Breaking in a new pair of shoes is tough on the feet. But the initial blisters heal sooner or later, once the shoes establish a working relationship with the feet. But the more we wear, the more they tear, and before long, we need the services of a shoe repair shop.
But, as anyone who has had shoes professionally repaired lately, it’s not inexpensive.
The idea of new shoes probably means a fresh set of blisters, but is it worth it to bring in those well-loved but beatup shoes for repair?
“It depends on the shoes,” says Pete Georganas, who co-owns Naperville Shoe, Luggage, Tailoring, Sales and Service Repair in Naperville. “If it’s a man’s $200 pair of shoes, yes, if it only costs $40 to $45 to repair them. First of all, they’re already broken in. Secondly, you can pay just $40 to make them last another two years.”
In fact, a pair of well-made business shoes can have more lives than a cat, if they’re cared for properly.
“The uppers last forever,” Georganas says. Many businessmen will bring in the same pair of shoes every couple of years for basic repairs. Some people have such an attachment to their shoes, they will have their shoes repaired until they fall apart.
Harry Koris, owner of Harry’s Gold Coast Shoe Repair in Chicago, has one such customer, a man who works on the floor of one of Chicago’s exchanges, who has had a pair of his “lucky shoes” resoled 20 times.
Whether it’s 20 times or twice, a reputable shoe repair shop can make your shoes gleam like new by attaching new cleats, soles and grommets, repairing cracks and replacing tongues.
Many shops also offer special orthopedic devices and make orthopedic shoes; for instance, a metatarsal bar can be attached to a shoe to reduce pressure on a sore spot. Special shoes can also be made for people with bunions, hammertoes and swollen ankles.
But be forewarned: These special shoes aren’t pretty and they aren’t cheap, with prices starting at about $300, Koris says. “Some look like Frankenstein’s shoes,” he says. “They look clumpy. You can’t avoid it.” But most people–even women–don’t care. “They just want to be comfortable,” Koris says.
Not all repair shops offer the same services. Most stick to basic services such as repairing shoes, purses and luggage. Others, such as Georganas’ shop, also do clothing alterations and other special services. For example, Koris will replace the captoe (the pointy part of the shoe, which often gets more scuffed up than other shoe parts) or update women’s shoes by replacing narrow heels with wider, more stylish heels.
Koris will rebuild golf shoes (but not gym shoes). He’s even fixed the wheels on a customer’s grocery cart. He can make a leather shoe sporty simply by attaching soles with treads and spikes for a more casual look.
Koris also has had some unusual requests. He has some young customers who want to stand taller with the help of a pair of shoes. So Koris builds 7-inch soles onto their shoes. “It’s the look they want,” he says. He even had one customer who wanted an 11-inch heel. The shoes became so heavy that Koris cut out the middles and filled them with cork to make them lighter.
Many shops also will dye shoes. Koris has a stock of 300 colors and can also custom-make colors.
There are a number of things you can do to preserve your shoes longevity. Both Georganas and Koris recommend that as soon as you buy a pair of shoes, spray them at least once a year with waterproof spray. “It makes a big difference,” Koris says. “Your shoes become like a waxed car, water beads on them.”
You also should apply mink oil daily to your shoes. That also helps waterproof them, Koris says. Keeping your shoes polished keeps the leather moist and less vulnerable to rain and snow.
Georganas recommends that men wear galoshes when it snows. “It protects them from the salt,” he says. “That’s what eats up your shoes and starts the cracking.”
Sooner or later, however, most people are going to need the services of a shoe repair shop. “Some people care for their shoes more than others,” says Chris Degaitas, owner of Concourse Shoe Repair in Chicago. “You can’t change how a person walks. If you walk a lot on hard pavement, you will have more wear. If you walk on soft surfaces, you will have less.”
It’s important to buy good shoes, says Georganas, because they will likely need less repair than cheap, badly made shoes.
Fixing someone’s prized shoes just the way they want isn’t easy. “It’s a lost art,” Georganas says. The best way to find a reputable repair shop is through word of mouth, he adds.
“Test the market,” Georganas says. “It’s trial and error. If you find a good one, stick with it.”
