- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Anthony's Shoe Service
Category: Local Services Shoe Repair Shoe Repair [Edit]
340 Kearny St(between Bush St & Pine St)
San Francisco, CA 94108
Neighborhood: Financial District
(415) 781-1338
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
Sat 9 am - 5 pm
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
139 reviews for Anthony's Shoe Service
139 reviews in English
-
Review from Elizabeth P.
Washington, DC
3/30/2012
My boyfriend was shopping at Cole Haan for leather shoes and happened to ask one of the salesman where a good shoe repair store was in SF for one of his shoes that had a hole in the bottom. The salesman said that shoe repairman they go to for all of their shoes is Anthony. We went by and dropped off my boyfriend's shoes and a pair of heels of mine. My heels were done within a day but my boyfriend's took a couple because the leather needed to be cleaned and taken care of in a number of different ways.
Picking up our shoes was like we were receiving completely new pairs. My boyfriend's shoes were nicely polished, the bottoms completely fixed up, and they looked brand new! My heels were a simple fix and the price was reasonable.
I saw Anthony interacting with other customers and I can tell he is a man who is very passionate about his work and about pleasing his customers. He takes great care of the shoes and does a fantastic job. I would highly recommend his service! -
Review from sasha h.
2/8/2012
i finally found a man who understands women... well their shoes at least. Bought these knee high boots from max mara where the store assured me Anthony's could take in the boot bc it was huge! Got to Anthony's where no one wanted to take on the daunting task of taking in my shoes about 2 inches all the way up my leg. Anthony said if anyone could do it, it would be george and yes he could. Without a zipper, he basically took in the entire shoe and brought it down about 3 shoe sizes on the leg portion, damn impressive. My shoe looked brand new, couldn't tell anything had been done. George has been doing this for decades, he knows shoes, go to him when no one else can solve your problems.
I can't give this place 5 stars for 2 main reasons; 1) they are very overpriced, in fact the nail salon / shoe store next door is like half the price and does all the basics well 2) service sucks. Dropped off my shoes, they were supposed to call after 10 days for a fitting and never called so two wks later i came in. Then they told me my shoes would be done 2 days later and when i came back they hadn't finished and so i ended up coming 5 total times to get 1 pair of shoes fixed. Women at the front needs a major attitude fix or maybe just a date. -
Review from Bear W.
San Francisco, CA
4/11/2012
The absurd experience that I had with Geno (owner) forced me to write this review.
Here is the summary, in case you feel like skipping the book below.
I would advise against this place. That is, if you prefer frequenting businesses devoid of lame excuses. If you'd like to read the fine print, please continue on....
I went into the shop on a recommendation from my local cobbler. I had to replace a waterproof gusset, and add small leather buckle backings on my favorite motorcycle boots. After looking them over thoroughly, Geno said he could do it. He told me, "this is a special project, but I can do it. Give me 2 weeks." No problem. Although I would be without my boots for longer than I would like in the rainy season, 2 weeks would be fine.
As it turned out, I wasn't able to make it back to Anthony's for 3 weeks. Good thing it didn't rain! I walk in the door ready to pick up the boots. Geno's response, "ooooooh, yeah. I haven't started those yet. I've been really busy. I was hoping you would call. But I guess this (me coming into the store to pick up my boots) is the call." What? Call you to do what? Remind you that I am a customer? He said they would be done in a week (Sat, 3pm). I told him that I was disappointed but I would see him in a week.
Fast-forward a week. It's Sat morning. I figure that I'll give him a call to check that they are ready before I drive downtown. Geno - "Ooooh, yeah. I've been really busy with customers. " What the f--- am I??? I ask him if he had started them. "no." Since it had been a month of storing my boots at Anthony's Shoe Repair I asked him some specifics about the job (was he going to stitch the boots over the old stitches, use glue, etc). He didn't remember what we agreed he was going to do! I still kept my cool and I talked him through it again. I also told him that I was going on a motorcycle trip on Wed. I really needed my boots back by then. Could he do it? "yes."
Tuesday afternoon. I call and he gives me the "Ooooh, yeah. I've been really busy with customers" line. I tell him that I need the boots and he says he'll try. I get a call from him at 4:45pm (they close at 5:30). "The boots are done." Great. I hop on my motorbike and get down there as fast as I can. I walk in the door at 5:25.
