From Hollywood stars to an Irish Eurovision winner
For almost half a century, Christy McIlhone has worked at the City Heel Bar, a long-established shoe repair shop in Belfast’s Fountain Centre, where customers have ranged from international celebrities to generations of loyal locals. Christy has been with the business since it opened in…
For almost half a century, Christy McIlhone has worked at the City Heel Bar, a long-established shoe repair shop in Belfast’s Fountain Centre, where customers have ranged from international celebrities to generations of loyal locals. Today, the shop on Queen’s Street offers everything from.
Among the most memorable visitors was Elliott Gould, whose signed photograph still hangs proudly on the wall. We brought him to the Fountain Tavern at the Fountain Centre.
What Happened
He sent me the autographs of the Friends cast and all the tapes, and copies of Ocean’s 11, Ocean’s 12 and Ocean’s 13. Acclaimed British actor Sir David Suchet has also had his shoes repaired there.
Christy has been with the business since it opened in 1977 and has owned it for the past 22 years.
Gould, best known for films including The Long Goodbye, A Bridge Too Far and the Ocean’s trilogy, as well as playing Jack Geller in the sitcom Friends, visited Belfast while filming Puckoon in 2001.
Since a colleague retired last year, Christy now runs the business alongside his sons, Christopher and Steven, who have helped bring the shop into the digital age.
Key Details
Another memorable customer was Irish Eurovision winner Dana, who Christy couldn’t resist greeting with a line from her winning song. Behind the celebrity stories, however, lies the tale of a business that has continually reinvented itself.
We do watch straps and batteries – we only started doing them in the last 15 years or so.
The need for shoe repairs has dropped over the years so we’ve added different services.
Some people come in here after buying shoes elsewhere and want us to put our soles on them because they know they’ll last longer.
Why It Matters
We were next door, where the bicycle shop is. There used to be seven of us working next door.
Shoes are made with cheaper materials and aren’t as good quality as they used to be.
While demand for shoe repairs has declined, Christy believes quality repairs still have an important place.
What Reports Say
Coverage of the story so far points to:
Continued reporting by The Irish News as more details emerge
