Rick Lippard found a second home in Archie’s Goodyear Shoe Repair when he walked through the door in 1979.

Invited to work for his wife’s uncle, Lippard worked under the original owner, Archie, for seven years before buying him out in 1986 for the business located at 107 Welch Ave.

Lippard said he’s watched the face of Campustown change drastically over the years.

“I’ve seen lots of businesses come and go,” he said. “It’s a lot different these days. There used to be more retail than there is now.”

The store has been located on Welch Avenue since its opening in 1941, Lippard said.

“There used to be clothing, hardware and other shoe repair stores around here,” he said. “Now there are mostly bars, coffee shops and hair-cutting places.”

Lippard said he isn’t getting the competition he wants.

“I’d like for there to be more shoe repair stores around to draw more people into the area and increase competition,” he said. “It gets harder and harder every year to stay in business. When I started in 1979, there were five guys here repairing shoes,” he continued. “Now, it’s just me.”

Lippard said he has fewer shoe repairs coming in because rubber soles make shoes less repairable.

“For the college kids we just do small jobs like repairing sandals and buckles,” he said. “For the faculty, staff and townsfolk, we repair a lot of soles and heels.”

Lippard said his store combines repair work with retail geared toward college students.

“We sell a lot of Vans skateboarding shoes to students who want them for casual wear,” he said.

Lippard said he puts in more than 50 hours of work on the six days a week his store is open. When he isn’t working, he stays in touch with his three grown children and goes golfing and fishing.

“If you work in the retail business, you don’t get out of town much,” he said.

Still, Lippard isn’t complaining.

“I like what I do here,” he said. “It’s a fun job, and the students keep you young for sure.”