On January 22nd, 1918, Francesco Arciuolo and his wife Nancy welcomed the birth of their first son, Matthew Joseph Arciuolo, in Monte St. Angelo, Puglia, Italy. Francesco’s family tree was full of cobblers and shoemakers, going back centuries, and Francesco was no exception. In 1920, he moved his family from Italy to the small town of Bridgeport, Connecticut, in search of a better life. In 1921, Francesco founded Arciuolo’s Shoe Store in Milford on Naugatuck Avenue, specializing in both shoe sales and repair.
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Sadly, in May of 1927, Francesco suffered a fatal heart attack at age 35, leaving his widow, Nancy, alone to raise five children and run the shoe store. Matthew worked hard to help support his mother and siblings, putting everyone else’s needs ahead of his own. At the age of 13, he quit school to focus solely on the family shop. Matthew focused on selling and repairing shoes while his mother managed the store. His sister, Madelyn, took care of the finances. Matthew kept the business running successfully through the Great Depression and into World War II until he was called upon to help defend his country. 

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Upon his return from service, Matthew wed his sweetheart, Pauline Serravalle, in 1946. They continued to run the shoe store, now known as one of the best in town for quality and service.

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Matthew worked tirelessly to provide his community with shoes that they could be proud of and look forward to wearing every day. In addition to running a successful shop in town, Matthew also worked as a volunteer firefighter for the community. In November of 1958, Pauline gave birth to Matthew Jr., their first son and Matthew Sr.’s eventual successor.

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At age 11, Matt began washing windows and sweeping floors for the family business and gradually took on more and more responsibility, all while learning the tricks of the trade from his father. He learned everything there was to know about the business, from proper shoe fitting techniques to the crafting of orthotics. After graduating from the University of Bridgeport, Matt took on a leadership role at Arciuolo’s and gradually developed a reputation that was as good as his father's. As the shoe store became increasingly popular, both Matt Sr. and Matt Jr. recognized the need to expand. In 1989, the store was moved to downtown Milford, to a building right in the middle of the city’s beautiful green. 

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Shortly after the move, Matt Jr. and his wife Felicia welcomed the birth of their first child, Matthew Joseph Arciuolo II. Although the business was well established as one of the state’s oldest and most popular shoe stores, Matt saw an opportunity to expand the business further. In 2000, he decided to deepen his knowledge and understanding of feet and foot health by becoming a Board Certified Pedorthist. A Pedorthist is a specialist that focuses on biomechanics, pain management, and performance enhancement. Shortly after attaining his certification, Matt founded Footstar Orthotics, a company specializing in custom orthotics for men, women, and children. Footstar Orthotics quickly grew to statewide and then national recognition as a provider of quality, custom orthotics designed to relieve pain and improve mobility and performance. Footstar was even chosen to sponsor the U.S. Olympic bobsled and skeleton teams, both of which earned medals wearing Footstar Orthotics.
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In 2005, Arciuolo’s Shoe Store welcomed the professional addition of Matthew Arciuolo II, who shares his family’s passion for the business and what it means to the community. Matt is a Board Certified Pedorthist with a degree in Small Business Management. Like his father and his father's father, Matt believes in creating a memorable experience for each of his customers. Arciuolo’s is currently thriving and has become a Milford landmark, recognized statewide as Connecticut’s oldest and most celebrated shoe store.