Mike Smith is keeping alive the art of the shoe shine. The business took a big hit during the COVID-19 shutdowns, and Smith is on a mission to revive the craft and see it flourish. The noble profession has been around for centuries. It’s not just about putting a mirror shine on a pair of shoes or boots, but also about protecting footwear from Northern Nevada’s dust and sun, and increasing its longevity. You can find Smith and his stand at the Nugget Casino Resort, at 1100 Nugget Ave., in Sparks, Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. His website is www.ShinySoles.com.
Tell me about your background and how you got into shoe shining.
I’m a retired educator and taught for 33 years in Mississippi and Tennessee, but I was born in Memphis, Tenn., and grew up in Mississippi. My first was job at 13. I had just gotten out of school one day and stopped in the local shoe cobbler’s business and asked for a job. I just thought he’d have me sweeping the floors and emptying the trash—which I did, but he also taught me the art and craftsmanship and artisanship of shining and polishing and caring for shoes. Later on, when I was in college, some of the professors would come by and knock on my door and give me a couple of pairs of their boots and shoes to shine. They tipped me very well. After retiring from being an educator—and I don’t do well with retirement—I started shining again in 2018, so you might as well say that I’ve returned to one of my first passions. I’m often asked what brought me to Northern Nevada in 2017, and my response is 5’ 4”, 125 pounds—a fifth-generation Nevadan, my soulmate, Margaret.
Can you tell me a brief history of shoe shining?
Shoe shiners kind of date back to the 18th century in France. During that time, shoemakers would make base mixtures based on animal fat, and they would use that to nourish and protect their customers’ shoes. It kept the shoes supple, and it kept them waterproof. Shoe polishes never hit the masses commercially until the 20th century. Shoe shining still exists today, and the profession is very common in many countries around the world. The singer James Brown—we know him as the “godfather of soul”—not only was he singing and dancing in the streets of Augusta, Ga.; he was also shining shoes.
Have you shined for any famous or interesting people?
One of the people who I can think of off the top of my head was then-Gov. Brian Sandoval, who is now the president of UNR. I had an opportunity to polish his boots in Carson City when I first launched Shiny Souls Boot and Shoe Shine based out of Carson City.
Have you ever received an unusual or big tip for your services?
The biggest tip I received was in cash for a $20 shine. The gentleman gave me a $100 bill and said to keep the change. He said that the conversation was way worth it, and I did a great job. He also said, “I want to keep you guys in business, because you can’t find you guys everywhere,” and that was at the Reno Rodeo.
Why do you think the art of shoe shining declined?
I think the decline has been exacerbated by the pandemic with remote working, and the rise in popularity of more casual shoes and casual workwear. That’s what people wear now going to work—sneakers and casual shoes with suits and business attire. So, I just got with the program. I don’t just do leather; I also clean sneakers. After the decline in the wearing of nice leather shoes, my sneaker business began to increase by about 25%!
This is how you’re saving and resuscitating the art of the shoe shine. What are your future goals?
That’s just one of the tenets of it. I think just by providing the services, it’s resuscitating a dying art. I’m probably the only shiner in Reno. I know there are no other shiners in any other casino properties. I do a lot of conventions in and around Reno, starting with the Reno Rodeo and all the cowboy-Western events, so I’m sort of well-known around town. One day, my goal is to have my brick-and-mortar shop and stands where people can sit, and also, they could drop off and leave their shoes. I’m always looking for people who want to learn this craft. I’ll be more than happy to teach them, because if I had more personnel and more help, I could have more locations. One of my other goals is to get this out to the Reno Airport and have a stand, but I need skilled manpower. If they are breathing and have a pulse and are willing to listen, I’m willing to teach. My motto is: “Let Mike put a glow on that toe!”
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