Morty Silverstein, Marlene Silverstein,Cheryl Gervon, Neil Gervon
No Business like SHOE Business
by Cate Murway
For 76 years, there’s been “No Business like SHOE Business” for Ballow’s Shoes, a member of the Bristol Borough Business Association since its inception, located at 308 Mill Street. Owners, Morty and Marlene Silverstein, currently Cherry Hill, N.J. residents, are warm, affable and truly caring, the “sole” of the very successful, thriving family business started on a “shoestring” during the Depression years in 1932, by Marlene’s parents, Bernie and Esther Ballow. The expanded storeroom and warehouse was once part of the original Ballow home, a “perfect fit” for their growing family. Marlene’s scholastic career includes Bristol Borough High School and Penn State University. Morty, a Psychology instructor, was drafted into the Army, serving until 1955, during the Germany occupation and the Korean conflict as [DQ] Director of Quarters, after his graduation from Olney High School in Philadelphia. The young couple met at an Olney dance, perhaps the first steps toward their “Bristol Stomp”!
A diverse collection of varied footwear fills the storefront windows, providing a familiar, welcoming array of “pedestrian” possibilities. “Hi, how are you? How can I help?” resounds the hospitable greeting, upon entering the Ballow’s abode.
The huge inventory of neatly piled boxes hold the array of shoes fulfilling the promise of a specialized fit for everyone: men’s sizes to 20, including EEEEE, and women’s sizes to 14! Sport shoes, dance shoes and dress shoes, infants and toddlers through adults; school shoes, including those required by parochial schools, and an assortment of dye-able shoes and purses for weddings, even orthopedic shoes, abundantly stock the shelves. This proves the true dedication to the family daily vow “to serve the public”. Unlike some other places of business where a patron is just another number, the Silversteins make their customers #1! The family “shoe tree” includes the Gervons: daughter, Cheryl, a dental hygienist graduate of Old Dominion University, VA, accountant son-in-law Neil and their daughter, Jennifer, a senior Law student at Indiana University, Bloomington, avidly work to provide unsurpassable fit and prompt service to customers across the U.S., as well as the local clientele. Word of mouth is their best advertisement and the key reason for their bustling “foot traffic”. Spend a few moments with this amazing family and you will see why! Their personal relationship with their customers and their profound dedication to excellence is the “shoe-in” basis of their longevity in Bristol. The clan also keeps customers “in step” with directions and enthusiastically shares information re: borough upcoming events and happenings. Parents, with children in “toe”, rest in the carefully lined chairs, appreciating the accurate fitting and conscientious attention, an anomaly in today’s fast paced society. “Putting their best foot forward”, more than a mere slogan, is a consistent daily occurrence Monday, Thursday and Friday 9:00 a.m.- 9:00 p.m., and Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday 9:00 a.m. –5:30 p.m.
With utmost confidence, you can Put your foot in their shoes!
“Footnote”- Feel free to call for any information 215.788.2857.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Posted on Wed, Dec 10, 2008
Ballow's Shoes set to reopen
After 75 years, shoe store is under new management.
By Tim Chicirda; Pilot Editor
After 75 years and three generations of family business at 308 Mill Street, Marlene and Morton Silverstein called it quits earlier this year. But, Ballow's Family Shoe Store was not closing its doors for good, as the Silver-stein's put the business up for sale.When announced at the a monthly Bristol Borough Business Association (BBBA) meeting, President Rich Vallejo said that it would be a great decision for anyone to buy Ballow's, as the business is a "gold mine."
Heeding the advice of Vallejo, new owner Al Shuckert bought the business and planned to reopen it with the same tradition that the store had had for three quarters of a century.
Ballow's was always known for specializing in hard to find shoes for either medical reasons or size. Shuckert, an owner of several other shoe stores in the Philadelphia area, plans to continue this specialty. According to Shuckert, this was very important to him upon purchasing the business, as was the lucrative opportunity for he and his family.
Shuckert tells a story about a recent call from a woman asking where she could find a size five double width silver evening shoe. According to Donna Boone of the Landmark Towns of Bucks County, this woman traveled all the way from Lancaster to purchase the special shoes.