I look over the work, it looks decent. I ask him for a discount. He says he'll take $5 off the $75 job. I tell him that I think that isn't enough, seeing as it took him 4.5 weeks to do a 2 week job. He responds, "I don't even like putting due dates on these special projects." I responded that that wasn't the real problem. The problem was that he hadn't even started the job until today, 2.5 weeks after when he was supposed to be done. I also said, if you really don't want a due date, tell your customer that, so they can make an educated decision about whether or not they want you to do the job. The conversation got rather heated, with Geno repeatedly interrupting me, and repeating the "no due date for special projects" line. At the end I said this, "Geno, I am happy with the work. I am PISSED about everything else. I don't know how you run a business like this."
After riding in the boots for less than a week, the new stitching is coming apart. So I regret saying that I was "happy with the work". I can't speak for every employee in the shop, but Geno is a pre-Madonna. If he had just told me in the beginning that he didn't know how long it would take, then I would have gone somewhere else. Vehemently defending his lame procrastinating behavior (and repeatedly interrupting me) did not help his cause either.
So I would advise against this place. That is, if you are looking for competence (craftsmanship, punctuality of any kind, decent communication, and value). Hell if none of that matters, I would still skip this place.... Just to skip Geno's litany of lame excuses. -
Review from Yael M.
San Francisco, CA
2/11/2012
I never write reviews, but my experience was so poor that I had to write one... Anthony's prices are extremely high (I worked in fashion in NYC for years, so I know my shoe repairs). I decided to go for it, expecting top quality work. When I went to pick up my shoes, they had done something completely different to my shoes than what we had discussed. What?? When I tried to discuss it with the woman who checked me out, she refused. I paid the bill so that she would not hold my shoes hostage.
I called to speak to a manager, and he assured me that he would take care of it (even though it took 43 minutes on the phone for him to get there). When I came in, he had the nerve to try to charge me to correct the mistakes that he had made! I walked out immediately and called my credit card company to dispute the charge. Not only that, but the suede shoes that I left got stained by black shoe polish. I do not think they put them in suede bags as they promised.
It was an altogether horrible experience. I got charged for services Anthony's did not perform, my shoes came back in worse condition than when I left them, and the customer service to deal with these issues was entirely lacking. Save yourself the trouble. -
Review from David B.
San Francisco, CA
10/27/2011
Get ready for yet another "they used to be good" reviews.
Ever since they moved to their new location things have gone downhill. Although their new (tiny) space is very nice and quaint they are lacking in all areas.
At the old place I would walk in and any number of Hispanic women would semi-quickly serve me, quote me reasonable prices and get the shoes back to me in a day or two. The new place is altogether different. Despite having at least 3 people working the counter it always seems like a line and ultimately they have to defer to the manager for a price quote. Tap, tap, tap. He flings prices out in the air with no explanation. Wait times are now a week or more.
I found getting very minor repairs like tennis shoes (glue the end of a sole up or stitch a little hole up) a bit expensive. And then on top of it is the "HF" fee. I think it is $.25 or $.50. No employee could answer what this was and then the manager told me it was a "handling fee" And what was that, I asked. A fee to store my shoe. So now I have to wait a week and pay a storage fee? Ridiculous!
The last shoe I brought in I waited a week and 2 days for and when I came in no one could find it. When the manager did he said they were working on it right now and to come back in an hour. I came back in an hour and a half and it still wasn't done! I waited longer while he catered to an actual celebrity who came in and then handed me a poorly stitched together shoe with mismatched lace. No apology, no discount, no nothing.
This new location is way out of my way so I am looking for a new place. Based upon some good service in the past I will give them a 2 1/2 stars. You were warned. -
Review from Erika D.
San Francisco, CA
1/22/2012
Anthony's has hired cheap labor to cut costs and it shows tremendously in the workmanship.
I will not be back ever. I am now taking my shoes to Nordstrom's vendor.
He screwed up a pair of Louboutins. Dyed the leather a gold and the paint is feathering. Sadly, my designer shoes look like fakes now. Heart breaking.
Lose the cheap labor, bring back your quality and MAYBE you'll start to see some of the old faces you once serviced. -
Review from Mylea C.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 11/22/2011
A continuation of the missing Weitzmans saga.....
I am sadly over due in posting the update.
