After four decades of service, Michael Grant is hanging up his shoe horn and retiring.
Our team is preparing to say goodbye to our long-time colleague, Michael Grant and I thought you'd like to know. I've had the pleasure of working with Michael for 25 years, since I began my career here, and I'm really going to miss him. He and I sat down to discuss and reflect on his many years of service to Mast Shoes, our team, and our community. I thought you might enjoy our conversation and Michael agreed to let me share it.
Michael & Molly's Conversation:
Molly Mast-Koss: Working with you for the 25 years since I started here has been such a gift. Being part of the "Big 3" with you and William, navigating the best and worst of times together is high on my list of favorite things about my career so far. I'm really going to miss you. You have been an integral part of making Mast Shoes the special place it is today.
You bring what I'd describe as a grounded lightness to our team and customers. You know how and when to make us belly laugh, and also how and when to get us to take things seriously. You have customers who come back over and over and over to work with you. You've been incredibly supportive of your coworkers of all ages and backgrounds, myself included. In recent years you've gone out of your way to connect with some of our younger employees - offering rides, gifting winter gear to folks new to Michigan winters, leaving treats in lockers. Your memory is like a steel trap and your storytelling is epic. I'm hoping it's ok to call you when I can't remember something about the business or myself.
Michael Grant: You can call anytime for anything. It would do my heart good.
MMK: Before you retire, I'd love to ask you some questions and reflect on your long, storied, and special career. Tell me about how you got into shoes and how you ended up at Mast Shoes.
MG: I got into shoes by accident really. I was working at Ulrich’s Bookstore during the fall book rush. When that ended I stayed on in the sweatshirt department, but that was not a long-term assignment. So I needed a full-time job. A co-worker told me that Jacobson’s was hiring and asked if I would want to apply there with her. So I did. They hired me and assigned me to the men’s shoe department. You may find this hard to believe, but I was quite an introvert back then. Being put into a situation where I had no choice but to talk to complete strangers taught me something. I was not only comfortable talking to strangers, I was pretty good at it. From there, I went into banking, where I worked for about 8 years. During that time, I worked part-time at Mast Shoes on an occasional weekend due to my friendship with William. That was my initial introduction to the Mast family. After I left banking, Robert Frost of Van Boven shoes saw me on State Street one day. He asked what I was up to and I told him nothing. He asked if I would like to work at his store and I accepted. 6 or so years later, my best friend (William Pemberton at Mast Shoes) said to me that in all the years we had known one another he never thought to ask me if I’d like to work with him. Made sense to me and that is how, 28 years later I ended up an honorary member of the Mast family (I’m still waiting to be officially “made”).
MMK: Careful what you wish for. You mentioned that William is your best friend. How long have you known William and how did you two meet? I’m guessing it somehow involves the tuba.
MG: Now that is an interesting question and yes, it does involve the tuba. I will give you an abbreviated version as it is a rather lengthy story. William and I both studied with the same tuba professor at UM. William as a UM music major and I as a private student. William worked at Mast and I worked across the street at Jacobsons. Torch (that’s what we called our teacher, Abe Torchinsky) told me that I should go across the street to Mast Shoes and meet his student, William. I always meant to, but never got around to it. It was a busy street. I was scared. Anyway, I left Jacobson’s and took a job in the management training program at Great Lakes Bancorp, also across the street. The first thing one learned there was the teller position. I was eager and ready to learn the ropes and so, on my first day as a teller, I quickly set up my station, opened my window and took the first customer that came in the door. That customer was William Pemberton and he was depositing his Mast Shoes paycheck. When the transaction was complete, I asked him if he was William Pemberton the tuba player. He replied yes and asked how I knew that. I told him I studied with Torch and that Torch told me I should go up the street and say hello. And here we are 35 years later. We remain best of friends, were the “Best Man” in each of our weddings, and we’ve been playing the tuba together in various ensembles all that time.
You mentioned 1986. That year I was working at the bank, but working part-time at Masts. It was during the Art Fair in 1986 that William and I played our first gig together. A tuba quartet right in front of Mast Shoes. Bill Quine (long time manager of our Liberty Street store) set a shoe box out in front of us with a “tip” sign. Bless his heart. We earned enough to buy a case of Miller High-Life! William went back to work and the rest of us finished off the case and watched him work. Good times!
MMK: Haha. I love that story. You've been part of this community for a long time. What changes have you observed, what has stayed the same?