Ballows also services many of the area parochial schools. The list is pretty impressive and includes Con-well Egan, St. Ignatious, Holy Trinity.
"Without Ballow's, the kids would have a hard time finding what they need," said Boone.
Ballow's is one of three recent businesses that have reopened late in 2008 or will soon reopen. The other two businesses is a restaurant formerly known as the Mill Street Cafe, as well as the pretzel business on the corner of Mill and Pond Streets, formerly known as A Taste of Philly.
Shuckert will be hosting a grand opening celebration on the 12th and 13th of this December to coincide with the Landmark Towns Shop Local Week.
"Not too shabby during bad economic times," said Boone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Posted on Wed, Dec 17, 2008
Store re-opening looks to help revitalize Mill St.
Ribbon-cutting was part of collection of efforts including 'Landmark Towns Shop Local Week.'
By Tim Chicirda; Pilot Editor
Ballow's Shoes opened its doors once again with a grand re-opening, as new owner Al Shuckert lead the way on Friday night along Mill Street.The opening was a part of Landmark Towns Shop Local Week, sponsored by Donna Boone and the Landmark Towns of Bucks County.
Also, the first annual Downtown Bristol Borough window decorating contest was judged on Friday night, as beautiful Christmas lights lined the streets.
After 75 years and three generations of family business at 308 Mill Street, Marlene and Morton Silverstein called it quits earlier this year. But, Ballow's Family Shoe Store was not closing its doors for good, as the Silverstein's put the business up for sale.
When announced at the a monthly Bristol Borough Business Association (BBBA) meeting, President Rich Vallejo said that it would be a great decision for anyone to buy Ballow's, as the business is a "gold mine."
Heeding the advice of Vallejo, new owner Al Shuckert bought the business and planned to reopen it with the same tradition that the store had had for three quarters of a century.
Ballow's was always known for specializing in hard to find shoes for either medical reasons or size. Shuckert, an owner of several other shoe stores in the Philadelphia area, plans to continue this specialty. According to Shuckert, this was very important to him upon purchasing the business, as was the lucrative opportunity for he and his family.
Shuckert tells a story about a recent call from a woman asking where she could find a size five double width silver evening shoe.
According to Donna Boone of the Landmark Towns of Bucks County, this woman traveled all the way from Lancaster to purchase the special shoes.
Ballows also services many of the area parochial schools. The list is pretty impressive and includes Conwell- Egan, St. Ignatious, Holy Trinity.
"Without Ballow's, the kids would have a hard time finding what they need," said Boone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marlene Silverstein
Posted: Thursday, October 8, 2015 8:46 pm
Marlene (Ballow) Silverstein passed away Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015.
She was the devoted wife of Morton; loving mother of Cheryl Gervon (Neil) and the late Jeffrey Silverstein; dear sister of Barry Ballow (Judy); beloved Mom-mom of Stacy (Eric), David (Krista), and Jennifer (Bryan); cherished great Mom-mom of Michael; and also is survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
Born and raised in Bristol, she was the former owner of Ballow's Shoes, a family owned business located in Bristol, for 75 years.
Relatives and friends are invited to funeral services 11:15 a.m. Friday, at Goldsteins' Rosenberg's Raphael Sacks Suburban North, 310 Second Street Pike, Southampton. Interment will be in King David Memorial Park, Bensalem. Shiva will be observed at her late residence.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1626 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103.Goldsteins' Rosenberg's Raphael Sacks Suburban North, Southampton
www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BALLOW, ESTHER (Katz) Jan. 25, 2005. The co-founder of Ballow's Shoes in Bristol, PA. Beloved wife of the late Bernard, loving mother of Marlene and Morty Silverstein and Barry and Judy Ballow; grandmother of Cheryl and Neil Gervon, Maris and Randy Friedman, Dara Ballow and the late Jeffrey Silverstein; great grandmother of Stacey, David and Jennifer Gervon and Coby Friedman. Relatives and friends are invited to graveside services Thursday 1 P.M. precisely King David Memorial Park (Sec R). Family will return to the Silverstein residence. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Bristol Jewish Center, c/o Alan Vogenberg, 211 Sugarberry Lane, Langhorne, PA 19047.
.
