The History of Footwear Plus

Footwear Plus started out in 1946 as C.W. Chambers store in an area in southwest Person county called Bushy Fork.  The store was started by my father C.W. "Charlie" Chambers after his return from Germany after WWII.

The store started life in a rented building as a small country store that served the local farmers and other residents. While this was the first store that Charlie owned, his training actually began before the war in a store in Roxboro, NC  that was called "The Farmers Supply."  At times my father and grandfather Harvey Chambers both worked in Famers Supply selling everything from rope to animal feed to mechanical equipment.

At the time Daddy said that he had 3 jobs.  Both of my parents worked "public work" in Tultex cotton mills during 3rd shift.  In the mornings my mom would open the store whiile Dad slept. At lunch Dad went to the store and would watch the store while also plowing a tobacco field behind the store with a  mule.  If a customer came to the store, Dad could tell by the dust in the driveway, and he would leave the mule in the field and help the customer.

He said the mule would stand in the field all day and wait for him to return, until 5:00!!  At 5:00 the old mule knew it was quiting time and headed straight for the barn, dragging the plow behind him.  If he had to go across all of the rows to get there, so be it. 

In the mid 50's a new, larger location was built and more stock added.  This location was kind of like Ike Godsey's store on the "Waltons" TV show.  I recently had someone tell me that their family called it the "Bushy Fork Mall" because you could find anything in it.  From animal feed and supplies to a meat market to work clothes and shoes to hardware and groceries.  Gas, car tires, and oil changes, we did it all. 

Footwear Plus was spun off in 1987 as a seperate retail location for work clothes, western wear, and footwear, and has prospered since its move.  We think we have a great history and an even greater future.