In my pursuit of interviewing family-owned businesses, I had the delightful privilege and pleasure of interviewing Zoe Polk Francis, a family friend. Zoe has entered into the role of family business owner with sister Lauren Polk Brown and Founder father, Richard Polk, of Pedestrian Shops on Pearl Street and in Denver. Zoe generously shared the history of Pedestrian Shops, growing up in the family business, and the legacy that lives on.

The Pedestrian Shops Story:

Pedestrian Shops has been a beloved fixture on Pearl Street, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019 as one of the originals. Richard Polk is an iconic figure in Boulder, known for his colorful story as the founder. Growing up with Polk Brothers Appliance Stores in Chicago, Richard was set for a career in retail. His legacy as a hippie in Boulder, selling comfortable, functional footwear out of the back of his truck with his buddy Tony Chirikos, set his path forward.

Richard inspired the spirit of Pedestrian Shops. Taking this idea from New York to the counter-culture in Boulder was a natural move. Pedestrian Shops celebrates its 57^th year in business.

Growing Up In the Business:

Zoe shares that she and Lauren basically grew up in the retail shoe business. She remembers going to shows even as a toddler. It’s all she and Lauren knew growing up, and she learned so much from her dad. Even after graduating from college in Chicago, she knew she wanted to come back to Boulder to continue working at Pedestrian. She learned about vendor relationships and working with employees. Lauren joined the business in 2006, and Zoe officially joined in 2013. She loved the relationship Pedestrian Shops had in the community and is happy to generate those relationships.

Taking the Reins:

Lauren worked directly with Richard. When Zoe came on board, he had partially retired. He has handed the reins of running the Pedestrian business to Lauren and Zoe now exclusively.

When asked what she had learned from her dad, Zoe shared the truisms Richard has passed on, like:

“You have to pull the oars together,” inspiring a value of teamwork.

Another piece of great business advice she learned is to “make the most of the slow time so that you can be the best in your busier time.”

Zoe and Lauren share a close sister bond. They cannot imagine working for anyone else.

Roles and Routines:

Zoe shares that she and Lauren talk 2 or 3 times a day. Lauren is in Columbia, Missouri, with her family, and works on the back end of the business, with finances, public relations, and communication with vendors. Zoe works in the stores, managing staff, helping customers, and all things practical, like maintenance and care of things. Together, they make decisions regarding merchandise, which selections to make, and marketing decisions. They are mostly in agreement and feel comfortable speaking their mind without sugar-coating anything.  On the occasion they have differences, they would call Richard as the tie-breaker. They have learned to work it out between themselves successfully.  

Zoe realizes that it’s a privilege to be a part of a family business and is very grateful for the opportunities they have had. On the other hand, it is a lot of hard work, more hand’s on and the buck stops with handling all of the day- to -day details in running a “brick and mortar” business.

The Pedestrian Culture and Spirit:

Zoe describes Pedestrian Shops as being very “Boulder”, more relaxed, less pressure, with a value of relating with the customers genuinely. They have many local customers and generations of families who are loyal. They also appreciate the reputation they have developed with the tourists who see Pedestrian Shops as a destination.

They are all about designing a great customer experience, though they respect their own boundaries.  They work with many college students and try to create a relevant experience that will benefit them in their future careers. Learning positive practices in customer service, communication, working with media, and marketing are avenues they are happy to support in development.

Challenges and Successes:

Competing with online shopping and changing consumer shopping habits have been challenges over the last 10 years. Additionally, some of their vendors have attempted to move into the direct-to-consumer space, creating an environment where Pedestrian Shops are essentially competing against their vendors.

They are happy to know and work with local brands such as Lems. It feels good to know they have contributed to their growth and appreciate their loyalty.

Philanthropic Contributions: The Pedestrian Shops Way

One major way Pedestrian Shops continues to stand apart is its generosity to the community. This was a pattern that originated throughout the history of the shop through Richard’s legacy. From giving bags of shoes to donation centers, promoting the arts through the Polk Café at the Dairy Center, his civic contributions throughout the years have created “the Pedestrian Way”. Zoe is proud to be on the board of the Imagine Foundation, served a term as board member with the Downtown Boulder Partnership, and is on the Boulder Chamber Community Affairs Council.

They continue to give to local causes, from the Little League to any need they can support, which is an ability other types of stores do not have.

Vision:

Zoe shares that they want to see the two stores, on Pearl and in LoDo in Denver, thrive. There is no desire to grow beyond. “Two stores and three bathrooms to clean,” Zoe shares, speaking to the “hands-on” commitment to every aspect of running a business. Alex, Zoe’s husband, donates his technical expertise in the whole-hearted family effort to fix all things “tech”.

Keeping a great work/life balance is important. While they are available, they have also developed a trusted staff to assist. They are basically committed to “not working while working,” implying their availability while creating a greater sense of balance and time off.

Words of Advice to Fellow Family Business Owners:

Zoe shares: “What’s most important is to focus on the good things and the things you like about your work. In any job, there are things you don’t like. It really is a hustle in retail. It’s not always glamorous. There’s no corporate to call when you’re in a bad place, and no one to congratulate you when you are in a good place. We create ways to celebrate our wins together.

Zoe encourages business owners to "Build a team that you trust".

Pedestrian Shops is one of a kind with its rich history and legacy. Thank you to the Polk family for their generosity and loyalty to the Boulder community throughout these years.