Dickson Street has lost a piece of its soul.
Flying Possum Leather owner, artist, and craftsman Bruce Walker died after a fire at his store Monday morning. He was 57 years old.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
According to Fayetteville Animal Services Program Administrator Joni Mosher, Bruce’s shop dog, Bugsy, survived the fire and is currently at the city’s animal shelter.
Mosher said she’d probably wait about 10 days to see if any of Walker’s family members come forth before putting Bugsy up for adoption.
Bruce opened his shop on Dickson Street more than 34 years ago, making custom sandals, leather belts and guitar straps by hand, and sharing his complex theory about how shoes with elevated heels and tapered toes were the root of all evil to anyone that would listen.
Flying Possum Leather was one of the last remnants of a Dickson Street that existed before the enhancement project. Before the Walton Arts Center. Even before some of you were born.
“There aren’t any stores like this left in the country,” Walker told us in a 2009 interview. “This is last of the Mohicans.”
Bruce was also one of a kind. He will be missed.
This is a very sad day for Bruce’s family and Fayetteville.
We put some flowers up at the shop, others have too. He was loved by all.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/justingage/5506824370/
truly an icon of fayetteville…a generous, gregarious, and gifted soul has been lost to us…
we will miss you, bruce…very much. this is a dark day on dickson…
Sad day for sure, rest in peace Bruce..
I’ve known Bruce since he opened his store in ’77. I can tell you he is probably fitting Jesus for a pair of custom sandles right now….probably explaining how his Dad messed up on his design of the human foot!
RIP Buddy!
totally spot on.
Bruce had a little practice for that. He made the sandals for the touring cast of “Superstar” years back!
This is tragic for Fayetteville, Dickson street, and all who have been lucky to know Bruce. I am so sad to hear this news. Bruce, and all that he has given over the years, will be so missed.
Our hearts go out to Bruce and the entire Dickson Street community.
Man, this is so sad. Flying Possum was truly one of the last vestiges of the Old, Weird Dickson Street. Such a huge loss.
very sad story… especially his last quote “and I never plan to leave…”
Bruce said that. “I never plan to leave”. He held firm as a bastion of the lost culture of old Dickson Street. I feel that is the hopeful part of the story, that Bruce Walker died where he made his stand, in his leather shop on Dickson Street. Long Live the memory of Bruce Walker in comfortable shoes, patented guitar straps used by musicians worldwide, and some lingering leather smell forever on that upper part of Dickson Street, a subtle memory of a time that has definitely passed from Fayetteville now.
Dgold
Honest Tunes
You hit the nail right on the head. Unmovable.
AMEN!
Bruce made me three pairs of his custom sandals as well as a guitar strap. If everyone put himself into his craft the way Bruce did, the world would be a much better place. I’ll miss you, Bruce!
I feel that Bugsy should, if not claimed by family, become a member of the Fayetteville Fire Dept.
YEAH!!
R.I.P. Bruce. I still wear the Birkenstocks he sold to me and maintained over the past 10 years. Such a loss. I’ll miss you!
So sad to hear this news. I have been frequenting his shop, and been glad to say he is a friend, for 30 odd years…All my family loved Bruce too. He was just one of those people who could sit and talk to ANYONE. I know he will be missed by all of Fayetteville. I listened to Patti Smith “Birdland” this morning. I hope Bruce is floating up up, take me up, into the belly…
omg
What a sad day…so sorry for a true loss to NWA and our community. I just picked up my custom sandals last week and Bruce was telling me how he was never going to retire…He will be missed.
Some people can not be replaced…. It is rare….we lost one of the irreplaceable in that fire
Yes Randy, he will be greatly missed…he was one of a kind…I think he made me a leather halter? like, in ’80 or so…
Bruce – Thank you for keeping the faith and reminding us all that genuine characters can survive. You will be missed like family, one of the last survivors of a “Free Dickson Street”. Fayetteville lost a piece of it’s heart today. Peace be with you.
Just Rest, Bruce. Just Rest.
I was going to get fitted for a belt in the next few days, and I must say I’m truly disappointed: not for the loss of a material thing, but the meaning it would hold for me and its future wearers.
He and his craft–and what it meant to him and others–will be missed.
This is devastatin, we truly lost a Fayetteville original today. RIP Bruce Walker, we love and miss you. :(((
Wow, what a sad day! I’ve know Bruce for decades, my parents were musicians and played on Dickson for years. Bruce was always at the gigs and was just such a great guy. I loved his shop, bought many pairs of Birkenstocks in there. Fayetteville has definitely lost an icon, what a terrible day!
