The snowy and salty streets of winter in Toronto have created a great opportunity for one shoe shine business in the downtown area.
Penny Loafers Shoe Shine Company Inc., established in 1994, consists mostly of women who are involved in creative professions, such as actors, writers, and musicians, with three locations in Toronto’s financial district. For many on the team, this job serves as a “side hustle,” according to its owner.
Staff members have polished shoes for thousands of clients, including prime ministers, former premiers, past mayors, and professionals from executive suites in banks and law firms, states Jenny Young, the company’s president, CEO and owner.
Young expressed her fondness for how “old timey” the business feels and has no intention of slowing down anytime soon.
“At some point every year, in the 23 years that I’ve been doing this, somebody says to me: ‘Oh, this is a dying art. This isn’t going to last.’ And it always has,” Young mentioned during an interview at the company’s shoe shine location within Fairmont Royal York hotel.
“There is always going to be a need for someone to clean shoes. We all wear them.”
Young herself is an actor and has assembled a team largely composed of creative individuals; out of 12 shoe shiners, 10 are women-a detail that often surprises clients.
![]()
Jenny Young, president, CEO and owner of Penny Loafers Shoe Shine Company Inc., says: ‘At some point every year, in the 23 years that I’ve been doing this, somebody says to me: ‘Oh, this is a dying art. This isn’t going to last.’ And it always has.’ (Talia Ricci/CBC)
According to Young, Penny Simmons-who founded the business-aimed to create opportunities for women looking to transition in their lives personally or professionally. She explained that it allows women to earn money while following their artistic dreams.
The schedule includes flexibility so staff can “spell each other off” when they get gigs elsewhere.
“I’m fairly positive that most people who work for me-I think all-really enjoy it as a side hustle,” she said.
Younger dreams about expanding into Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport but right now her focus during these messy winter months is simply helping people put their best foot forward.
“We’re in a feel-good business. We really make people feel good.”
“I knew that it was flexible and supportive toward artists with our unpredictable schedules,” Horne explained.
She enjoys shining shoes because it’s hands-on work where she gets to engage with people face-to-face; calling it “unplugged.”
“There’s something very satisfying about being able actually complete a task and see the result of your work.”
Source link
‘In between gigs you need some work,’ says actor-writer
Christine Horne works as a shoe shine valet at Penny Loafers and has been acting for 20 years while also writing audio books. She appreciates having this job as she navigates her career in the arts while running a small theater company called Shakespeare in the Ruff. “I started working here back in 2016 because I just needed a job,” Horne shared. “It can be quite unstable being an actor. I do pretty well overall but even then I still need something else during gaps between gigs.” Horne mentioned she reached out to Young since she was aware many artists were employed there.“I knew that it was flexible and supportive toward artists with our unpredictable schedules,” Horne explained.
She enjoys shining shoes because it’s hands-on work where she gets to engage with people face-to-face; calling it “unplugged.”
“There’s something very satisfying about being able actually complete a task and see the result of your work.”
Source link
