Pierce McCoy's Shoe Shine

A Durham native, Pierce McCoy has been shining shoes for over 53 years, and it's a family business he learned from his father. You can find his setup outside of Beyú Caffè on a beautiful day, and tucked away by a staircase beyond the tables and chairs when it's rainy. "Over 80 pairs in one day," Pierce says of his busiest shift — but after hundreds (maybe thousands!) or clients in his chair, he wouldn't trade it for the world.