Falk speaks to Gravette Lions Club
GRAVETTE — Danny Falk, owner with his son Kaiser of Soles Saved and Heels Too boot, shoe and leather repair service, was the guest speaker for the Sept. 20 meeting of the Gravette Lions Club. Falk relocated to Gravette and opened his leather repair shop here three years ago after 28 years in Rogers.
Falk, an Illinois native, said he started in leather repair at an early age. His father was a baker and he began working in the shoe repair shop next door when he was still in high school. He said he has always enjoyed
shoe repair and it seems to come very naturally to him. When he moved to Gravette, he opened his leather repair shop, the third one he has owned, in downtown Gravette and said he saw a definite need for his services as business has been good.
Danny’s son Kaiser assists his father in the shop when possible but he has recently started a successful handyman business that keeps him quite busy, so on July 1 Danny closed the retail shop and has been working from a building at his son’s home. Boots, shoes and other leather goods needing repair can now be dropped off and picked up at Austin Drug on Main Street.
Falk displayed a variety of shoe soles and showed before and after soles from a recent boot repair job he did. He told a little about what his work involves and lamented that the number of shoe repair shops in existence has dwindled and there are now only four in Benton County. The quality of leathers has deteriorated, he said, which sometimes makes it difficult to get suitable supplies.
He said he thinks Soles Saved and Heels Too has developed a good reputation, and he is proud of doing quality work at a fair price. He has served customers in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, and he told about some special projects he has turned out recently in addition to his shoe and boot repair, including creating a heavy welding apron with sleeves and repairing sails for one of the largest boats on Beaver Lake.
“Still I’m mainly in business to serve practical working people with a hole in their boots,” he concluded.
Falk also told a bit about his musical interests. He said he was a music education major at the University of Iowa and worked for 11 years at Saied Music Company in Fayetteville. He is currently a member of the Bella Vista Community Band.
In the business meeting that followed, Lions Club members approved a budget for the 2022-2023 year and voted to make a $50 donation to the Mad Hatters. An individual’s request for eye testing and eyeglasses was also approved.
An announcement was made that pecans have arrived and they will be sold at the Saturday farmers’ market. Another fundraiser, a crockpot fest, is being planned for Saturday, Oct. 22, from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Several Gravette members will be attending the Arkansas Lions district convention on Oct. 7 and 8 in Ozark. Club members will also participate in Trick or Treat on Main Street Monday, Oct. 31. Club member Karen Benson reminded members of the Moon Over Main Street event scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 1, at the library.
Jay Oliphant was inducted into membership at the conclusion of the meeting. He joined the club a few months ago but had been unable to attend previous meetings. He thanked club members who attended the Gravette Kiwanis meeting and said they were the ones who encouraged him to join Lions Club.
Lions Club meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month at the Billy V. Hall Senior Activity Center at 12:30 p.m. The next meeting of the club will be Tuesday, Oct. 4. Visitors are always welcome. Lunch is available.