MG: A lot of changes. As someone who grew up here, you know the downtown and State Street areas of old. So much has changed in that area. All the diners, small shops, great little eateries, Drakes!, Border’s as a single store, all the music stores, Ehnis and Sons, The Roundtable, etc. I remember when William and I would discuss a piece of music at Mast Shoes on Liberty Street. Then one of us would run over to one of the many music stores, buy a CD, bring it back to the store and listen to it. That is just one small example of so much change. And yet much has stayed the same. Mast Shoes for starters. We exemplify/represent the independent retailers and business owners that are still here and still making a positive impact on this community. And the people. So many wonderful people live here. And the arts! Ann Arbor is a mecca for the great artists of the world. The great minds in all fields. And the giving. We are an unselfish, giving community that cares about all who live and visit here. I could go on but you get the picture.
MMK: You've been working in the footwear industry for a long time, which has evolved quite a bit. Are there any changes that stood out to you as particularly significant or interesting?
MG: The change over to the casual lifestyle, even in the dress and business world. When I started, wingtips and those sassy Selby pumps / heels were standard business dress. In fact, many work places had stringent rules on business dress, including footwear. Shoe care was also very important back then. Conditioner, polish, shoe trees, rubber totes that went over shoes during bad weather. Those were standard items. As you know, there were a dozen or so shoe stores just between Main Street and State Street. Not any longer. Just a handful remain in the entire city. The fitness craze changed the industry and then comfort/casual came and there was no turning back. Foot specialists have gone from focusing on bunion surgeries to dealing with plantar fasciitis. They tell their patients to get good fitting, comfortable shoes.
For us (I can’t speak for the rest of the industry) going from a commission-based sales force to a salary- based one years ago had a huge impact. I don’t think we realized at the time how much of an impact that would have. We hoped that it would allow us to provide better customer service, but it has also allowed us to take a kinder, more caring and attentive approach to the “fit” versus the “sale”. Not that we have ever had a "hard sale" approach store for the years I’ve worked here and for the time you’ve been in charge. It’s just allowed us to better take care of our customers. Which leads me to the one thing that hasn’t changed here at Mast Shoes. What you promote, teach, and practice. Carrying on the tradition that your grandparents started in 1942. Measurement. Fit. Service. Comfort. Kindness. Thank you for keeping it alive!
MMK: Thank YOU for keeping it alive, MG. You started working at Mast Shoes part time in 1986 and have been working full time since 1998. What has kept you coming to work everyday for so many years?
MG: That’s easy. You. You and everyone that works here and has worked here. I have had the privilege of working with some of the greatest people around. I mentioned to you once that it would be nice to do a Ted Talk on our work culture. And I was serious. The presentation would tell how I work with some incredibly creative minds. Some of the most intelligent, hard working, problem solving artists, musicians, actors, playwrights, writers, theater folks, etc. A hive of creative minds that stimulates, challenges, inspires, and brings out the best of everyone on the team. Everyday. And in addition to that. My job is fun. In fact, we have a blast “working." Working hard. Sometimes it’s exhausting, but always fun. The team makes it fun. The people make it fun. And the Ted Talk would end with something along the lines of “Oh, did I mention that I work in a shoe store?” So, you. You and the team that you’ve put together and have kept together. That’s what has kept me coming to work everyday for so many years. And, as I’ve told you before and this is a big plus, it’s my safe space.
MMK: Thank you, Mike. That feels really good to hear from you. You’re really good at public speaking, so I encourage you to do that Ted Talk now that you’ll have some extra time on your hands...
As long as I've been here, Mast Shoes has had a bit of a "pranking" culture and you've been a key player in keeping this tradition alive LOL. Are there any pranks (done by you or to you) that stand out as particularly good or funny?
MG: How much time do you have? There are many, but for time’s sake I’ll just mention two.
One of the most memorable and the first big pranks that I recall was done to me and the Westgate store by, oh let me see if I can recall who that was… um… oh, yea, it was you! Filling the Westgate window (completely filling it) with all of the black SAS shoes for April Fool’s Day was one of the best. And probably the best part for you was most of the Westgate staff thought that I did it. Wish I would have thought of it, so kudos to you on that one.
MMK: Oh my gosh, the fact that you got blamed for YEARS (even after it was a known fact that I’d done it) was so amazing. People just couldn't believe it wasn't you! LOL
MG: The one that stands out as my best prank was when I told the staff that our new incoming employee (whom I had previously worked with for 6 years or so at Van Boven’s) had a glass eye. I told them to be careful not to stare at it as he was very sensitive about it. Then I left for vacation the next day, which was his first day of work. They, of course, did what anyone would do, given that information. They kept staring at his eyes the next few days trying to figure which eye was the glass eye. Kudos to me on that one! Your photo on the Christmas tree at the Shadow Art Fair was pretty good, as well. That’s the prank that keeps on giving. Even still. Tee-hee.
