Cesar’s Shoe Repair — Local services in New York

The Face of Cesar's Shoe Repair is a condescending... Oh I'm going to have the herculean task of keeping it PG.

I brought in three boots (a pair & a single) for relatively minor repairs. The older gentleman who works in the back did make a face at the state of the backs of my boot heels, but he did do some damn fine work. The problem starts with the single boot I brought in with the slight tear. He didn't put it on the ticket and it wasn't in the bag when I came to pick it up. Amazingly, my missing boot isn't the real problem. It's the smarmy douche working the front end.

The gentleman from the back went through every bag of boots. Opened up and checked Every. Single. One. God bless him. Meanwhile his mouthpiece grouped a couple of bags that he said would contain single items, and called it a day. When I tried to express how important it is that he find my boot, because when you wear a Woman's 14 it's not an easy thing to just run out and find an attractive boot, this.... arrrgh "person" had the nerve to tell me, "You can always buy a man's boot and bedazzle it".

BEDAZZLE IT. Anyone who knows shoes, hell anyone who has ever worn shoes, knows that men's and women's shoes are styled very differently. From the length of the vamps to the shape and size of the heels. Buying a clunky man's boot and slapping some rhinestones is not a solution to you making a good faith effort to find my missing boot, you trifling.... He shuffles me out the door by taking my number and "promising" to call me if they find it.

Now I spend a week looking at a single boot and letting that brush-off fester.

But I still come back being polite. Now he doesn't even pretend to make an effort to look for my boot. I had to ask him repeatedly to ask the guys in the back if they've seen it. I came with its mate for the express purpose of seeing if it would trigger a memory. I had to threaten to go to the precinct around the corner before he even spoke the the two guys in the rear. I had to ask one of them just to come out to look at it because this..... oooohhh... wouldn't deign to ask them to look at the boot.

Out comes the Gentleman. He get's a capitalized title because he, unlike his co-worker, is a stand up human being. He looks at it, takes it to the guy who specializes in tears and with genuine regret tells me he has no recollection of it. You can't possibly be upset with a person that tries whether they are successful or not. The Gentleman made the effort that their customer service person couldn't be bothered with. So I am writing this 1-star review with a lot of ambivalence. I still don't have my boot, and I surely could have done with out Mr. Bedazzle's stank attitude, but the Gentleman deserves to wear the nice button down shirt and work the counter. He's the kind of person you want as the face of your business.

Edited to add: The douche-canoe is Cesar's son and the now owner. Oh man. Talk about the next generation running the family business...

I’m thrilled to write this review as we approach Earth Day tomorrow 4/22/2021 🌎 — it’s wonderful to have access to the extremely skilled and personable artisans at Cesar’s Shoe Repair, ready to help us keep the shoes and handbags we love so much in excellent condition.

Years ago, I asked myself if I wanted continue to perpetuate the Linear Economy cycle of “Take Make Waste” when I could embrace the Circular Economy cycle of keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible.

Especially since we know recycling and sustainable practices are good for the Earth — and good for our wallets!

Plus, to be completely transparent, I have a 20+ year old Gucci bag that I love, and despite having a worn out strap from carrying every day for years, it’s beautiful, and I couldn’t even fathom parting with it. And I had a pair of low-heeled pumps I loved, and a couple pairs of shoes I bought in London over a decade ago, and I’ve worn them so often, the outer and inner soles are completely worn out. I love those shoes, and that brand doesn’t sell or ship to the United States, so I had to figure out something!

After researching thoroughly, I decided to take my beloved items to Cesars. The service and quality of the workmanship was impeccable. My Gucci bag looks brand new — it’s perfect. And my cute black loafers and red brogues from London — they look better than brand new, with a better quality sole stitched onto both, and with a soul protector attached so I won’t slip when walking the NYC streets.

I was so happy, I brought two more pairs of shoes I had just purchased so Cesars could attach their sole protectors onto both of them before I start wearing them. They’ll protect the soles, increasing the longevity of the shoe, and they’ll make them nonslip with more traction. I also brought my partner’s favorite boots; he loves his boots, but he gets blisters on the back of his heels — Cesars is installing an expertly-placed heel lift and pad so there will be no more blisters. And they’re rejuvenating the soles from a year of wear while they have them there. Excited to get this latest batch of shoes back — I’m sure they’ll be great!

So if you have some shoes you love but you think they could use some TLC to get them looking and feeling new again — or if you have a favorite handbag that could use some sprucing up — bring them to Cesars.

And happy Earth Day 🌎...

[UPDATE]

My patronage at Cesar's Shoe Repair spans 15 years and counting, and I can confidently say that some things truly never change—like the phenomenal bench work that Edward (the owner) and his team consistently deliver. Over the years, they’ve expertly rubber-soled countless pairs of my high-end footwear, always exceeding expectations.

Most recently, this past summer, Edward and his team took on a unique custom soling request for a pair of John Lobb slippers. I wanted them to be more sturdy and functional for the unforgiving streets of New York, and I asked Edward to mirror the sole structure of a similar pair of Loro Piana slippers. After several consultations where we discussed the direction and selected materials (including a Toscana leather sole, a thin wedge for heel support, and topy rubber soles for protection), Edward absolutely nailed it. The end result (see attached photos) was nothing short of perfection—his work was not only flawless but far superior to the original Loro Piana pair I had referenced.

Edward and his team continue to impress me, and they’ve earned my loyalty for life. Simply put, Cesar's Shoe Repair is the BEST cobbler institution in all of NYC—truly...