LEATHER SHOP MARKS 40 YEARS; BOB'S NOW RUN BY FOUNDER'S CHILDREN

Bob's Shoe Service will observe its 40th anniversary next month.

The Cape Girardeau shop opened in 1953 at 113 Independence, specializing in repair of shoes and leather goods.

Robert Fuller, founder, has retired, but he still makes a daily appearance at the store. "It a habit with me," said Fuller, a native of Anna, Ill.

Fuller turned the operation of the shop, now at 515 Broadway, over to two of his children daughter Beth Schweer and son Wade Fuller in January 1991.

Fuller, who was introduced to the leather repair business in his home town, worked with Ed Young in the Young Shoe Repair business at Anna before opening his shop in Cape Girardeau.

Six years after opening on Independence, Fuller moved to 633 Broadway. He later moved to 515 Broadway, where the shop has been the past 25 years.

The company, in addition to boot repair, now offers one of the largest selections of boots and leather items between St. Louis and Memphis.

"We also have a selection of saddles and tack bridles, halters, and leather straps," said Beth Schweer. "We still make a lot of our leather products here."

Fuller produced his own saddles in the early to late 1970s.

"I've always liked saddles," he said. "In 1972 we purchased a saddle and western shop in Kentucky. "I studied saddle-making and started producing them here."

Fuller's saddles sold in retail outlets throughout the area, along with other leather items he produced in the Cape Girardeau shop.

"We made halters, bridles, collars and leashes for dogs and other pets, saddle bags and belts," said Fuller.

One of Fuller's sons, Wade, continues to produce the smaller leather items.

In 1985, Fuller expanded the shop, purchasing an adjacent building to add another 1,500 square feet.

Shoe-repair and leather-goods businesses run in the Fuller Family.

"My brother now operates a shoe-repair and leather-goods shop at Anna, and a sister is involved in a shoe-repair shop at Harrisburg, Ill." said Robert Fuller.

Jim Fuller and his wife operate Jim and Dot's Shoe Repair at Anna. Chet and Eloise Lindsey operate Chet's Shoe Repair at Harrisburg.