Business focus: Alex Baker shines at work

Most people probably know what a bootblack is or what one does. But there aren’t many around these days who can be seen in action, at least not in Spokane and environs.

A bootblack, by the way, is a person who shines shoes. Not that many years ago, they were visible around town in barbershops, hotels and their own shops.

One memorable establishment was a small place called The Busy Bee on Sprague Avenue across from the State (now Bing Crosby) Theater. Like most bootblacks, the place is long gone.

But a couple of people are still around, quietly plying shoe polish and brushes. They are just not that conspicuous.

Most notably, Clarence Forech, who holds forth in the shoe department at Nordstrom and, on occasion, in local theatrical productions.

Meanwhile, on the west end of downtown, Alex Baker has been polishing footwear for more than a decade without a lot of folks being aware of his efforts.

Baker has his one-man operation at 1208 W. Second Ave. He’s there from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every Monday through Friday.

He presides at his two-seat stand in the waiting area of the Gentle Touch carwash business. He’s there along with car owners with time on their hands.

“I have a captive audience here,” Baker said. When the sun is shining, the carwash is busy and so is he.

As for the lack of shoeshine stands, a smiling Baker observed, “It’s kind of a big-city idea. Spokane is moving toward becoming a big city, so someday, maybe I’ll be in style.”

Baker has been in Spokane all his life and has a family background here that stretches to the turn of the 20th century.

To illustrate that, Baker brought out a framed family picture, something of an heirloom, that includes an image of his great-grandfather, Peter M. Jacoy. He was the owner-founder of the landmark establishment, P.M. Jacoy’s, on West Sprague Avenue.

The business is still there under the original name, but the family no longer is involved, Baker said, adding that he worked in the business for several years.

Peter Jacoy came to the United States from Italy in 1896, Baker said. He worked at marketing tobacco and (guess what?) shining shoes until he had banked enough money to start his business, his great-grandson said.

Drivers on busy Second Avenue can whiz past Baker’s business without noticing the small “Shoe Shine” shingle over the door just east of the carwash.

“Well, I used to have a sandwich board outside on the sidewalk, but it kept getting vandalized, so now I just have the shingle,” Baker said. The sign goes up when he arrives, comes down when he closes, he said.

Baker does have a small sandwich board inside – it’s a collector’s item from the 1930s, salvaged from storage at the Fox Theater several years ago.

Baker worked at the family store after graduation from Ferris High School and then spent several years as a cashier in various convenience stores.

Then he saw a classified ad seeking someone to take over the shoeshine business at Gentle Touch. The timing was perfect because Baker had been intrigued by the shoeshine idea and often visited and asked for helpful tips from Forech at Nordstrom and from other local bootblacks.

“There were two other guys who wanted this spot,” Baker said, adding that he used Forech as a reference. That recommendation was good enough, and Baker has been at the carwash for 11 years now.

After acquiring the location, he stopped by on several Saturdays to watch Forech in action so he could polish his own technique, so to speak.

Baker can keep busy with shoes dropped off for later pickup. “I had a dozen pairs in here yesterday, but just one waiting for pickup today,” he said.

Baker also gets some unusual requests to work on old leather jackets and even saddles. “I reconditioned saddlebags from a 1947 Indian motorcycle,” he said. “I really enjoyed that project, seeing it come back to life.”

Baker charges $3 to shine a pair of shoes, $4 for waterproof shines and $4 for a pair of boots.

Just as he was closing one recent afternoon, a woman stopped by to have a pair of boots given attention, declaring, “Alex is the best shoeshiner around.”