David Campbell the shoe-shine man, our New Yorker of the Month June 2007

Ask a New Yorker: How long have you been at this out-post shining shoes?

David: I’ve been at this out-post since 1961.

Ask a New Yorker: I don’t even know where to go with that. You look great. How many shoes would you guess you’ve shined?

David: That’s the sixty thousand dollar question! That’s a lot of shoes, a lot of shoes. I couldn’t even count them.

Ask a New Yorker: (inane question) How often should someone get their shoes shined?

David: Maybe once a month. You know what I mean? Maybe a couple of months sometimes. Really depends on the type of shoes. Some shines last a little longer then others.

Ask a New Yorker: What’s in the jar?

David: This is what’s called a wash. It cleans your shoes and gets all the dirt out of your shoes. Kinda like taking a bath. When you take a bath you put your tuxedo on. It’s the same thing. You wash the shoes then you put the polish on which makes it shine better.

During the interview David was shining a gentleman visiting from Israel who had this to say:

Israeli man: My wife told me explicitly when you come to New York and you stay at the Grand Hyatt, don’t forget to shine your shoes. It’s the only city in the world you can have your shoes shined. I travel a lot and that is the only place.

David: As I said I’ve been shining shoes since 1961 to New York, but I’ve been shining shoes since I was six years old.

Ask a New Yorker: Where did you start shining shoes?

David: North Carolina. Then I went to the air force base, then I went to the army base. I’ve been all over the world.

Israeli man: It’s very important that he is proud of what he is doing. Not many people now a days are proud of what they are doing.

Ask a New Yorker: Excellent point. What else, David, do you take pride in doing?

David: Everything I do I take pride in. I don’t care what it is. You’re supposed to be proud in everything you do in life.

Ask a New Yorker: Do you like to cook?

David: I’m an excellent cook. I had my own restaurant over by my house in the Bronx, right across from the street from my house, as a matter of fact. The Bronx is not too bad. That’s where all the poor people live. I can’t afford to stay anywhere else but the Bronx.

Ask a New Yorker: What’s your specialty?

David; Soul food. Collard greens, chicken, potato salad, meat loaf, spare ribs…This is what we were raised on down south.

Ask a New Yorker: Do you have a dancing partner?

David: No, I have friends. I ain’t got no girlfriend. You know what I mean. You get a girlfriend you might be in some trouble. A woman is just like a kid. You got to take care of them, you understand. I can barely take care of myself. So it would be a problem if I tried to take care of her and me all at the same time. That’s the problem.

Ask a New Yorker: How much is a shine?

David: When I started shining shoes it was five cents. Now, look at it now it’s four dollars. And so I stuck it out and now I’m all right. It’s enough to put a meal on your table and pays your rent if you know what I mean. And it’s tax free. You can’t beat that now can you?

Ask a New Yorker: It’s Friday today, what are you doing tonight?

David: Just go home and take it easy. That’s all. I like watching TV. You know what I mean. I like watching channel 13 because of the history of different types of people and different worlds….this is my magic rag. You know what I mean. This is what brings the shoes up. Didn’t you know that shoe shines are different these days while I’m shining the shoes I’m giving them a foot massage. It feels good when I’m finished. That’s why I got lots of customers. I try to satisfy everybody.

A woman tourist comes up and asks David for directions.

David: If someone gave me a dollar for every time someone asked me for directions, I’d be rich for the rest of my life.

Ask a New Yorker: What’s that poking out of you pocket?

David: That’s my numbers slip. So I play the street numbers. You know what I mean. I’ve been playing every day for the past forty-five years.

Ask a New Yorker: I know what you mean. You’re the best. Thanks for your time David. (You can find David on 42nd St, near Grand Central Station, across from Cipriani's).

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