By Ayesha Khan
At the southwest corner of Weston and Finch, set back from the road with a substantial parking lot, sits an unassuming strip plaza. In it, sandwiched between a hair salon and a restaurant, is a now-empty storefront that, until December 31, 2025, housed an independent shoe store named Cleptomania Shoes.
For over five decades, its owner, Rocco Marzano, sold high-quality, Italian-made shoes and accessories. Customers ranged from walk-ins in the neighbourhood to loyal regulars from across the GTA who claimed they would never buy shoes anywhere else. Beyond its clientele, Marzano was also known for welcoming visitors who stopped in simply for a coffee and conversation. For more than half a century, the shop was a friendly and familiar presence in the community.
“When I first opened here, it was November 1974. Before, the whole area was 90 per cent Italian. Now, it’s a mixed community. A lot has changed.”
From sun-ready sandals to snow-proof boots, Cleptomania’s inventory covered all seasons and occasions. Marzano also stocked stylish leather belts, which he customized on site using traditional leatherworking tools.
Cleptomania Shoes reflected an era of craftsmanship in apparel, when quality products were made to last and purchased with the intention of being worn for years. The shoes sold here were known for their durability, retaining comfort and wearability long after purchase — a refreshing contrast to fast-fashion alternatives. Marzano is part of a generation of Italian-Canadians who helped shape Canadian culture through specialization and mastery of their craft. Recently, he was honoured by local City Councillor Anthony Perruzza for his long-standing contributions to the community as a local business owner.
Marzano says he is looking forward to retirement. Running the store meant giving up his tradition of spending the holidays in Bari, his hometown in southern Italy.
“I’ve never been able to go home for Christmas. All my family is there — my brothers and my sister. Christmas in Bari is a different life. You have to see it for yourself.”
While the storefront may now be quiet, the impact of Cleptomania Shoes remains. For generations of customers who valued quality, craftsmanship, and personal service, the store’s legacy lives on — stitched into every well-worn pair of shoes and remembered fondly by a community that grew alongside it.