Sole Source opens in walkable downtown Ypsilanti

All you need for a walkable downtown is a healthy density of bricks and mortar – and the right pair of kicks. Sole Source,  a provider of custom-made orthopedic shoes, is now open for walk-ins at 50 N. Huron St. in downtown Ypsilanti. The storefront carries the Dr. Comfort product line, orthotics, socks and compression wear, and deals in odd shoe sizes. Diabetics, who commonly have foot problems, have an especial need for shoes with custom inserts, says owner Annette Bottum. Bottum considered Ann Arbor, but felt that less congested, and less expensive, Ypsilanti was the better option for her shop. "I wanted to be at street level. I wanted to be where people are," she says. "And I think it's a really cute little town, and honestly I was looking for cheap rent on the street." Bottum is the sole employee, but may hire interns at a later date, she says. Source: Annette Bottum, owner, Sole Source Writer: Tanya Muzumdar