Dr. Grizzy Shoe Clinic LLC originated in a 2 car garage in Griffin Ga. It began with an idea and lots of prayers. Started by Andrew Greene (better known as A.Greene or Grizzy to some), this company got its start around August of 2018. He had just joined the coaching staff as an assistant girls basketball coach for Spalding High School located in Griffin Ga. This is where it gets interesting. Everyday A.Greene would practice in classic Jordan shoes against the girls' team. We're talking Olympic Jordan (7's), Concord Jordan (11's), Bordeaux Jordan (6's), Cherry Jordan (12's) and many more!! Shoes that were still in good condition, just not wearable in public to the average sneakerhead. 

 

Everyday before practice, he would sit at the local barbershop with his friend/barber/business partner Elway & bounce ideas....until one day it hit him, he needed to have his sneakers cleaned and in a hurry. An avid shoe collector since the tender age of 8, Grizzy had about 10-15 dirty pairs that he was rotating out and practicing in. On top of another 30-40 pairs that were in good condition. One day after practice, he decided to reach out to a guy that restored tennis shoes and get a price quote. He wanted to restore his Olympic Jordan (7's) since they probably were never being released again. When he finally received a response, it was $30 over what he originally paid for the shoe brand new. Thinking cap inserted!!!

 

To pay $220 for a shoe that he originally paid $190 for sounded preposterous!! So he did what any entrepreneur would do....researched how to restore the shoes himself. Being both a businessman and marketing guy, he sat and came up with a plan. A plan that would later have him cleaning everyone's sneakers from kids to celebrities. He began pulling out all of his old sneakers from under the bed and cleaning and restoring them. One by one, he cleaned them, sanded them, taped them, painted them....the whole nine, until he found himself with 20 new pairs of sneakers and a company. Dr. Grizzy's Shoe Clinic!!!!!

 

He then presented the idea to Elway and the rest of the barbershop and low and behold, EVERY ONE needed their sneakers cleaned. He began to treat this just like a full time job. Waking up around 4am, beginning work around 5am, taking a breakfast break, then working more, then a lunch break, followed by more work. And in his downtime, meeting clients wherever to pick up loads as well as drop off loads that had been cleaned. His self-discipline and work ethic led him to being a household name in the area when it came to sneaker restoration/cleaning. He also inspired many others in the area to begin cleaning/restoring sneakers as well. Knowing that what God had for him was for him, he often (and still does) offer advice and help to the entrepreneurs in the same lane as himself.

 

Customers were pouring in and his company was doing well, but he ended up becoming ill with stomach complications and had to step away from the brush and the cleaner for a while. Around November of 2019 Dr. Grizzy was sidelined due to H. Pylori in the stomach followed by a stomach ulcer. The pain was so excruciating that he had to take off five months from work and go and live with his parents in McRae, Ga until he could start feeling better. After feeling about 70% better, he began searching for employment that offered health benefits. He was offered a Human Resources position at a local warehouse about 2 weeks later. He worked this job in pain, under heavy medication, and also under stress. Then it hit him...he thought if he could put this much effort into his company as he did the warehouse position, he would be where he wanted to be in no time. So around Feb-Mar of 2020, covid hit and the pandemic began. Just like many local jobs, the company he was employed by started laying people off. And who was one of the first to go, you guessed it.....good ol' Dr. Grizzy. 

 

After being laid off, he sat at his desk in his garage where he cleaned shoes and decided to "lock in with himself". Meaning he was gone dedicate the same time and effort into his company that he did the warehouse position. He began to market harder, work faster, and discipline himself more than ever before. Taking shorter breaks and replacing them with longer work hours, his company went from just a local shoe cleaning company to grossing over six figures in 8 months. This inspired Andrew to really work harder and dream even bigger.

 

Fast forward to July 2021, his life took a turn for the worst. He lost his biggest supporter & cheerleader Willie Mae Greene (his mom) to cancer. She loved the fact that he had turned his life around, being that not only was he a college graduate but also a convicted felon...and had finally figured out a way to get his life back on track. She supported him every step of the way. The entire time his mom was in the hospital, he would sit in the room with her and manifest much more for his company, his life, and his family. The Lord called her home on July 10, 2021 and he went into a state of depression. Knowing she wouldn't want him to stay down, he used her voice as fuel to his fire to get back up and finish the drill. Sitting in her hospital room sometime in June of 2021, he started doing research on vehicles to transport his sneakers as well as a way to better market his company. He came across the Ford Transit and decided to photoshopped his logo on the van. This was manifestation at its finest, because in August of 2021 he purchased the exact same van and had his logos wrapped around the van in loving memory of Mrs. Willie Mae. 

 

There was so much more work to be done, so Dr. Grizzy could not let depression get the best of him. He knew if he wanted to see his mom again, he would have to get closer to God. So he joined a small group at the local church he attended. Little did he know, this would change his mindset forever. The pastor of the church led this particular group where he also met some great spiritual leaders. The group met that Tuesday morning and the church sponsored a business seminar that Saturday that he had also signed up for. 

 

The speaker at the business seminar challenged him to step out on faith and try some new things with his company. He received a copy of the speaker's book and quickly put it to use the same day. He had been contemplating a LOT of huge ideas for his company but was just afraid to take that first step. The confidence instilled in him at the seminar pushed him towards greatness. So much so that he buckled down for the next week or so and located some people that could help him bottle up the same "concoction" he uses to clean shoes. Now it's available to the public. 

 

He would like for you guys to stay tuned because there will definitely be more HUGE things coming from the Dr. Grizzy brand. Follow the company on all social media platforms and be sure to check out the Dr. Grizzy Premium Shoe Cleaning Kit.