Through 75 years and four generations, this downtown Kamloops shoe store has never lost its sole

KAMLOOPS – A downtown Kamloops shoe store is celebrating 75 years in business with a new owner.

Jessica Kennell will be the fourth Kennell to run the family-owned Kennell’s Shoes, located at 249 Victoria Street, and hopes to continue the legacy started by her great-grandfather in 1948.

“My grandpa was basically born in the shoe industry,” Jessica’s father Stephen Kennell explained. “His dad was a cobbler in England.”

Taking over from his father, Stephen ran the store for a quarter decade. Now ready for retirement, Stephen is taking a step back and handing the reins to his only daughter.

“I feel like he’s kind of guided me into this position anyway,” Jessica Kennell said. “I kind of feel like I’ve been here my whole life.”

(Left to right) Ned, Robert and Bob Kennell (Image Credit: CFJC News)

It’s Jessica’s ninth year working in the store but she says she’s glad her dad will be around for support.

“He’s helping me out by still doing the bookwork situation at home,” she said, “which is nice because it takes a little bit of the load off my shoulders while I’m getting used to being more in the manager position.”

Jessica is the first female owner of the store but her new title has made her feel more connected to the other women in her family.

“It’s a big step… my grandma worked in here for a very long time and my auntie Beverly worked in here as well, so it’s cool being another female,” Jessica told CFJC News.

While carrying on her family’s legacy, Jessica has also been updating the business.

About a year ago, she frontiered the Kennell’s Shoes website and moved the store to a digital inventory system.

Despite moving into the 21st Century digitally, Stephen said the business will stay rooted in old-school customer service.

“Well, to me it’s the same. I ran it the same as my parents did,” Stephen said. “It’s pretty special because, you know, fourth generation in the same family. There’s lots of other businesses in town that have been here quite a while but they’ve changed families and owners, so it’s pretty nice that it’s been all of us together.”