The Boutique Shawville Shooz store located at 387 Main Street in Shawville is now under new ownership.

The shoe store, formerly owned by Jill McBane, was recently purchased by Stephane and Michelle Landry, a couple native to the Pontiac region who hope to keep the Main Street staple running for years to come.

“My aunt and uncle started this shoe store many, many years ago,” McBane said. “My mom actually helped them get their first load of shoes.”

McBane has owned and run the Shawville Shooz store for the last six years. She said she’s ready to retire, and celebrated her last day on June 8.

“I’ve worked for 48 years,” McBane said. “So I’m gonna see what it’s like to wake up in the morning and not have to go to work.”

McBane put the store up for sale last year. That’s when Stephane Landry expressed his interest in becoming the next owner.

“I was telling everybody that came into the store that it was for sale. And Stephane finally came in and he was excited and said, ‘Oh, I always wanted to own my own small business,’” McBane explained.

Landry, who grew up in Fort Coulonge and now lives in Shawville, explained he and his wife have been considering the purchase since December.

“Jill is a family friend, and she thought that . . .

we would be the right people to continue her legacy with the shoe store,” Landry said.

Landry explained he had initially dismissed the thought of buying the shoe store, but then thought about the benefits a modern shoe store could offer the community.

“The more I thought about it, the more I saw it as an opportunity for a chance for us to keep Main Street ‘Main Street,’” Landry said. “There’s so many stores on Main Street that are nice and give you the small town feel. We wanted to keep part of that alive.”

Landry said he has purchased all his dress shoes from Shawville Shooz and found the store has always provided a good selection of formal footwear. However Landry went on to explain that the needs of the community have changed over time.

“What was lacking at the store and what we are bringing to the store, are everyday sneakers for men. You can’t get any everyday shoes,” Landry said.

Landry explained the shoe store will be receiving an upgrade to a digital point-of-sale and inventory system, as well as new selections of shoes which will provide a variety of everyday footwear and sneakers for men, women and children.

“We’re looking forward to being able to serve the population. We’ve been welcomed so far by all the other merchants from Main Street,” Landry said. “We’re coming in with a welcoming set of mind and and we want all the businesses to succeed locally.”

McBane emphasized the importance of supporting local businesses, warning that services like Amazon impact their ability to sustain themselves.

“If we don’t keep businesses going in Shawville, I worry,” McBane said. “If people don’t support local businesses, we’ll end up not having any local businesses. So I will stress that it’s very important that people shop local.”

Landry explained due to having to re-register the brand with the province, they have been required to change their name and will now be operating under the title Boutique Chaussures Shawville Shoes.

Landry expects to open the new store next week, either July 5 or 6, depending on when some of his new stock for the store arrives.