Golden Shoes Founder Dies at 100

It's not often that small businesses stand the test of time, but Irving Goldberg built one that has lasted for generations and in the process became a Palos Heights landmark. 

Mr. Goldberg died late last month and services were held on April 24. He was the founder of , which has occupied space on Harlem Avenue since 1963. 

His son Marc now runs the store with the same dedication to customer service that his father believed in.

Last year, Marc Goldberg about the history and operating philosophy of the store his father founded.

When Irving Goldberg decided to move the store from Chicago to the suburbs he took a tip from a salesman, who told him that the Palos area was in need of a new shoe store.

“[The salesman] told my father that Shapiro's Shoes (which once existed across the street from Golden Shoes) was doing such a business that they had people taking numbers – like they do at butcher shop or bakery – at two o'clock on a weekday,” Goldberg said.

And so a Palos Heights tradition was born.

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"The thing that really strikes you about Irv was that he was a throwback to the old merchant. The most important things in his store was giving service," said Palos Heights Mayor Bob Straz. "He did wonders for people in town."

Mr. Goldberg is survived by his sons Marc (the late Barbara) and Edward (Linda Trytek) and his grandchildren Katie, Erica, Jessica and Aliza. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Orland Park Rotary. 

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