Kate Middleton?s London

Famous Wayne & Co.

Image by Troy Holden
If you travel often to the lower end of Market Street, you?ve most likely seen Famous Wayne, the self-proclaimed "Shoe Shine King of The World."

Wayne has been shining for precisely 22 years and has served as boot black to your favorite banker, sports star, secret service agent, politician, cable car grip man, and maybe even that fellow that shares the cube next to you downtown.

60-something Kenny Wayne Bowens travels daily to the Embarcadero BART station from Oakland. He ?Shines ?Em Up? 5 days a week and serves a mostly male clientele in his 5-chair booth. The City charges him ?a reasonable monthly rent? for the space where his booth sits, located directly east of the Cable Car turnaround at Market and Davis.

The Details:
Name: Kenny Wayne Bowens
Age: 60s
Resident: Oakland/San Francisco
Cost Per Shine: -
Avg Shines Per Week: 75
Total Lifetimes Shoe Shines: 100,000+
Client�le: 87% male
Regulars: 300+
Marital Status: Divorced
Current Relationship Status: 2-3 Girlfriends
Zoot Suits Owned: 32
Favorite SF Hangout: The Metreon

I asked The Most Famous One about the product he applies to the black and brown leather of his customers. ?I don?t mess with nothing but the Meltonian brand,? he says.

So what keeps Famous Wayne going day-in and day-out? ?I?m not bragging, but I love ME!! I?m the Shoe Shine King of the World!!?

[originally published in March of 2008]

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