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October 2009 Edition

Starting at 13 selling shoes, he hasn't stopped yet

If you ever have the privilege to meet Eddie Zorehkey, the first thing you notice is he's sizing you up, shoes first. You see, Eddie (it's not Ed, but Eddie) started in the shoe retail business when he entered puberty working in a shoe store in Chicago. He wasn't even in Roosevelt High School yet, but he was working four days a week while going to school. His mother was a cashier in the store where he worked so she could keep an eye on him. It started casually...."hey, Eddie, can you get that shoe for this customer?" And before you could spell Florsheim, he was handling his own customers. His manager cautioned, though, "Eddie, you can have as many customers as you want, providing every customer feels like she is her only customer. Never forget that, kid". And before he knew it, his life's path was set.

Attending the University of Illinois, he couldn't stay away from the shoe business, and he eventually went to work for Chernin Shoes, one of the nation's original shoe discounters. "We got all of Florsheim's closeouts, and in just one location we did more than $12 million per year, and that was back in 1969"

Eddie eventually moved to California ("where the grass looked a lot greener, especially in January"), and he wanted to open his own shoe stores. He soon met Gene Sneir, who became his close friend and mentor. Gene was Director of Retail Development for US Shoe Corporation at the time. They found locations and financed shoe stores for independent operators with shoe experience.....it was complicated, but basically, Gene taught Eddie the real estate side of retail. Gene took a liking to Eddie and after a lot of fancy convincing, Eddie was persuaded to give up his own gig, and work full time for U.S. Shoe. "He taught me the little, but important things about being a retailer. I learned how to 'back into' the right deal for a retail location. The objective was always to make the right real estate deal so the retailer could survive."


Eddie Zorehkey

After stints on the road and in the wholesale shoe business, Zale Jewelers hired Eddie as Director of Real Estate and he eventually became Vice President of Real Estate for Hartfield-Zody's, and in 1983, he started Zorehkey & Associates after Hartfield-Zody's went Chapter 11. Walden Books was his largest client at the beginning. It was a hand-shake deal that lasted eight-and-half years."

Over the years, Zorehkey & Associates built a robust consulting business, representing Guess, Zale's Jewelers, SunGlass Hut, Backrach Menswear, Contempo Casuals, Hot Topic, Karl's Shoes, Wet Seal, Windsor, Lechter's Hose wares, and Wetzel's Pretzels. One of his favorite clients was Frederick's of Hollywood...."now that was a fun account."

After Eddie sizes up your shoes, you might ask him about his 'wedding business'. Besides enjoying a whiz-bang career in retail, Eddie also fills the shoes of a minister, conducting weddings for close friends (as he did for Linda and me over 10 years ago). As a member of the Universal Life Church, he is authorized to conduct weddings "...but only for close friends. I do it because it's fun, and I make the ceremony very personal and meaningful."

Living in Mission Viejo, California, with his lovely wife, Maya, Eddie plays paddle and regular tennis to stay fit because he's also a part-time actor, appearing in television commercials. His two sons, Michael and Rick, both work with him in the business -- the retail consulting business. "They're not doing weddings, yet." And he has never forgotten to always take care of the customer first. One of the most engaging personalities with a friendly smile and firm handshake, Eddie Zorehkey is "still the kid." 
 


The Eddy Company is one of America's leading specialty retail leasing consultants. For information, please contact Bill Eddy at our Newport Beach office -- 949-640-7475. Or e-mail us at bill@theeddycompany.com or visit our web site -- www.theeddycompany.com