‘It’s a sad day:’ Family-run shoe store closes in Nashville after nearly 60 years

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A long-running family business in Nashville closed their doors for good on Wednesday.

Jensen Comfort Shoe and Repair began operating in the 1960s. The store’s owners — Jack and Barbara Jensen — are in their mid-80s and finally retiring.

📧 Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts →

“It’s a sad day,” said Sheila, a woman helping the Jensens liquidate the store’s inventory, said.  “(They’re) very sweet people, very caring people. This really hurts their hurt to have to close their business.”

With shoes 90 percent off their original price, activity was frantic inside the store on Wednesday, and people’s wallets were wide open. According to Sheila, one customer’s bill was over $11,000 before the discount was applied.

In the end, Jensen Shoes survived economic downturn during the COVID-19 pandemic, the growth of online shopping, and the other challenges that come with running a small business for decades.

While News 2 was unable to speak with the Jensen family, it’s clear that their dedicated service in West Nashville left an impact.

📧 Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts →

“We’ve had a lot of their former customers come in, or former customers I suppose, and wonder what they’re going to do now,” Sheila said. “What I was told was that they ‘sell comfort, not shoes.’ And you can tell, their customers really love them, and they love their customers.”

Sheila said that some of the shoes in the store’s back inventory have been on the shelf for 30 to 40 years, further highlighting the shop’s incredible run.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.