Blue Monday :( ….I worked on Dickson Street in the 80″s and 90′s at the Ozark Mountain Smokehouse.This was back when Dickson Street was full of heart and soul because of wonderful characters such as Bruce.His soul and his shoes kept many of us workin’ folks smiling.Fayetteville has lost one of it’s legends way too soon.A dark day indeed..RIP Bruce.
Bruce was one of the final staples holding the old Street together..sadly missed..I’ll never forget when he took me and my family down into the caves when he was a cave guide when I was a little tiny kid. He was always around. One of the Rec’s League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (for the exclusive few who know what THAT means, I mean REALLY know. Just to know he frequented the place is a sign of non-enlightenment as to this matter, it’s esoteric). We’ll miss ya Bruce, thanks for keeping me, my parents and my kids in good shoes and straps. Happy trails, man.
He was just telling me last week of his times as a cave guide and how he got a kick out of exploring and telling the ladies their mascara was made out bat guano….so funny
Like a friend said, we should all wear cut offs and Birks for his Memorial. Heard it was at George’s Sunday. You know he would have been there! I knew him as a kid too and his love/loyalty to his dogs matched my own, we connected. Saw him Saturday at the MG Parade having a good ole time. RIP and I DO know what you mean, he was at Rogers last time I was there, same hug, same smile, same Bruce. ALWAYS!
Nice you remember that! I remember Bruce taking us down into the caves when he was there too!
Great memory!
I am stunned right now. Bruce was a mad genius, irreplaceable, a legend. I remember the first time I visited his shop, I was in a hurry and didn’t plan on staying long. I spent over an hour talking with him about the nature of the human foot.
You will be missed, Bruce. Right now you’re probably asking St. Peter what cows drink.
It so sad. I was just joking with him at Genos a couple of days ago at 3 am in the morning about his “attack dog” Bugsy :( Gonna miss you Bruce! I’ll always remember a “true” Dickson street legend.
you were a big part of my life bruce, i love you buddy. rest in peace
Dickson Street officially died today. Bugsy, you were always a good pal, used to walk me home (was a neighbor) thanks for staying with him till the end. Bruce would have wanted you it that way.
RIP Bruce your straightforward-ness and courage to be a craftsperson has influenced me. I pray for you today. … you were a positive force on me -
I was lucky enough to have him make me a strap about a month ago. He got the biggest kick out of me asking him to stamp “Baby Eater” on the strap. He said, “well? For each his own I guess, but I’m going to sign it and put my signature wheat grass stamp on there too.” I’m glad he did.
My wife and I were in town to visit my kids and grandkids last October.. Just about the first thing we did was to stop at Bruce’s shop so I could get a new belt from Bruce — they are on my jeans every day. We just loved being in that shop and swapping stories. We’ve been to a lot of places supposedly reknown for belts and sandals. But no one beat Bruce for craftsmanship, honesty and integrity. How one individual impacted on Fayetteville with sweetness and wisdom is a story for the books.. Find a home for Bugsy,
I definitely did not know the man the way I wish I did. But it is made clear from all the people who have come here and posted their thoughts and love about the man, that he was something mighty. I wish his family and friends all the best, and hope that we can keep his spirit alive and well on Dickson, and throughout Fayetteville.
Oh Bruce you left us too soon.
I bought two pairs of Birks from Bruce over the past 10 years or so. I made it a point to support his local small business in that purchase even though I could go to the mall. I was so glad both times because he really spent time fitting me perfectly. He trimmed off the extra leather from the straps; poked new holes; gave me the foot talk; showed me the Birk the dog had gotten; sealed the cork, etc. The whole nine yards! Why would anyone shop anywhere else! I knew he was a treasure of a human being. I loved the previous post which said he was currently fitting Jesus for new sandals. I like that. It makes me smile. Rest In Peace Bruce. Bugsy will be well cared for. You can count on it.
I knew Bruce and Bugsy. He lived a few doors down from my in-laws, and I have talked to him many, many times through the years. Bruce would ride his bike the 1/8 of a mile to Flying Possum every morning. Bugsy would follow Bruce to work and roam around the store fronts and side streets on Dickson St. around Flying Possum. I once saw Bugsy almost all the way to the post office- I told him, “Go home Bugsy!” and he just stopped, turned around and and headed in the right direction. Good dog.
