Business 1 on 1 with Lena Bivins, owner of James Shoe Shop in Macon

Lena Bivins, owner, James Shoe Shop, 930 Pio Nono Ave., 743-8780.

How long have you been in business?: "Well, I started with Mr. James (Ragland) when I was probably about 18. I started at an early age because I was pregnant and I needed to take care of my daughter. ... I just ran the front (desk). I had learned how to sew on machines from taking home (economic) classes at school. (Over time) I learned how to do heels on a shoe and use the big machine to sew soles on a shoe. I already knew how to use the Singer machine.

"When he got ready to sell it (in 2004 for health reasons), he showed me how to run the business. He showed me how to do the ordering and everything."

The shop had been on Hillcrest Avenue about 50 years before she came to work with Ragland. It's been at its current location about 18 years.

What do you like best about your job?: "No. 1 is the customer. (Ragland) already had wonderful customers and he was easy to work with. He was always very, very kind. They adored him ... all of them still come back in here. ... I have great customers. They are very beautiful people and very caring.

What is your specialty?: "I sew up pocketbooks. I can do the heels on shoes and do jackets -- put a zipper on them, fix the rips on them, put a patch on them.

She also resoles shoes and works on all kinds and types of shoes, especially men's shoes "because they put a lot of money in their shoes."

What are your future plans?: She doesn't have any plans to expand or move.

"I want to keep on heeling and saving soles."

-- Linda S. Morris

This story was originally published December 6, 2015 at 5:21 PM with the headline "Business 1 on 1 with Lena Bivins, owner of James Shoe Shop in Macon ."