Shoe shine business loses its stand after 60 years at MSP

Royal Zeno Shoeshine has lost its place on Minneapolis Street. Paul International Airport has been in business for 60 years.

Minneapolis — The long-running shoe shine business polishes its last pair of shoes at Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport.

In a unanimous vote Monday afternoon, the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) awarded the DG Express Professional Shoe Shine only a three-year contract.

As a result, the Royal Zeno Shoeshine was launched 60 years later.

Rosemary Zeno, owner of Royal Zeno Shoes, said: “I’m very emotional. It hurts. I don’t have words right now because it’s hurt, it’s anger, it’s frustration. So many emotions are going on right now.” rice field. Daughter of Shine and Royal Zeno.

Royal Zeno started its business at the airport in 1962. In 1998 he made national news when MAC sought a new vendor. Royal fought it and won. After he passed away in 2008, Rosemary continued his father’s legacy.

But Monday’s meeting had a different outcome.

DG Express currently has two stands and Royal Zeno has three.

MSP Airport’s shoe shine stand will be reduced from 5 to 3.

Isabella Rhawie, Assistant Director of MAC Retail and Business Development, said:

The Request for Proposals (RFP) process was initiated earlier this year with a selection committee made up of MAC staff and MAC Commissioners.

The group evaluates proposals using criteria that emphasize customer experience and overall management and operational experience over other factors such as rent, and awards concession contracts to one of three proposed vendors. recommended.

“There aren’t that many people using this particular service, so the revenue side of things wasn’t that important. So they started looking at things like customer service. How do your customers feel? Are you presenting yourself well? Are your customers happy about it? And when all this was put together and voted on by a committee, they decided to go with the other operators explained Commissioner Richard Ginsburg.

DG Express and Royal Zeno are both black-owned businesses. During the conference, Gloria Weinblatt asked, “Why are you pitting minority businesses against minority businesses?”

Once the deal is finalized, more data behind the decision will be made public.

“Change is not easy and obviously a lot of people were passionate about it, but I think the staff did the right thing. ‘ said Ginsberg.

After the vote, Rosemary told KARE 11, “I got stabbed in the back. Yes, I got stabbed. I’m mad.”

This change affects 11 employees of Royal Zeno Shoe Shine.

After working for the company for 24 years, Sherman Gray needs to find a new job.

“I am very disappointed now. I still have to pay my bills. I have no job. 24 years… I have no job. I am sad,” Gray said.

According to Rosemary, the last day at the MSP airport is September 30th. It will continue to operate at Union Depot in St. Paul.

“Keep your head high and keep going,” said Rosemary. “Royal Zeno Her shoeshine legacy lives on. We carry on.”

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