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The
Enchanted Shoe
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Lamar Ave near I-240 |
Built
in 1965 - Demolished in 1996
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Click
photo to
enlarge
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Photo
and article from The
Well-Built Elephant and Other Roadside
Attractions:
A Tribute to American
Eccentricity (1984) by J.J.C. Andrews.
(Click text to enlarge)
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The
store was first marketed as “The
Enchanted Shoe” and was a part of a
Memphis based chain “Raifords”.
The stock was publicly traded over the
counter in Memphis.
Raiford’s operated several stores in
Memphis locations (Main Street, Madison
Ave., Poplar at Perkins, Getwell @
Rhodes, Southbrook Mall, Raleigh, and
two leased departments in the Youngtown
stores. The Enchanted Shoe was a
revolutionary concept and the idea was
to grow beyond the original Lamar
location. This could have been very
successful on a national level; but the
location chosen for the prototype store
turned out to be a bad choice.
The shoe
store had unique, child-oriented
furniture inside. One was a giant
octopus with seats on the ends of its
tentacles. |
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The
shoe's architect, Lawrence T. Hord Jr.,
passed away in December 1996, the year the
shoe was demolished. The
architecture firm is now under the
leadership of his son, Carter Hord, AIA,
who provided the original
architectural drawings on the right.
Hord
Architects
66 Monroe Ave., Suite 105
Memphis, TN 38103
Tel. 901.527.9085
Fax. 901.527.9087
www.hordarchitects.com
Click
drawings to
enlarge
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©
Hord Architects |
Submitted by: Bill Hays : 21 Dec 2007, 21:10
Subject: The Shoe Store On Lamar
My Wife and I, along with Four Children lived in the area from 1958 to
1972, and vividly remember the construction of "The Shoe", as well as
many visits to purchase footwear for the Kids. It was a Conversation
Structure for the neighborhood, and though we had already moved when it
was demolished, it still was very nostalgic to see this Landmark torn
down. Sincerely, Bill and Dorothy Hays, along with Ricky, Laurie, Kathy
and Sandra.
Submitted by: T. Duffie : 19 Mar 2010, 21:52
While I do recall my mom taking me to "The Shoe" to purchase footwear
when I was a toddler, my foundest memories are from the years that my
parents leased this building to house our family run school supply store
called "The Learning Shoe". I would like to think that there are some out
there who remember buying school supplies from us. We had several local
school teachers who bought from us on a regular basis. This was a
wonderful building and I really wish that it were still standing so that my
child would have had a chance to see it in person.
Submitted by: Rob Medlin : 24 May 2011, 15:32
This is why Memphis has nothing to offer, they tear everything down that's
nostalgic and put up expensive buildings that go empty and are left as
eyesores. I used to love going by there as a kid along with the old
"Frostys" mug building.
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