Helen’s Cancellation Shoe Mart

Carl Coleman (1914-2007) and his wife Helen Poliakoff Proser (1917-2000) opened Helen’s Cancellation Shoe Mart at 418 South Main Street in 1951. Helen grew up working in her parent’s pawn shop in Anderson and married Carl, a Baltmore native, on February 2, 1941. After Carl served in the navy during World War II, he opened Carl’s Fixtures in 1946. Following the brief venture in the restaurant supply business, he joined his brother-in-law, Max Poliakoff (1908-1990) at Max’s Miscellaneous on Washington Street and then co-founded Helen’s Cancellation Shoe Mart with his wife. In 1960, Carl and Helen shortened their store name to Cancellation Shoe Mart and moved to 23 West Washington Street. In 1973, they moved once more to 207 South Main Street and operated there until closing the ladies’ shoe shop in December 1996. They retired to Atlanta the following year.