MMK: Do you not remember that you put that ugly picture of me on far more surfaces than the Christmas Tree? It was EVERYWHERE. You said it was my 30th birthday present. I cracked up every time one would appear out of the blue in places like the bottom of the file cabinet or behind the sale rack when I moved shoes. The glass eye prank was next level. To Rich’s credit, he was a good sport about it.
MMK: On a more serious note, looking back, what are you most proud of as you look back at your career?
MG: The friends I’ve made at the store. Coworkers, customers, and our Westgate neighbors. Pride is a funny word and something I am not always comfortable with. I don’t know that I ever feel pride for myself, but I certainly take great pride in the achievements and actions of those around me. For me it’s more a feeling of humility. I’m humbled and touched by those friends and those friendships. Humbled that so many chose to be friends with me. I’ve honestly never felt worthy of such kindness and friendship. And yet, I cherish it and feel privileged to have it bestowed upon me. I’m happy with the work ethic I brought to work everyday. When I went part-time I told you that I never wanted anyone to ever think that I slacked off because I went part-time. I’d like to think that I’ll be working just as hard and as smart on my last day as I did throughout my career here. And I hope that the younger staff see that and take inspiration from it. Not that they need it. They all have a great work ethic. It’s just important to me that when looking back, I know I gave my best to the end.
MMK: From my view, you’re definitely still giving your best at work and we all really appreciate that. You’ve made immeasurable contributions to our team, our customers, and our workplace. Mast Shoes is better because you’ve been a part of it.
Do you have any advice for those of us you're leaving behind (just kidding) - for your colleagues with more working years ahead of us?
MG: For starters, keep our mantra going, no matter what. Be kind above all else. It’s worked so far. Keeping that in the forefront of our minds is important. Take ownership in your work. Treat the store and your job as if you are Mast Shoes, because to the person in front of you, you are. Don’t worry if you mess up or make a mistake, but be sure to come to you or anyone else when one is made to get back on track. We understand that we are human and sometimes we err. Don’t be afraid of hard work. It’s good for you. Be proactive. If you see something that needs to be done, don’t wait for someone to tell you to do it. Just take care of it. And keep Tom’s (Mast) advice in mind as well. “It’s only a pair of shoes.” Don’t forget that there is another human sitting across from you. Don’t forget to look at the sign in the backroom. You know which one I’m talking about. Have fun and make a lot of people happy with great fitting shoes.
Oh, yea. And never forget that Molly Mast loves you.
MMK: Thank you...You've gotten to know and have become special to a lot of our guests and Westgate neighbors over the years. I know they're going to miss you, too (not as much as us, though!). Do you have any parting words for them? Or anything you'd like them to know?
MG: Funny you should ask this. I was thinking about you, our team, and all those people while Melissa and I were at the movies. We recently saw Wicked for Good. At the end, Elphaba and Glinda sing the song For Good. As it was playing I thought to myself “this is so appropriate to where I am right now.” Especially with our Westgate neighbors. These wonderful neighbors, who have always treated me like a King, are such an integral part of what makes Westgate a destination place. Anyway, back to the movie. I know this sounds incredibly corny but for me it rings true. As the song says “because I knew you, I’ve been changed for good." Because you, the staff, our neighbors, my wife and daughter, my friends, our customers… because I knew, know all of them, I’m a better person. I've changed for good. So my parting words for them? Thank you. Thank you all so much.
MMK: Yeah, wow. Thank you for this. You’re making my eyes water…give me a second.
Ok, one more question for you before we wrap up and get back to fitting shoes (and I can go back to avoiding thinking about you leaving for another few days). As you look ahead to your next phase, what are you looking forward to?
MG: I wish I had an answer for you. A lot of ideas and thoughts bounce around my head daily. It’s a bit overwhelming to be honest. Melissa and I are getting ourselves a dog for Christmas (our house just isn’t a home without one) so I’ll be spending a lot of time with him / her. You know how important music is to me, so there will be lots of that going on. Cooking for Melissa and gardening in the warmer months. Hiking. Sitting in the backyard identifying birdsongs. Trying not to annoy my neighbors too much with my constant stream of consciousness. The possibilities are endless and as I write this I realize just how truly overwhelming it all is. Argh! Like you, I’m not good with goodbyes. I know I’m going to miss you all a lot. A lot! Maybe I’ll just bring pastries by the store weekly and sit in the backroom until I settle in! Until then, I’ll be like our German friends and just say OurFeetAreTheSame.
MMK: Your plans sound lovely and I’m really happy for you. Thank you for taking the time to reflect on your time at Mast Shoes. And please know, you’re always welcome here. We love you.