 |
Third-Generation Business Continues Shoemaking Art
By Marc Rosen, CPed A sculptor brings an image to life. A writer paints
a picture in your mind. These types of art are known for their
vision and creativity. Unfortunately, there is one art that sadly
gets
little notice: custom-molded shoemaking. To handcraft a design from
the creators mind to a fully functional tool for walking can be
inspirational.
 Fortunately, in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
metro area, we have one of the few design centers of custom-molded
shoes on the East Coast. Best-Made Shoes in Bloomfield is a
third-generation accredited foot care center dedicated to total
foot health. Gene Rosen, CPed, and his son, Marc Rosen, CPed,
believe that if your feet hurt--everything hurts. You can't work
well with sore feet; you can't live well with sore feet!
Gene's father, Charlie Rosen, had a shoe store in 1939 in
Brockton, Massachusetts, that specialized in shoes with the most
sizes and widths for a proper fit. He studied at the Scholl
Orthopedic Training School, Chicago, Illinois, and began to design
custom-molded shoes and orthotics in 1955. He was an old-fashioned
shoe salesman who believed the customer always comes first and
deserves to be treated to the best. His shoes were needed for those
that had foot trouble and couldn't get relief from ordinary shoe
stores.
Second Generation Joins In
 He taught his craft to his son Gene, who began to
help his father at the store when he was 12 years old. Gene
continued to help people in the Army orthotic facility during the
Vietnam War. After his army stint, he furthered his training at the
Northwestern Medical School Prosthetic/Orthotic Center (NUPOC) in
Chicago. In 1976, he became one of the first board-certified
pedorthists in the country. Board-certified pedorthists design
custom-molded shoes and orthotics according to a doctor's
prescription. They help relieve foot pain associated with disease,
overuse, or injury.
 In 1977, Gene came to Pittsburgh and opened the
first foot care center in the city. Best-Made Shoes combined a
custom-molded shoe factory, retail store, and repair center in one
building. There were so many people in need of foot pain relief
that he received 60 calls the first day after running a newspaper
ad.
Third Generation Comes Aboard
 In 1995, Gene's son Marc joined the family
business, and together they became the first father-and-son
board-certified pedorthists in the history of Pittsburgh. Marc went
to Northwestern for his training, just as his father had done. Marc
later expanded the company's Birkenstock and European comfort
footwear collections, as well as designing and implementing its
interactive website: www.bestmadeshoes.com. The website has brought
people from all over the country. People have flown in from North
Dakota, Florida, New Jersey, California, and many other states
because they haven't been able to find expert help in their
areas.
In 1999, Best-Made Shoes moved from its original location to a
modern, spacious facility that includes a parking lot,
handicapped-accessible ramp, large showroom, and an entire floor
dedicated to its custom-molded shoe and orthotic business.
Best-Made Shoes has helped over 30,000 people, and the word is
spreading.
In 2001, Marc was chosen by Pittsburgh Magazine as one of the 50
finest young professionals in the city. In addition, Best-Made
Shoes was chosen a reader favorite in the best-shoe-store category
in the Pittsburgh City Paper for four straight years (2000 -
2003). 
Table Of Contents - September 2004
|
|
