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In the News

U Street shoeshine legend endures

The man known as Ponytail died in January, but he is still revered along U Street in Northwest Washington where he shined shoes for so many years.

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Employees Kenneth Bailey Bey, left, and Joe Alfred shine shoes of patrons Irving Russell, seated left, and York Van Nixon at the Ponytail's Shoe Shine Salon in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 25, 2012. It's an old-fashioned shoe shine parlor that is hanging on after its owner, Donald "Ponytail" Betts, died in January. A makeshift shrine for him is in the window.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

Mike Murry jokes with his daughter Miesha Johnson while doing a repair job at Ponytail's Shoe Shine Salon in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 25, 2012. It's an old-fashioned shoeshine and repair parlor that is hanging on after its owner, Donald 'Ponytail' Betts, died in January. A makeshift shrine for Betts in the window as employees continue on with the business in his name.

Mike Murry jokes with his daughter Miesha Johnson while doing a repair job at Ponytail's Shoe Shine Salon in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 25, 2012. It's an old-fashioned shoeshine and repair parlor that is hanging on after its owner, Donald "Ponytail" Betts, died in January. A makeshift shrine for Betts in the window as employees continue on with the business in his name.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

Shoe shine man Kenneth Bailey Bey takes a breath outside Ponytails Shoe Shine Salon in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 25, 2012.

Shoe shine man Kenneth Bailey Bey takes a breath outside Ponytails Shoe Shine Salon in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 25, 2012.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

Brian Person, a patron at Ponytail's Shoe Shine Salon wears a gold weightlifter necklace in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 25, 2012. Person loves to drop in and talk with employees at the shop.

Brian Person, a patron at Ponytail's Shoe Shine Salon wears a gold weightlifter necklace in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 25, 2012. Person loves to drop in and talk with employees at the shop.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

Kenneth Bailey Bey, center, talks with patron Irving Russell as fellow shoeshiner Joe Aldred looks on at Ponytails Shoe Shine Salon in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 25, 2012. Ponytail's is an old-fashioned shoeshine and repair parlor that is hanging on after it's owner, Donald 'Ponytail' Betts, passed on last year. A makeshift shrine for him is in the window as employees continue the busines in his memory. (Photo by Linda Davidson / The Washington Post)

Kenneth Bailey Bey, center, talks with patron Irving Russell as fellow shoeshiner Joe Aldred looks on at Ponytails Shoe Shine Salon in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 25, 2012. Ponytail's is an old-fashioned shoeshine and repair parlor that is hanging on after it's owner, Donald "Ponytail" Betts, passed on last year. A makeshift shrine for him is in the window as employees continue the busines in his memory. (Photo by Linda Davidson / The Washington Post)

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

Previously worn shoes, shined and ready to go are for sale at the Ponytail's Shoe Shine Salon in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 25, 2012. It's an old-fashioned shoeshine parlor that is doing a good business after its owner, Donald 'Ponytail' Betts, died in January. Most customers come in a drop off multiple pairs of shoes for employees to shine then pick them up later.

Previously worn shoes, shined and ready to go are for sale at the Ponytail's Shoe Shine Salon in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 25, 2012. It's an old-fashioned shoeshine parlor that is doing a good business after its owner, Donald "Ponytail" Betts, died in January. Most customers come in a drop off multiple pairs of shoes for employees to shine then pick them up later.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

Mike Murray clowns around at the Ponytail's Shoe Shine Salon in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 25, 2012. It's an old-fashioned shoe shine and repair parlor that is hanging on after its owner, Donald 'Ponytail' Betts, died in January.

Mike Murray clowns around at the Ponytail's Shoe Shine Salon in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 25, 2012. It's an old-fashioned shoe shine and repair parlor that is hanging on after its owner, Donald "Ponytail" Betts, died in January.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

Joe Alfred, left, shines shoes while fellow employee Robert Caster chats with patron Herman Butler at the Ponytail's Shoe Shine Salon in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 25, 2012.

Joe Alfred, left, shines shoes while fellow employee Robert Caster chats with patron Herman Butler at the Ponytail's Shoe Shine Salon in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 25, 2012.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

A newspaper obituary and a funeral program for Donald Potter Betts, a.k.a. 'Ponytail' hangs on the wall in his Ponytail's Shoe Shine Salon in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 25, 2012. After he died in January, employees continued the business. As U street development continues, the fate of the shop is uncertain.

A newspaper obituary and a funeral program for Donald Potter Betts, a.k.a. "Ponytail" hangs on the wall in his Ponytail's Shoe Shine Salon in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 25, 2012. After he died in January, employees continued the business. As U street development continues, the fate of the shop is uncertain.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

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