After much searching....alas my lovely new shoes were no where to be found - Gino researched them and called offering to replace them should I give them my size - I had already just replaced them myself and so I asked for, and received store credit for the retail value of the shoes. All in all a very satisfactory end to the tale of the missing shoes.
Through the entire thing their attitude was amazing, polite and focused on resolution. An apology means a lot to me and I received one from not just Gino but the "new" counter guy and another employee as well. I just took my Ferragamo boots in for zipper repair and a polish and caps and they came back gorgeous - still the best place in SF to take shoes for repair1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
9/4/2011
Have been a customer here for over 10 years and I have to say that to date they have been fantastic.… Read more »
-
-
Review from dawn a.
San Francisco, CA
9/18/2011
I brought two different pairs of shoes into Anthony's over the last month - a pair of Louboutins that needed to have the protectors put on the bottom and a pair of boots that needed the zipper fixed.
I was given a date two weeks away for pick up, which I thought was long, but figured they were busy. On the day they were supposed to be ready, I called and they said they would check and call me back. I gave them my number, but no call.
The next day I called again, and they apologized for not calling - said they weren't ready but they would call when they were later that day. No call.
I said screw it and waited 4 more days to pick them up just in case and then waited in line for 20 minutes even though I prepaid and was just picking up. (You still have to stand there behind everyone bringing in 20 pairs of shoes each with a story.)
In long, the shoes look great, but they could seriously improve the customer experience. -
Review from Kevin L.
7/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Anthony's offers some quality no-frills wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am style service in a pinch.
You won't get much in the way of smiles or warm fuzzy greetings. You -will- get in and out in a flash, though. There's no time to coddle when there are shoes to be fixed!
If you're in the market for some nice cedar shoe trees like I was, look on the shelves just to the right of the doorway. ~$30 and a little fiddling with the sizes will ensure your leather shoes look presentable long-term, especially after being unintentionally drenched. -
Review from Myk S.
Pleasant Hill, CA
11/19/2011
So far, my experience has been pretty good here. I brought in some shoes I got over seas as well as an older pair of books that needed some repair. They were able to get me back my shoes in good time. I needed one pair by today, and they were able to complete it in 2 days. The shoes look great; clean, polished well finished.
The personality in the front is pretty good. The new guy is.. well... new... so still learning, but I like the attitude of the guy running the shop. No bullsh*t get it done kind of guy. I am all for pleasantries, but sometimes, like taking care of my shoes, it just needs it get done.
I have had no bad experiences yet... so can't complain. Are they perfect, no, but they do great work. -
Review from Genevieve M.
San Francisco, CA
6/8/2011
Anthony's: the best shoe repair in SF, yet they still do a mediocre at best job. Basically they suck, but all the other shoe repair shops that I've used in SF are worse. I get the blatant vibe that they do not give a toot about your shoes or you as a customer at all. Go in and talk to them. Go ahead- you'll see.
One time they returned a pair of black Fendi boots to me with dried glue splattered all over them. I was picking and scratching it off for weeks. Another time, after having my heel replaced on the same boots, two weeks go by and the heel had already ground down to the metal. I promptly brought them back in, claiming ludicrousity (yes I just made that word up), and received some kind of an answer along the lines of "well, that's the kind of heel tips we use". I said, "well - can you find a better kind that doesn't wear down in less than a week of actual wear? Since I paid $25 to have it replaced?" He murmured some response, took the shoes back and said he'd only charge half to re tip them. Mediocre, ah...yes.
They often have lost accessories as well: shoe trees, dust bags ect. when items were returned after repair. And, they've now stopped doing handbag restoration as well.
Can't we get a decent shoe repair that takes pride and care in their work? San Francisco is so NOT the city for the fashion extraordinaire ~ this is one of the many examples of disappointment. Makes me shake my head.
If anyone can PM me a better shoe repair suggestion in SF I'd greatly appreciate it. Money is no object. A woman's right to shoes!!!!!! -
Review from Isabel R.
San Francisco, CA
7/14/2011
Wow, reviewers were right about the lack of warm greeting. That's putting it mildly. These people are downright rude.
I walked in this morning to the most unpleasant woman who didn't look the least bit interested in assisting me. I asked for a few different services for two pairs of boots (heel, lining, shine, etc.). I know they do a good job - I've been there before but the prices were higher than other places, the estimated time frame seemed excessive (considering they do the work on site) and the unfriendly manner just put me off.