I use to work at Jimmy John’s and have had many combos with Bruce…he was so pleasant and I could always expect him in the shop to fill up his cup at night…Bugsy was always right by his side or roaming Dickson and I am so glad he was there with Bruce till the end…I wish I could come back up there and adopt him so bad…you will be missed BRUCE!
Valentines Day was different this year. My husband had been eying a pair of handmade sandles from Bruce Walker and this was the year I decided to splurg and buy them for him. During the measuring, cutting and fitting process my husband and Bruce had become friends. We would drive down from Joplin and the first place we stop was to see Bruce and Bugsy. My 9 year old daughter would set on the floor and talk to Bugsy the whole time, saying “I love you Bugsy, your my best friend”… We had just been in town Saturday afternoon and my husband had asked him if he could write his senior paper at MSSU on him. Bruce was excited that someone thought enough of his work to write a paper on him, they talked about it and planned all the pictures my husband could take during the process. I was shocked and sadden when I heard that Bruce had died in a fire…my heart just sank. I called my husband in Joplin to tell him, he was speechless. The hardest part will be this afternoon when we have to tell our 2 daughters, 9 and 13, that the really” cool hippie guy” down on Dickson has past away. My daugther will ask about her best friend, Bugsy, but I don’t know if his survival will ease the pain that we all feel at the loss of our friend. R.I.P Bruce Walker…you will be making sandles for Jesus now. You will be truly missed!
Bet he died trying to put out the fire… whatever started it.
We are all gonna miss you, Bruce. You were one of Fayetteville’s unique highlights. Not too many left from the old days. See you later, Buddy.
Bruce, I will miss seeing you and bugsy all the time. I’m so glad I had the chance to buy your sandals and thanks for fixing them when my puppy ate them, I knew you would understand. I haven’t stopped crying buddy. I am truly going to miss you. <3
1 hour Bruce Walker mp3 radio memorial:
http://dgold.info/temp/brucewalker2011-03-08-honestfm-flying-possum-memorial-podcast128k-73min.mp3
LISTEN HERE ^^
Includes songs by Gram Parsons, Widespread Panic, 7 Walkers, Grateful Dead, Willie Nelson, Phish, Sarah Hughes, Aquarium Rescue Unit, Col. Bruce Hampton, John Hartford, Charliehorse, Tea Leaf Green, dedicated to the memory of Bruce Walker, Flying Possum Leather.
Dgold
Honest FM
More info, albums songs and artists listed on my radio blog
So very sad to hear! I knew Bruce when he opened his shop and he will be missed in my heart. I hope his dog finds a good family, he always has had wonderful dog companions. It was Little-un when we were hanging out. I haven’t seen Bruce in many years but my heart misses his presence here!
Bruce and i have been friends for a while,I went to UofA was a poor student who visited often trying to save for a pair of those sandals.Bruce made my daughter a pair first she was a year old they are the sweetest things ever,there was a picture o f her and her sandals in the shop on the wall of course we still have them she will soon be 16,finally many years later i got my pair of sandals they have always been a treasure to me an surely will be now,my family goes to Fayettville every summer my in-laws live there, we always visit Bruce and Bugsy an get my sandals “tuned up”,I am very sad and will be very lost the next time I am on Dixon Street!Bruce I will see you when I see you thanks for all the memories! Bugsy will miss u too! Kay
Funeral is Friday, March 11 at 2:00 at the United Methodist Church in Searcy, Ar.
Bodaceous party Sunday at George’s
http://www.georgesmajesticlounge.com for more info.
Thanks to everyone for all of their comments, thoughts, mementos and prayers.
Especially Fayetteville Fire Department, Emergency First Responders and the Doctor in the emergency room (I did not remember your name) who feverishly worked on Bruce to try and revive him.
The insurance company is currently taking inventory in the store and as soon as they finish, the family will be getting everything salvagable out. If you had merchandise in the store that Bruce was working on, we will try to recover it and notify everyone involved. His notebook of his orders was salvaged (a little wet) but recoverable.
Hopefully by next week the shop will be cleaned.
Does anyone know who to contact about possibly finding a pair of finished shoes I bought a couple of months ago from Bruce? I’d love to wear them in memory.
Got my first Birks from Bruce in 1980, bought my son’s first pair there in 2010. Wendy now Bruce! Times they are a changin. Bruce is, and will remain, a legend as long as any of us who remember Rogers Rec, the Swinging Door, George’s Beer Garden and Flyin Possum continue to recant how cool it was to grow up on Dickson street in the mid 70s, RIP Bruce.