This story appears in the September edition of Ottawa Magazine, on newsstands now. Click here to subscribe to the print or digital versions.

By Matt Harrison

As co-owner of The Black Tomato, you must be pretty busy. Why do you also sell shoes?
I really like [owners] Andre Schad and Chantal Biro-Schad, and when they opened Wolf & Zed, I wanted to help out. So I said to them: “I’ve got this crazy idea. I’d like to work on Saturday afternoons, and I’ll work strictly for shoes. You don’t have to pay me.” They thought it was a great idea — and why wouldn’t they? I don’t technically cost them anything. Instead, I get a discount on shoes. (more…)