On the surface, a hot dog vendor, a restaurateur and a cobbler might not appear to have much in common, but three business owners in Langford's Westshore Town Centre, who have amassed almost 120 years of trade between them, definitely have one thing in common: community support.

First opened in 1984, the Langford mall has been home to fast-food joint Orange Julius, family restaurant RomeoB次元官网网址檚, and shoe repair store Quality Cobbler B次元官网网址� that's too many hot dogs, pizzas and shoe repairs to count.

"We keep each other going," says Mark Kinnersley, the familiar face behind Orange Julius.

Throughout the decades, the trio have seen many changes, none more so than the expansion of the city, bringing with it an influx of newcomers calling Langford home.

B次元官网网址淚 used to know everybody,B次元官网网址� said Chet Robert, owner of Quality Cobbler. B次元官网网址淣ow it's like every second person, I've never seen them before.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e met a lot of people,B次元官网网址� adds Kinnersley. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e seen people come and go B次元官网网址� peopleB次元官网网址檚 lives are constantly changing, but I'm still here making everybody happy.B次元官网网址�

But while the city has grown in size, so has Langford's community spirit, something the three business owners are thankful for.

"We would not be here without them," said Nick Kamaretsos, owner of Romeo's. "We have been at the heart of the community for decades, we could not have done this without them."

The best hot dogs in Greater Victoria

When Kinnersley took over Orange Julius in 1986, working alongside him was his five-year-old daughter Brittany, one of three daughters, who soon proved her worth behind the cash register.

B次元官网网址淐ustomers were shocked,B次元官网网址� said Kinnersley. B次元官网网址淎nd I was shocked too, because she could balance the till B次元官网网址� I had teenagers working for me that couldnB次元官网网址檛 do that.B次元官网网址�

Now adults, KinnersleyB次元官网网址檚 three daughters have moved on to their own careers, but he still has his faithful customers to keep him company at the mall.

B次元官网网址淚t's like having a family beyond family,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚 have so many loyal customers that have been with me throughout the years B次元官网网址� people that worked here in the '80s, theyB次元官网网址檙e now grandmothers with grandkids.B次元官网网址�

But watching the Langford community grow old before his eyes doesnB次元官网网址檛 make Kinnersley feel his age, it helps him to feel young at heart.

B次元官网网址淓specially the kids I meet every day,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淗elping to bring a smile to their faces, itB次元官网网址檚 quite the experience.B次元官网网址�

Alongside the classic Orange Julius drink, Kinnersley serves up thousands of B次元官网网址減erfectB次元官网网址� hot dogs a year, with some customers travelling for up to 90 minutes across Greater Victoria to satisfy their craving.

B次元官网网址淭hey can get a hot dog anywhere, but not as good as mine,B次元官网网址� he said. 

B次元官网网址淭ruck drivers from the States, they'll drop in anytime they're in the neighbourhood and they'll say I've got the best hot dogs on their entire route, and that includes the States,B次元官网网址� Kinnersley says proudly.

And he hopes to keep slinging his famous wieners for the next 10 years, to mark a half-century at Westshore Town Centre.

B次元官网网址淎s long as IB次元官网网址檓 enjoying it and I have my health, I'll still be hereB次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淏ut everything is going in the right direction.B次元官网网址�

Full bellies and secret recipes

The secret to RomeoB次元官网网址檚 longevity at Westshore Town Centre? 

B次元官网网址淣obody leaves hungry,B次元官网网址� says Kamaretsos. B次元官网网址淚 make sure of that.B次元官网网址�

Quality ingredients and a secret recipe for their pizza sauce, have also helped the family restaurant to thrive and survive while competing against a growing number of competitors, says the restaurateur.

But itB次元官网网址檚 customer and staff loyalty which Kamaretsos appreciates the most.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 what keeps us going,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚 have customers now that worked here during high school B次元官网网址� their kids work here now."

He estimates some staff members have been working at RomeoB次元官网网址檚 for over 30 years, with one only taking time off to have children.

B次元官网网址淪he started here as a teenager,B次元官网网址� said Kamaretsos. B次元官网网址淔our kids later, sheB次元官网网址檚 still working at RomeoB次元官网网址檚.B次元官网网址�

As well as 40 years at Westshore Town Centre, RomeoB次元官网网址檚 is also celebrating 50 years of business on Vancouver Island. 

The first branch was opened by the Mavrikos brothers, Dimitri, Steve and George, in downtown Victoria in the summer of 1974. Kamaretsos started working for the restaurant in 1984 when the Langford branch opened. He and his brother bought the business from the Mavrikos trio in 1989.

B次元官网网址淲e're still running and we'll continue to keep going,B次元官网网址� said Kamaretsos, who at the age of 68, is still working in the kitchen making pizzas.

And with his son, who has worked at the restaurant since the age of 12, now managing the business, Kamaretsos hopes RomeoB次元官网网址檚 will stick around to celebrate its 50th anniversary at Westshore Town Centre.

B次元官网网址淚 don't think they're gonna kick me out after 40 years B次元官网网址� I always pay my rent,B次元官网网址� jokes Kamaretsos.

From clown shoes to strippers'

For Robert, his career as a cobbler began in his late teens, learning the trade from a German craftsman at Tillicum Mall.

Once armed with the shoe repair skills he needed, he started work at the West Shore cobblers in 1985, later buying the business and making it his own in August 1986.

B次元官网网址淚t feels great,B次元官网网址� said Robert about his time in the mall. B次元官网网址淚 tell my customers this all the time B次元官网网址� I love my job more than I did on day one. IB次元官网网址檓 happy to be here.B次元官网网址�

As well as having a front-row seat to the continuing development of Langford across the decades, he has also witnessed a sharp decline in the number of cobblers in operation B次元官网网址� he estimates going from 30 down to three in Greater Victoria.

B次元官网网址淚've gone from being the youngest guy in the business, to the oldest,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淎nd IB次元官网网址檝e still got another 10 years. I'll hit 50 years here and that'll be enough.B次元官网网址�

As to why cobblers are a dying breed, Robert lays the blame firmly on disposable footwear.

B次元官网网址淭hey make shoes now so you wear them for six months, throw them in the garbage and then hopefully get another $100 out of you for another pair,B次元官网网址� he said.

But being one of very few cobblers left does have its perks for Robert, customers travel from all corners of the Island to utilize his services. Some travel as far as mainland B.C., Ontario and some even cross international waters.

B次元官网网址淚 got people coming from England,B次元官网网址� said Robert. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 people that have lived here before or have family here and they know about me.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e built up a very loyal following, which is great, and IB次元官网网址檓 very grateful for that.B次元官网网址�

Asked what has been the strangest repair he has done, Robert reels off a list of footwear, including two-foot-long clown shoes.

B次元官网网址淭hey need resoling just like everybody does, because clowns wear the heck out of those things,B次元官网网址� he says.

B次元官网网址淪tripper shoes too, I used to do those a lot back in the day. Not so much these days, we don't have many strippers left in Victoria.B次元官网网址