Once Upon a Time There Was... Chaussures Dupuis!

For almost 40 years, Chaussures Dupuis has been a great footwear destination on Wellington Street, Verdun. Customers from all over Quebec and Ontario make special trips to visit Jean-François Dupuis and his sales team. The large selection of shoes kept in store along with the incredibly dedicated staff is what established Chaussures Dupuis’s fame from an early beginning.

Jean-François Dupuis, son of the founder and now the current owner, shared with us the story behind Chaussures Dupuis.

A place where everyone finds a suitable match!

Chaussures Dupuis was founded in the year 1980 by Serge Dupuis, whose entrepreneurial spirit emerged while working for Groupe Yellow.

In the 1990s, Jean-François Dupuis joins his father in his business. Together, they decide to introduce orthopedic shoes to satisfy the growing demand for comfort footwear. Today, more than a thousand styles are kept in store! Most of them are orthotics friendly and come in a variety of sizes and widths.

Although they specialize in orthopedic shoes, Chaussures Dupuis also meets the needs of those who want comfort but won’t give up on stylish footwear. Customers can choose from a large selection such as Portofino’s, which are known for their vibrant colours and eclectic styles.

Customers make detours to visit Chaussures Dupuis because they know that when it comes to finding the perfect pair of comfort shoes, it’s the place to go. Trendy accessories such as socks, handbags and wallets are also there to choose from.

A Warm and Friendly Atmosphere

Jean-François Dupuis can recall many funny moments occurring at the store since he joined his father in his business of selling comfort shoes. He remembers that once, on a busy Saturday, two ladies coveted the same pair of red sandals on display without knowing it was the last pair. One was trying on the left sandal while the other woman had her foot in the right sandal.

Both women were stunned when they realized there was only one pair left. Under the amused looks of the staff, they tossed a coin to determine who would take the red sandals and who would have to settle for the blue ones!

Mr. Dupuis also recalls a touching story that involved a woman with damaged feet. She came into the store on several occasions to try a pair of Portofino shoes. Every time, she left empty-handed, stating she would come back and buy them one day.

As Christmas was fast approaching, Mr. Dupuis gave permission to his sales team to gift her the shoes on her next visit. A team member, who knew where the woman lived, offered to bring her the shoes on Christmas Eve instead.

The woman’s happiness was shared with the staff, who was glad to see her strolling down the street in front of the store the store in her brand new shoes from that point on.

A place well worth the detour

In 2020, Mr. Dupuis will double the size of the actual store with the purpose of storing many more styles of comfort footwear. It’s therefore not possible to step out of the store without a grateful smile and a brand new pair of shoes in hand. Find out for yourself!