ABOUT ME

My name is Evan. I’ve been shining shoes for about 8 years. When I’m not, I’m usually at Fitzgerald’s Mens Store taking caring of marketing and event coordination.

ABOUT HARLEY & THE BIRTH OF HARLEY’S SHOESHINE

Harley Koons was my father. He was a musician, a champion boxer, and a trick gunslinger. He could soft-shoe dance, whip table clothes out from under 5-star meals, and sing every jazz standard ever written. He was a true showman. His style and panache carried over to his appearance. His clothes were always unique, tailored, and crisp. His nails were trimmed and pristine. His shoes and boots were always immaculate.

Growing up, I would watch him perform—dance, play, and sing. I remember sitting with him, watching him shine his shoes. This, too, was a performance. There was motion and sound. Song and smell and shine. In those moments, there was restoration.

After he died, my mom gave me his shoeshine kit. On a whim one day, I took it to work and started shining my coworkers’ boots and shoes. Jaws dropped at each finished pair. They asked questions; they snapped pictures. They couldn’t believe how good their shoes looked. They couldn’t believe how good a shoeshine made them feel.

It was then I knew that this lost art needed to be a regular part of my life, and I needed to share it—and the memory of my father—with anyone looking for restoration.