Looking Back: Arthur Johnson Shoes in Sioux Falls has history going back 110 years

Eric Renshaw | For the Argus Leader

Mons Johnson was born on October 24, 1855 in Bergen, Norway. At 24 he immigrated to the United States, first settling in Ottawa, Illinois. After coming to Dakota Territory, he settled in Puckwana, near Chamberlain, and married Annie Pauline Gilbertson on January 1, 1885. In 1889, the Johnsons moved with their newborn son, Arthur, to Sioux Falls. Mons began his career in shoes at The Other Shoe Store, a cleverly-named, long-time shoe establishment in town. He was working there when his daughter, Madeline, was born in January of 1895.

Once Arthur was old enough to work, Mons brought him into the business. In their years working at The Other Shoe Store, the Johnsons established a rapport with many customers. The two knew their product and could make recommendations for customers based on their previous selections.

On January 1, 1910, Mons and Arthur Johnson bought the Ramsey Brothers shoe store from W. H. Ramsey. Ramsey had established his shop at 119 S. Phillips in 1891, and from all indications, there seems to have been no other brother involved in the business at any point. The new business was called the Johnson Shoe Company, and the owners hoped to bring clients from The Other Shoe Store and keep as many as possible from the Ramsey Brothers store.

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The Johnson Shoe Company in 1914 moved from just north of the northwest corner of 10th and Phillips to 126 S. Phillips — basically across the street in the Beach Pay building.

In 1934, Mons took ill and could no longer contribute directly to the business. In his absence, Arthur was at the helm. Mons succumbed to this illness and died on November 29, 1934 at age 79. In 1937, Arthur decided to step away from the day-to-day business of the operation, leaving these details to manager Marvin Kriens, who had worked there since 1922.

Arthur made plans to retire in 1961. He sold the business to Johnson Shoes, Inc., a newly established corporation assembled by Willard “Bill” Coppock and his brother, James, businessmen from Des Moines. The deal became final on January 1, 1962. The Coppocks kept the name of the store and carried on the legacy of the 51-year-old business. Bill would run the business, while James continued to sell shoes on the road as he had up to that point. Marvin Kriens would retire from active management soon after the changeover.

In the mid-1970s, Bill Coppock’s son, Tom, took over the operation of Johnson Shoes. In 1976, the store relocated to 214 S. Phillips, just a few doors north of Shriver’s department store. This was at the time when the blocks between 11th and Ninth on Phillips contained a pedestrian mall. This area, which was closed to traffic, was filled with concrete planters, benches and other things the city hoped would revitalize downtown. Johnson Shoes survived these trying times, thanks to excellent quality, service and dedicated customers.

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In 1985, the Coppocks opened a sister store near 41st and Kiwanis. They called it Arthur’s Shoes. Tom ran that store, while brother James kept the downtown location going. Around the same time, the brothers bought Caldwell’s Shoes at 11th and Phillips in the Boyce-Greeley building and renamed it Hattie’s Feminine Footwear. The store’s namesake was Hattie Phillips, wife of Dr. J.L. Phillips, for whom the downtown street is named. Caldwell’s had been around since 1948. According to Tom Coppock, the acquisition of the additional store was an attempt to help keep downtown business vibrant. The Coppocks closed Hattie’s in September of 1992, making Johnson Shoes the focus of all of their downtown business.

In 2009, Tom and brother James decided to close Johnson Shoes downtown and transfer the stock and business of that location to Arthur’s Shoes on 41st. The name of the new business became Arthur Johnson Shoes. That the Coppock family would carry on the name of the original owners at all is something I appreciate. That they would name a second store after an original owner is impressive. Merging the two names is icing on the cake. In January, Arthur Johnson Shoes will have been in business for 110 years. They must be doing something right.

Eric Renshaw of Sioux Falls has written the book "Forgotten Sioux Falls" and gives a historical perspective on his website GreetingsFromSiouxFalls.com.