SAN ANTONIO -- They pride themselves on handmade comfort for your feet. San Antonio Shoemakers are celebrating 40 years of crafting shoes.
Born in Maine, Terry Armstrong and Lew Hayden moved to San Antonio with a dream of making great shoes. Instead, they would come to create their own business.
"When the shoe company that they worked for went overseas, Terry and Lew decided they didn't want to do that, that they would rather craft something of quality here in America," SAS Shoemakers Project Manager Tyler Remmert said.
Their company produced their first pair of shoes in 1976. All of 40 years later, Remmert and other family members continue the tradition.
"SAS adheres to a standard of comfort, fit and quality that, frankly, most shoe companies don't adhere to at all anymore," Remmert said.
SAS welcomes people into their general store not just for shoes, but also to experience the good old days with a 10-cent coke, 5-cent popcorn, and penny candy.
"It's really a one stop shop for a vintage feel, where you feel you're transported to a simpler time; a time when people made things by hand and people took pride in their work," Remmert said.
SAS is still venturing out.
"Over the last 5 to 10 years is really expand to just being a comfort fit, to a lot more stylish," Remmert noted.
It's a step they hope will keep them around for another 40 years.
