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Boots
These boots are made for walking
By Hunteress Thompson
Dayton Boots on Hastings is pure legend, and a good part of Vancouver history too
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Instead of bitching at “the system,” I've decided to embrace the alternative. One alternative to gas-guzzling, CO2-emitting vehicles—which, by the way, are directly responsible for more deaths than both WWI and WWII combined (never mind the so-called externalities, like, trillions and trillions of dollars spent on paving)—is a no-brainer. Indeed, many spiritual paths point to walking as a meditation, so highly is our two-legged ambulatory process regarded. So, to totally walk your talk, try on a pair of Dayton boots for size. Why Dayton? Not only 'cuz they advertise with us, but because this is a legend, not a boot.
The tiny storefront on 2250 East Hastings Street, alive and kicking for over sixty years, continues to be The Head Office of this company that has set itself apart by adhering to the highest quality production and ethical standards in making the best boot in the world. Period. The storefront sports an equally tiny factory out-back, where these boots, made for the rugged, wet, Canadian outback are manufactured following the strictest of quality controls. It's hard, damn near impossible, to find any boots made in Canada these days. I tried. Even those designed in Canada, Spain or Italy are now Made in China. Not Dayton. Not only do you get a 100% Canadian product, you get a lifetime's wear out of your footwear.
What is even more remarkable is that the East Hastings storefront has attracted the attention of filmmakers, producers and movie stars, who flock to get their walkin' boots here. A star-studded wall in the store sports such greats as Biff Naked, Johnny Depp and Robin Williams, cradling his boots in his arms. Williams starred in the film 'Jumanji,” shot in Hollywood North, darling. The imaginary Parish store in the film was modeled after this model storefront. To this day, you can find Parish Store boxes on location at the East Hastings location. Like, wow!
And now, for the legend. I concur that the universe is made out of stories, not atoms. (I read it, after all, on my first box of Red Zinger tea). Here's a great one, sweethearts. So sit yourselves down with a cup of something good, and listen up. Back in the day when Dayton came into being in 1964, logging was booming in the far west. A man of Bavarian heritage, a third generation cobbler by the name of Charlie Wohlford, managed the Lumberman's Club at 64 E Hastings (now, deplorably, boarded up). The loggers would come into town to spend their savings, and their boots, spent by months of wear in water-logged logging camps, sorely needed repair. The lumberjacks went to town at the bar and left their boots for re-caulking. One night, over a crate of good whiskey (Chivas Regal, my fave, if you're thinking of taking me out) they convinced Wohlford to “make us some good boots.”
They were not good. They were great. His fame spread like wildfire through the forest, and soon he was making boots he baptized “Day Ton '64s,” 'cuz his name was too hard to pronounce, and even a lumberjack drunk on whiskey could say “good day” to a pretty woman. See? It's all good, even the bad.
Over time, the boots became a fave of black beauty-riding bikers and their hog-straddled leather-clad mamas. In the 60s, and 70s (yep, through the Gastown riots and all that heavy funky stuff) many bars posted a “No Dayton's allowed” sign. Like a lot of good things, they were considered bad. Why? 'Cuz bikers, loggers and hipsters used the heavy steel-toes to kick in each other's heads in. They got kicked out.
The deal with Dayton's is that if they make a deal with you they stick to it. The company has integrity, the boots have longevity, and they're a world-class, well-made footgear. You need to invest time breaking them in, and it seems like a lot of money, but over a lifetime of use, it really doesn't leave you broke. It takes anywhere from a week to a six months to break in your Dayton's, but they will form-fit to your foot and will become more and more comfortable and pleasing as time goes by, like a true lover's embrace. The staff at Dayton's (bless you, Karinna) are knowledgeable and say “we just wanna make you happy.” They will even throw in a black and chrome stash-box key-chain to boot. Rock on, Dayton!
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The Republic of East Vancouver masthead
The Republic of East Vancouver supports no party, advocates
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