Bio / history

 Morris Princiotta, went to work for Roy Russo at age 11 in 1943 for 4 years. He then went to work for 2 years for Buster Gagliano at age 15.  At 17 he joined the Navy where he ran the shoe shop on the ship.  He later came back and started working for Buster Gagliano again at age 21.  

At 23 Morris bought City Hall Shoe Rebuilders from Felix King in 1954. It was located on 4th ave North between 19th and 20th Street across from Forbes Piano. Pictured here is a leather salesman leaning up against the company car outside his shoe shop.

 He later moved the shop in 1963 to 420 19th Street North. He stayed there until 1973 and then bought Valley Grocery on 119 in Shelby county. He brought his shoe equipment with him and created a small shoe shop on the side of his grocery store. 

 Morris later sold Valley Grocery in 1982, took a break for a year, and opened up Hoover Shoe Repair in January of 1983 where he hired his nephew Louis Ardovino who wanted to learn the business. To the right of the picture is Louis' aunt and Morris' wife Rosalie Ardovino Princiotta.

It's 1984 and this is Louis learning how to stitch a sole from Johnny Lawson who was Morris' employee. Johnny was a lot of fun and started learning the trade and working for Morris when he was 16.  Johnny could really get the work out and did a fantastic job. 

In August of 1986 after learning the trade from Morris Princiotta, Louis Ardovino opened up his first business on Oxmoor road in the 186 building on the Westside of Homewood at 22 years of age.