DeMeritt Shoe Co. – New Footwear or Repair the Old

The DeMeritt Shoe Company was founded in Houston, Texas in 1892 by Frank T. DeMeritt. The company’s history started out as a small shoe repair shop. Later, it became a successful shoe retailer. In 1905, the company moved to a new location on Main Street, and in 1910, it opened a second location at 313 Main Street in downtown Houston.

Growth

The DeMeritt Shoe Company was known for its high-quality shoes and its excellent customer service. By the 1950s, the company had become one of the largest and most successful shoe retailers in Houston. The company had several locations throughout the city, and it employed hundreds of people. The company had stores in the Heights, Montrose, and Rice Village.

Other Products

The DeMeritt Shoe Company sold a variety of other products in addition to shoes. These products included shoe polish, shoe trees, belts, handbags, luggage, and other accessories.

Ownership

The company was owned by the DeMeritt family until 1960, when it was sold to the Brown Shoe Company. Brown Shoe Company owned the company until 1970, when it was closed.

Here is a more detailed timeline of the company’s ownership:

1892: Frank T. DeMeritt founds the DeMeritt Shoe Company. it was passed down through the family for three generations. Frank’s son, Harry DeMeritt, took over the company in 1920, and his son, Frank Jr., took over in 1950.

Decline Due to National Chains

In 1960, Frank Jr. sold the company to the Brown Shoe Company. In the 1960s, the DeMeritt Shoe Company began to face increasing competition from national chains like Sears and JC Penney.

The fact that DeMeritt continued to do shoe repair might have saved the company. However, the national chains eventually got into the shoe repair business too. In 1970, the company was closed. It eventually succumbed to the competition from national chains.