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For over 120 years, the Meloney family of North Sydney has proudly served Cape Bretoners with fashionable and quality footwear. The tradition began around 1900, when George A. Meloney started selling shoes for the Vooght family before opening his own shop, G.A. Meloney’s Boots and Shoes, around 1905. By 1928, the store was known simply as Meloney’s Shoe Store.
Following George’s passing in 1928, his wife Jean, a trained nurse and teacher from Northeast Margaree, assumed leadership of the business while raising three young children. Jean was known for her determination, resourcefulness, and business acumen. With the help of a trusted manager, Bill Groves, and support from the local business community, she successfully carried the store forward.
In 1945, after returning from service in World War II, George and Jean’s son, Sid Meloney, joined the business. In 1947, he incorporated the company as Meloney’s Limited. Sid expanded the family business significantly, acquiring National Shoe Store and rebranding it as Family Footwear Limited. He continued to grow the business through the 1950s and 60s, eventually operating up to four locations, including The Shoe Bar and The Shoe Tree in downtown Sydney.
In the 1980s, the next generation—Bruce and Lizz—returned to North Sydney to continue the family legacy. They purchased Family Footwear in 1986 and worked alongside Sid to manage both Family Footwear and The Shoe Tree. However, the changing retail landscape—including economic recessions, and the rise of shopping malls, —presented significant challenges. After careful consideration, the family chose to close Family Footwear and focus their efforts on transforming The Shoe Tree into a more fashion-forward boutique, eventually adding men’s footwear and refining their offerings.
The transition proved successful, and the store soon became a destination for top Canadian and European brands, including Clarks, Rockport, and especially Rieker and Remonte. The team began attending national buying shows and further deepened relationships with key suppliers, ensuring that customers could enjoy high-quality, fashion-forward footwear paired with personal service.
In 2016, the store relocated to its current location and rebranded as a Rieker store and was known until recently as Rieker by The Shoe Tree, a dedicated branded concept store. The move started another chapter in this five-store family legacy—one that has survived world wars, economic downturns, the rise of big-box retail, the growth of online shopping, and a global pandemic.
In 2022, the business welcomed its fourth generation as Kate, Bruce and Lizz’s daughter, rejoined the family operation and officially took over the store. Kate had worked in The Shoe Tree and in the family’s former clothing boutique, With You In Mind, during her high school and university years. Her return marks a new era for the business—one that honours tradition while embracing fresh energy and ideas. Kate returned the branding of the store to The Shoe Tree in 2024 to fully reflect the legacy that the store holds. Iit remains a proud Rieker store – offering one the largest selections of Rieker and Remonte shoes in the Atlantic Region.
Generations of Meloney family members have played a role in this journey. From Jean and Sid to siblings, children, and grandchildren, the values of dedication, service, and community have remained constant. Their contributions were recognized when both Sid and Jean were inducted into the Cape Breton Business Hall of Fame in 2008 followed by Bruce and Lizz being inducted in 2022.
As the downtown core of Sydney begins to see revitalization—spurred by developments like the relocation of the NSCC campus and expansion of the cruise ship industry—there is a renewed optimism for the future. Now under Kate’s leadership, The Shoe Tree remains a cornerstone of downtown Sydney, continuing the Meloney legacy of exceptional footwear and heartfelt service.
