn away from customised workmanship by the increasing number of ready-made shoes, a trend that has severely impacted the business.
“Unlike in the past, there are now two-month periods during which the business gets visited by just three to four people,” said Wong when interviewed by the Buletin Mutiara team.
He added that the firm is under severe pressure due to the decrease in custom-made shoes. Wong faces the difficult challenge of keeping the heritage business afloat with just one employee to help him.
“If this keeps going for another two to three years, I will close this shop,” he said.
The Hong Kong Shoe Shop remains beloved in the community despite these difficulties. Acknowledged as one of the oldest historic stores, it stands as a beacon of history in a rapidly modernising world. However, even if this honour, financial limits persist.
Operating from 9am to 7pm every day except Sunday, Wong is devoted to his craft. Each pair of shoes he makes is a labour of love, representing a piece of his family’s history. However, the future remains uncertain.
Wong and his Hong Kong Shoe shop remind us of the importance of workmanship and tradition in a rapidly changing world. Though the store fights to survive, its history is evident in every pair of shoes crafted there.
Story and pix by Nurul Hawa Farahin Hameddy