by Van Stone vspfoundation@yahoo.com (215) 7478746
Cliff's' Shoe Repair' representing timeless Black American Achievement in Entrepreneurship and economic and education development. Above from L-R Van Stone, WVSR-AM Internet Radio Station Owner, Eric Burell, Shoe Repair Shop Co-Opeator and Radio Studio Manager, Cliff Burell, Co-Operator, and Warren F. Bloom, WVSR-AM, www.wvsr1360.com, Radio Personality. Bernadine Hawes, ACF Project Rise, is interested in making small businesses look like state of the art companies along West Philly's thriving working Lancaster Ave.
Eric Burell, a Black American entrepreneur since he was almost 8 years-old, has studied hard the shoe repair business that gives a quick guide to which style must be followed to produce long lasting work. If you have questions about the first African American shoe repair owner in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that fixed shoes in a tiny space using special shoe repair machines and a secret shoe repair formula expect to get all the answers about the shoe repair man, the machines but not the formula. The formula is to die for.
Cliff’s located at 109 S. 40th St. in West Philadelphia between Chestnut St, running east, and Walnut Street, running west, has been fixing shoes there for over 60 years. And very little renovations if any has been done that might effect declaring the shop a historic site. If family ownership for at least 3 generations qualifies the shop to be recognized for improving Black Business achievement and economic development in cities in America then the University of Pennsylvania area should gladly prepare to participate in showering this existing business with collegian love and support.
Shoe repair professionals Eric, Cliff, and Jerry, 3 Burell brothers that have worked for environmental friendly greening shoe repair ideas to keep the wearer clean conscience, has added a radio studio component within the shop. Having a mini-radio-station studio there is quickly possible and economically sound because Eric is using today’s high tech computer development known as online radio and onphone radio. Eric expects to broadcast live from his shoe shop while mending and cleaning boots and shoes.
The Burell's are their brother’s keeper of the 3 generations of Franklins, Burell's, and McCullough's combination-legacy operating the shop. Cliff's have been involved in education improvement and community protection from the first day the store was opened by grandpa Burell and friends. Eric, an ex-offender, has done quite nicely considering how hard it is to deal with the challenges of re-entry in any Philadelphia business district. And speaking of the challenges of re-entry and independent contracting this also applies to the wrongfully imprisoned demographics such as yours truly, Van Stone, who find that many employers refuse to hire anyone that has been put in jail.
But, balancing the business neighborhood beam where the impact of the University of Penn has yet to make West Philly a thriving migration location for long existing trade shops and re-entry job seekers is project leader veteran Bernadine Hawes. Hawes, American Cities Foundation, Project Rise, Director, located at 2401 North 54th Street in Philadelphia, PA is truly helping to revitalize West Philadelphia businesses with fairness.
Hawes is very familiar with the legacy of business real estate along Lancaster Avenue north side and south side from 38th St. to 63rd St. She is also alert about the awful road blocks ex-offenders and new small businesses come upon at times during start up fazes. And if entrepreneurs like Eric Burell and his own family Walnut Street area Cliff’s shoe repair shop are interested in active expansion from the University City area into the Lancaster Avenue strip Hawes says she is looking to “help them overcome their barriers so they can succeed.” How can Project Rise help? They aid certain business foreword.
Project Rise, (Reaching and Impacting Small Entrepreneurs), present focus area is a west Philadelphia Zip codes portion 19143, 19151, and 19131 and 19139. Specifications for improving staffing, old business, capital, interest in securing business property, loans interest, creditors information and certain corporations, is Haws’ purpose to assist entrepreneurs with commitment to work. For more info about ACF phone 215-476-8091.
