Jeff Mandel, the IT expert-turned-shoemaker, has a new home for his ExIT Shoes business, and it's pretty darn romantic: He is now ensconced on the second floor of Union Station.

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  • ExIT Shoes

There he's continuing to make handmade shoes—for cycling, in an early 20th century vintage style, as well as custom street footwear for men and women. His techniques are purist and traditional, from the Italian vegetable tanned leather he uses to the hand techniques he learned under the European masters of the art. If you want to check it out (or even if you've just never been onto the second floor of Portland's pretty vintage train station), he's having an open house in the new studio this Friday, August 16 from 5-8 pm (precise location: 800 NW 6th Ave., #207).
One of the more casual ExIT custom jobs, in blue nubuk.
  • ExIT Shoes
  • One of the more casual ExIT custom jobs, in blue nubuk.