After over 20 years of owning Fairhaven shop 12th Street Shoes, Jody Proctor passed the mantle to Michelle Shines, a familiar face in the local boutique scene.
Shines ran a shoe boutique in downtown Bellingham, Mi Shoes, from 2005 to 2017. She also owned Heroine Clothing and a mobile clothing boutique. After closing these businesses, Shines moved towards a career in health coaching and yoga instruction. “I was in a whole new direction,” says Shines. “Strangely, I kept kind of coming up against these dead ends.”
Then, a new path appeared. “I came [to 12th Street Shoes] last fall and was actually just shopping for shoes, and the owner recognized me. She’s like, ‘You used to own Mi Shoes. You’re Michelle,’” says Shines. Proctor divulged to Shines that she was looking to retire in May of 2026, and told her she thought she’d be “the perfect person” to take over.
“We kind of both got goosebumps,” Shines recalls. “I had to do some real soul searching…[but] this is obviously what I’m meant to do.”
Shines officially became the new owner on May 1, and had a record-breaking first month full of loyal customers and well-wishers. She’s already working to refresh the inventory, bringing in shoe brands like Miz Mooz that blend comfort with up-to-date fashions. Even with the updates to come, Shines is dedicated to upholding the legacy handed to her by Proctor.
1204 Harris Ave., Bellingham, 360.733.2066, 12thstreetshoes.com
Photograph by Kristen Boehm
