JF Thompson
By Jan Lane Harper

Remember Imelda Marcos, First Lady of the Philippines who owned 2700 pairs of shoes? She had so many that after her exile, her husband’s successor ordered many of her shoes to be put on display as a demonstration of her extravagance. Now in Manila, in the Marikina district that is known as the shoe capital of the Philippines, there’s a shoe museum exhibiting 758 pairs of her shoes along with others worn by celebrities throughout the world.

Surely you don’t have that many shoes; however, I conducted an informal survey of my friends and discovered holdings from 28 to 151 pairs, with many confessing ownership in range of 40 to 60 pairs. According to a recent study published in ShopSmart magazine, the average American woman has 19 pairs, and 15 percent of the female population has over 30 pairs.

If you’re in the market for new ones, there’s a shoe boutique on Frederica Road that can easily help you increase your holdings. Inside J.F. Thompson, there are over 250 shoes on display, with a backroom inventory of 2,000 to 3,000 pairs in sizes 6 to 11. Opening in April 2007 and owned by Jack and Beth Thompson from Macon, this specialty shop has an extensive variety of styles and several lines not sold anywhere else on the island, including Taryn Rose, Salpy, Paul Mayer, Anyi Lu, and dansko. With an average price-point well under $200, there are shoes for any occasion, from formal to very casual. According to the Thompsons, most are made in Italy, Spain, and France.

During my recent visit, this gracious couple shared their story and love for this business. There’s an impressive legacy: Jack’s grandfather was Oscar Thompson of that Atlanta landmark shoe store Thompson Boland Lee; thus Jack’s knowledge of the shoe business began at an early age. After many years in the Atlanta area, the couple moved to Macon, building a home on property in Beth’s family and opening a shoe store there four years ago. Expansion with a second store on St. Simons was a natural step for this couple, who have always enjoyed visiting the Golden Isles. This business is definitely a family affair. Both are involved in all aspects, including buying for both locations. When the Thompsons are not on the Island, J.F. Thompson is staffed by Gay Farmer and Amanda Duffey.

“They’re the A team and we’re the B team,” Amanda said with a smile. All staff are ready to assist shoppers, and don’t think this boutique is just for women. Several lines offer shoes for men, including Cole Haan, Mephisto, and MBT, which is tagged “physiological footwear.” Jack had a lot to say about those shoes, their design and ultimate comfort. “I own two pairs,” he confessed.

Truly unique in concept, MBT is “Masai Barefoot Technology.” The shoes were developed by Swiss engineer Karl Müeller, and, according to promotional materials, named for a semi-nomadic tribe from East Africa noted for their excellent posture, stable heath, remarkable athletic ability, and little joint and back pain. Trust me, women and men, you need to check these shoes out. Continuing to emphasize comfort, Jack pointed out women’s dress shoes with heels of reasonable heights, and Beth identified several styles that have been best sellers.

J.F. Thompson is mostly about shoes, but it’s also about interesting hats, several styles from Helen Kaminski, and handbags, small sparkling ones for evening and a colorful array for other occasions. This boutique also offers Cole Haan sunglasses and some jewelry, including a Simon Sebag collection. Shoes from J.F. Thompson are comfortable, and they are also fashionable. Cork wedges, patent leather, nude pumps, a variety of metallics, and numerous flats are included in the collection. Also from that SmartShop survey is the fact that 60 percent of women have regretted at least one shoe purchase. I’m sure that if you buy shoes at J.F. Thompson, you won’t find yourself in that statistic. Just for fun, count the shoes in your closet; you don’t have to tell (I didn’t). FYI: on average, women buy four pairs a year. I challenge you to resist buying another pair or two at J.F. Thompson.

J.F. Thompson
fine footwear
1626 Frederica Road
St. Simons Island, GA 31522
912.634.4554
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday – Saturday