I told her to cancel the order and took by boots to the shoe shine guy in Crocker Galleria (A Shine & Co. on the ground floor). I didn't even know they did repairs but the guy was considerably nicer and friendlier. Their prices are better and they estimated half the turnaround time that Anthony's gave me (despite the cobbler being off site!). They're also closer to my office so I was happy. Once I get my boots back and see the results, I'll write a review for them.
I'm hoping to have found a new cobbler. Life is just too short to deal with unpleasant people... -
Review from Helen S.
San Francisco, CA
7/22/2011
I can't believe how rude the Main owner, I believe Anthony is? I'm not sure if it is bc he is successful, but he sure doesn't try to get business based on customer service. He was juggling 3 things (and also personal phone calls) while I was waiting and then, someone wanted to help me behind him, and he kept on saying 'I'll help you here.' Kind of disrespecting the worker behind him. We shared a knowing look.
I'm not one of those people that write poor reviews, just read my other reviews!
In addition, I don't know why they didn't recommend just having a rubber sole placed on my boots or just put the rubber sole on (lasts much longer), then just putting the plastic tabs back on, or warning me that the plastic tabs only last for a few weeks. I also agree that their time frames seem excessvie. I do think that the work that they do is good, the young Asian guy is super good and nice.
I received a billion times better customer service at Shoe Wiz in the basement/food court level of the Nordstrom Shopping Center. I REALLY don't like Anthony, and won't be going back for that reason. What happened to customer service!!!!???? -
Review from D H.
San Francisco, CA
8/18/2011
I am so pissed off.
Came here to get rubber taps on my new shoes & because I didn't ask the price, I got ripped off for $17 (vs. approx. $11 nearby). Granted, it's my own fault for not asking before they started the work but lesson learned.
The front of store guy was nice enough but I'm not paying for conversation. They did take a while to get to me too while they were finishing up with another customer (like they needed 2 people to help him?).
The taps are fine, the cost is what I'm bitching about. Didn't expect to add $17 to the cost of my new shoes. Perhaps they should have prices posted or mention it before they start the work.
I will not be back unless they can do something that my usual shoemaker on Sutter St. can't do. -
Review from Lily P.
San Francisco, CA
3/13/2011 1 photo
Amazing! I had a pair of suede Christian Louboutin shoes that needed TLC!
Some idiot at the VIP section at Infusion Lounge dropped his redbull on my very expensive shoes , I was so mad! Was also mad at myself for wearing expensive suede in this cheesy club. Ugh!
I thought the shoes were completely ruined. The suede was matted down and didn't even look like suede anymore. They were even discolored in areas. I was so sad and depressed about it. I was even more depressed when I took the shoes to another shoe repair place downtown. They told me that the shoes were ruined , and that's the problem with suede. Boo:-(
The story gets better!
I didn't give up. I ended up googling "suede repair/ cleaning SF" and this place popped up. Anthony's! I had my husband take them over and pick them up for me. AMAZING!!!! It was a Miracle!!!!
I don't know how they did it, but the shoes looked as good as the day I bought em!
I'm so glad they are fixed and now I have learned my lesson!
1. Never wear expensive shoes at a bar or club
2. Never trust a lawyer (the Douche bag that dropped his redbull on my shoes was a lawyer and he said he would repay me. Didn't happen.)
3. Take your expensive shoes to Anthony's for repair! -
Review from Steve M.
San Francisco, CA
2/26/2011
When I buy shoes, I get my moneys worth and wear them right down to the sole. Remarkably, the leather uppers remains in pretty good shape.
I had a pair of Campers that needed the sole replaced so I took them into Anthony's. I knew there was no way they could replace the proprietary Camper sole but they managed to put on a very sturdy new sole. I guess what they do is grind down the Camper "nubs" to a flat surface. From there, they glue on a new sole. In addition, they round out the new sole thus giving it look that better fits the Camper design. Finally they polish the leather upper. $79 dollars later, I practically have a new pair of shoes.
I will for sure go back the Anthony's for my next sole replacement. -
Review from elaine g.
San Francisco, CA
10/13/2011
This place used to be great, but I don't know what happened. They give excessively long lead times for your pick-up date, and the last few times I went in to pick up my shoes -- on the dates THEY gave ME -- they had not even started the work. No apologies, just shrugged shoulders and attitude. And the handbag that I brought in for them to replace the straps -- for which they charged me a fortune? They used a leather that didn't even vaguely match -- had to have it redone. Don't waste your time with these clowns -- find another place that appreciates their customers and honors due dates.
