Meet Todd WIndham | CEO & Founder of Uncle Buck’s

We had the good fortune of connecting with Todd WIndham and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Todd, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My father passed in December of 2022, and when I returned home to New York the only thing still left of sentimental value to me was his shoe-shining kit. After shipping the kit back home to Atlanta I began shining my own shoes, as a way to reflect on the time I spent with my father, and it made me realize how many young men don’t have the resources and memories I shared with my father. Many of my memories with my dad involve me shining his shoes on Saturday evenings before his church services on Sunday. With those memories in mind, I decided I wanted to honor my father’s legacy, which was Uncle Buck’s birth.

I now spend time sourcing gently used shoes, breaking them down, and then building them back up to gift to young men who stand in need of dress shoes. I knew it was important to provide this service, as I noted many young men own sneakers and recreational shoes, but didn’t have a pair of shoes they could wear as they enter the professional and academic settings.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
We are a non-profit organization that sources and gifts gently-worn and restored dress shoes to young men in need. There are plenty of organizations that provide clothing, sneakers, and even jewelry to young men, but I couldn’t find one that helped them put their best foot forward (pun intended). We are most excited about the influence that we have in the lives of the young men we serve; not only do we provide shoes, but we are able to build relationships with each young man.

One of the challenges we face is really just getting our name out in the community. Our operations team does a lot of work reaching out to local organizations we think would benefit from a partnership with Uncle Buck’s, but we don’t give up easily. We work hard to let others know of our services and don’t let up. We are committed to serving the young men of the greater Atlanta area and refuse to let the silence of some discourage us. We have seen the fruit of our continued communication and have been able to partner with multiple organizations, but we are striving to make more connections in the community that would broaden our influence and our brand.

If I had to say one thing I would want readers to know about us, it would be that we are here and ready to serve. We get excited about working with organizations, schools, and churches that share our commitment to service. We are excited at the rapid growth that we have experienced in such a short period of time. The staff at Uncle Buck’s is hopeful that we’ll be able to serve the young men who are in need of our services for years to come.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m a fan of the city and enjoy getting out to experience new places. If my friends were in town it would go something like this:

Food:

Saints & Council
Planta
Poor Richard’s
Fleming’s
Joey D’s Oak Room
The Vault
Marcel’s
Atlanta Fish Market

Fun:

Puttshack
Golf at John A. White
Cascade Skating Rink
Cigars at Monticello
Cigars at.Burn
Red Phone Booth

Visit/Hang:

Dancing at Monticello
Gocha’s Tapas Bar
The Battery
Ponce City Market Place
Krog Street Market
Piedmont Park
Apache

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate this to the memory of my father Rev. Curlee Windham. The time we spent together in my childhood has provided me with the skills and resources to bless the lives of young men throughout the Greater Atlanta area. I am who I am as a man, community servant, and father because of his leadership.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncle_bucks_sfs/

Image Credits
Kenneth Bradley – SoulBrite Photography Uncle Buck’s Operations Team