Square Deal Shoes loses the last of its second generation of owners

The owner of one of the oldest retail businesses in Des Plaines has died.

Joseph Capozzoli, whose father, Luigi, opened Square Deal Shoes in Des Plaines in the 1920s, passed away on Monday. The longtime Mount Prospect resident was 82.

For nearly 60 years, Mr. Capozzoli ran the downtown shoe store with his brother, Louis. Both returned to the family business after their military careers - Mr. Capozzoli served in World War II - and together began a partnership that would span generations.

"My father ran the business end of it, like doing the bookkeeping and merchandising," says Mr. Capozzoli's daughter, Amy Giacobbe of Carol Stream, "while my uncle was more of the frontman. He was the salesman of the two."

Their father started the shoe store in 1921 at the corner of Diversey and Kedzie in Chicago, before moving it to Des Plaines, where it continues to share the same block of Miner Street with the historic Des Plaines Theater, which opened in 1926.

The Capozzoli brothers helped their brother-in-law, Robert Guss, open another shoe store in Barrington. The Village Cobbler served families there for more than 20 years before their nephew opened a shoe store in Crystal Lake.

"Over the years, they witnessed a lot of changes to downtown Des Plaines," says Jack Capozzoli of Vernon Hills, nephew of Mr. Capozzoli, who now runs the store. "From the demolition of the parking garage and mall to all of its latest redevelopment, they've seen things come and go."

One thing that hasn't changed, he says, is the full service family shoe store that Square Deal offers local residents.

"Even in this economy, there's still a market for a full service shoe store, with personal service and salesmen that know footwear and the industry," Jack Capozzoli adds.

Giacobbe, who grew up with the business, agrees, adding that customers have remained loyal as much to the family as to the business.

"Because it's a family-owned business, you can just feel a different atmosphere when you walk in," she says.

Mr. Capozzoli drove to work every day, even as recently as last week, when he checked over the bookkeeping and left last minute instructions before checking himself into the hospital. He passed away four days later.

Besides his daughter and nephew, Mr. Capozzoli is survived by his daughter Theresa Capozzoli of Minneapolis, son John Capozzoli of Grand Rapids, Mich., five grandchildren and two nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret, and his brother, Louis, in 2007.

A funeral Mass will take place at 10 a.m. today, Friday, at St. Raymond de Penafort Church, 301 S. I-Oka St. in Mount Prospect.