-
Review from Dan B.
San Francisco, CA
1/5/2012
Great place if you need shoe work done. Sometimes the lines are hefty, but I found the wait worthwhile. They revived a pair of shoes that had gone unloved by me for quite sometime--I'm impressed by how great of a job they did!
The staff is nice, albeit a bit frazzled sometimes because of the rush. My only complaint is that they might be in the middle of something, and rather pause to help you, they will finish whatever is they may be doing (call, writing, etc.) before shifting their attention towards you. Not exactly rude, but I did find these interactions a little off-putting. Luckily the work they do is fantastic, so I really don't care all that much. -
Review from Mike B.
San Francisco, CA
1/20/2011
$8.50 for a shoe shine. Seriously?
The gal behind the counter was unmoved by my shock and push-back and, evidently, unimpressed by the fact that a [much better] shine costs $3 in midtown Manhattan.
Their repair work might be fine but do not get your shoes shined here. If you need a shine, email me; I'll do a better job for $6. -
Review from Nora C.
San Francisco, CA
1/24/2012
Don't waste your time. I dropped off Jimmy Choo boots, came back a week later and they looked horrible. For 37.00, the heels which had been torn, were polished over without actually fixing them. The guy told me he could re-wrap the heels if that's what I wanted, (yeah, that's what I wanted the first time, if I had known how to tell them to do their job) but it was going to cost 65.00 and another week's time. We agreed that I pay him 27.00 additional and the boots would be ready the following week. I come back a day after they were promised and they hadn't even started fixing them. He said it would be an additional week. I drive from Marin to this place, but no more. The quality and service has gone way downhill. Save your time and money and avoid Anthony's.
-
Review from Cyd H.
San Francisco, CA
3/9/2012
Anthony's repaired my favorite laptop bag to good-as-new condition, replacing the zipper and stitching several rips in the lining. When I went to pick it up at the promised time, it wasn't ready - but when I told them I had a flight tomorrow, they went way out of their way to make it right. Gino stayed late to finish it and then *delivered the bag to my house*. Everybody makes mistakes occasionally; it's what you do about them that tells the tale. Thanks Anthony's for a great repair and great service.
-
Review from Nikki B.
Dallas, TX
9/3/2010 1 Check-in Here
Anthony's = Life Savers
What do you do when you discover a sticky, brown stain on your Rebecca Minkoff purse? Take it to Anthony's.
After last night's debauchery with the rest of the CM team, it doesn't surprise me that I found a Jager-like substance on the side of my quasi-new purse this morning. Thankfully, the kind woman sitting next to me at breakfast overheard my meltdown followed by a string of obscenities. She recommended Anthony's, which just so happened to be a block from my hotel.
Considering I paid more for that bag than Kevin paid for his first car (according to him), I wasted no time in rushing to Anthony's.
The guy behind the counter felt my pain and tried to clean it on the spot. With no luck, he told me he would need to take it for a little extra TLC. I stressed our time limits and he promised to rush it. I prepaid and left my baby to the pros.
I returned half an hour later to find that they were able to spot clean, remove the stain and condition the leather. No traces of Jager were left!
It was less than 30 bucks and saved my trip from a serious bummer. Plus, H&M is just a few blocks away - it made for a perfect "waiting room" while my purse was doctored. -
Review from Mlle M.
San Francisco, CA
2/7/2012
I brought a designer bag here to be fixed about a year ago and they did a great job. Like others, I think things have gone downhill since that time. Brought in two pairs of boots, one old, for polishing, one brand new designer pair just brought back from Paris, for taps and waterproofing. The cost was $44, which I thought was a little steep. The old pair looked good, but the beautiful new boots came back with a scratch in the leather on the side.
-
Review from zoe b.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 11/30/2010
Gino gave me $400 for my lost shoes. It was better than nothing. I still think they do the best shoe repair job in SF... but I miss my shoes. With proper management and a bit of organization and chill this place would shine.
I am grateful for getting some $ back for something that was precious.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
9/9/2010
I used to have a really special pair of Marc Jacobs platform pumps in musk-pink leather. I say "used… Read more »
-
-
Review from Jason B.
