Advertisements from the W.O. Stubig Shoe Store

William O. Stubig began working in his father’s shoe store on Water Street in the 1890s. Christian Stubig, a German immigrant and Civil War veteran, founded the shoe store in 1866. After the elder Mr. Stubig’s death in 1904, William took over the shoe store. Frequently identified as W.O. Stubig, he believed in the power of advertising, often running ads in the Sandusky Register and the Sandusky Star Journal. In this ad from the October 5, 1906 issue of the Register, W.O. Stubig let customers know that he carried several popular brands of shoe wear, including the B. & P. “Korrect Shape” shoe.

The Star Journal of December 30, 1911, carried an ad which implied that shoes were an important feature of a woman wanting to appear attractive. Stubig was adept at fitting shoes for Sandusky ladies (and men.)

A "price wrecking" sale, with “the most stupendous shoe sacrifice ever known” began on December 9, 1919 at Stubig’s shoe store.

In a clever advertisement in the January 20, 1909 issue of the Sandusky Register, W.O. Stubig stated he would give a free pair of shoes to the first person to solve this rebus:

The lucky winner of the contest was Fred L. Werner. The solution to the puzzle is in the article below, from the Sandusky Register of January 24, 1909.

The W.O. Stubig shoe store closed shortly after the death of Mr. Stubig in 1956. 

Here is a picture of the Stubig shoe store while still under the management of the founder, Christian Stubig:

Prior to 1915, the store was at 754 Water Street. After street numbers changed in 1915, that address became 228 West Water Street. The building which once housed the well known shoe store was razed in 1965. A parking lot is now located at the spot where Stubig’s store once stood, near the southeast corner of Jackson and Water Streets.