The announcement was made on the business's Facebook page in a post. Thibadeau is Tony’s cousin, with Walsh as her husband. Thibadeau has been working at the store for the past 12 years, serving as manager in the last three.
“Theresa brings exceptional customer service skills and strong accounting experience,” explained Kelli. “She knows what makes Grady's special and is passionate about carrying that forward as she takes over ownership along with her husband Mark.”
In 1984, Ken Grady Sr. founded Grady’s Orthopedic Service from his home, crafting custom orthotics for local customers. He opened the first Grady’s Shoes storefront in downtown Peterborough a year later.
Two yeas later, Tony started helping after school each day. He purchased the store with his wife, Kelli, in 1997 and was rebranded as Grady’s Feet Essentials. They opened a kiosk at Lansdowne Place Mall in 2000. This led to further expansion into an entire storefront on the mall’s upper level in 2005 and a major renovation with the help of a retail designer in 2011.
In 2018, they purchased the former Angela Mark boutique building at 231 King Street in Peterborough which is their current location. Until the pandemic hit, they were restoring the building and using it for storage and office space. The pandemic forced them to think creatively, establishing a curbside pickup location and a satellite store at King Street. By February 2022, Grady’s Feet Essentials had officially relocated from Lansdowne Place to their newly renovated King Street location.
With next year being Tony’s 40th year involved in the business, it marked a great way to cap off a career, according to Kelli.
“That felt like the right milestone to pass the torch and explore new adventures,” she explained. “With our daughters pursuing careers outside the footwear world, we looked for someone who could carry on the Grady's legacy - and we're thrilled to have found that with Theresa and Mark.”
Tony and Kelli are remaining in the community as they are both members of the Rotary Club of Peterborough. Kelli serves as the director of membership and club service while Tony was appointed the new president in July. There are no concrete plans on what the couple plans to do after Grady’s Feet but are ready to take on what life brings them.
“We're keeping ourselves open to new possibilities - it will be fun to try new things and see where our interests and skills take us next,” said Kelli.
During the final year under the Grady’s, they are helping Thibadeau and Walsh with the transition of ownership, who will take over in September of next year.
“We are deeply grateful to the Peterborough community for supporting our store over the years,” said Kelli. “Grady's Feet Essentials has always been more than just a store - it's been about the relationships, conversations and trust we've built with our customers. As we step into a new chapter, we're excited to see the Grady's tradition continue with Theresa and Mark. This isn't goodbye - you'll still see us around the community and cheering on Grady's.”
