The Cohas Shoe Factory
The Story a World Leading Shoe Manufacturing Enterprise
Early 1900’s
Manchester’s “Shoe City” Era
Built in 1880, The Factory on Willow was first known as McElwain Shoe Company’s Cohas Factory (created in 1922), and shoes were produced here until 1972. Cohas Factory was a large contributor to Manchester’s “Millyard Past” as well responsible for coining MHT as the “Shoe City”.
The McElwain brothers produced shoes and boots that have travelled all over the world and used some of the highest qualities in leather.
Their Company was at one point the biggest company in the United States and #8th in the World!
Their legacy has inspired the name for the Distillery coming to the Factory in 2022, titled “Shoe Leather Spirits”.
The Revamp begins…
In 2020, almost 48 years later, real estate developer Liz Hitchcock and Amy Chchom bought the Factory and began renovations on the old mill building. The vision was to built a center for housing, the arts and entertainment, to bring more economy to downtown Manchester. The Factory on Willow was born and since 2021, is home to over 40 residents and at least 18 Airbnb suites.