Updated - 8/26/2010
Got a little carried away doing some alterations to one of my favorite belts. Just a bit too long. A snip here. A snip there. Now just a bit too short.
Note to self: No more self tailoring. Go to SF Tailors (http://www.yelp.com/bi...).
Fortunately, Anthony's saved the day. I had no idea you could lengthen belts, but with some crafty work using extra material that holds the buckle in place, Gino remedied my mistake.
And he did it in a day. That might have been payback for some bag edits a few months back that too a little while longer than promised. Gino, we are all good. Belt and bag are fantastic.Listed in: Services
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
8/8/2009
I have no idea who Anthony is, but I do know George. He is to bag tailoring as Isaac and Sally from… Read more »
-
-
Review from Jasper C.
Palo Alto, CA
7/15/2010
Recommended by Sak's 5th Avenue
My Findings?
I bring in a pair of my beloved Bally dress shoes to get repaired, basically replace the worn out bottom portion of the shoe AND
I get back my pair of shoes (after the third visit in one month) at least 3x heavier then when I brought them in to get repaired, worst of all the stitching on the side of the shoe holding the leather to the shoe bottom is completely destroyed, and weeks of frustration.
I had definitely hoped for a better result and I even talked to the owner (Anthony) the first time. He was astonished and apologetic. Yet, each time I went to check on my shoe (after receiving no phone calls on updates) I find they haven't repaired it properly i.e. just smeared black glue around the shoes edges as a temporarily fix.
Each time the cashier was COMPLETELY oblivious and non-responsive to my concerns.
This is supposed to be an italian owner that is a shoe craftsman... I see none of this. AND I will definitely tell Saks Men's Store salesmen who raved about Anthony's they were wrong. And badly wrong.
Very sad - I am so frustrated I don't know what to do my pair of shoes. It's a bit of a disaster -
Review from Sarah C.
9/23/2010
Came here when I found that the edge of the strap on my coach purse was falling apart. Since that was the only part that is messed up why waste a 300 dollar purse?
They did an average job. I felt like they did a half assed job. Like they plastered some kind of leather paste and didn't even fill in the edges. WTF! If they gave me the paste I could have probably done a better job. UGH! At least it is not noticeable. -
Review from apple r.
San Francisco, CA
12/21/2009
Shoe repair with a side of attitude. The quality and handiwork here is above average, however, I have to dock two attitude points. This store was recommended to me by some fine shoe stores, and I have not been disappointed by the workmanship, so I continue to use their services. However, every time I come into this store, I feel like a nuisance rather than a customer. The prices are exorbitant, however I don't have a frame of reference so I will pay.
Certain members of the staff here are perpetually rude. If I drop off a pair of shoes, and they are not ready when promised, it is somehow my fault. I once had a pair of sandals resewn here and came to pick them up several weeks after they were to be ready. They hadn't even begun working on the shoes, and rather than apologizing, the owner made several excuses and blamed me for not calling in advance. Why should I call in advance if you say you will have my shoes ready.
On another occasion, I picked up several pairs of shoes when they were promised and had to wait half an hour for one pair to be completed. Again, no apologies, and heavy on the attitude.
Since my shoes never seem to be ready at the estimated time, I decide to give them additional time to work on them. However, it appears that if I don't pick up a pair of shoes in a timely manner, it is my fault. I recently retrieved six pairs of boots to be resoled. They promised them at a particular time but did not call me. I picked them up a few months later and the owner said 'Thank god,' rudely. This is not the first time he has been rude to me. If anyone can recommend another shoe repair place, please send me the name of it, because I am over this place. -
Review from ludmilla r.
San Francisco, CA
9/15/2009
I have taken shoes and bags here for repair on and off since I moved here in 1986. It's very uneven service and has gotten worse in recent years. Sometimes they do a fine job, but far too often the shoes are not ready when promised, and several times I have come back to find the repair wasn't done at all, even after waiting 2 weeks!! They make you pay in advance and then the shoes aren't ready when you need them.
Several times the plastic replacement heel tips they put on my shoes broke after one wearing because they cheap or were driven in too tight.
I might take a bag here to be restitched as there are so few places who do that, but I would not go out of my way to have my shoes repaired here anymore. -
Review from romi n.
Burlingame, CA
10/23/2011
if you want a good job done. anthony's is a great place to trust your shoes.
i brought in a pair of vintage sandals, a loved pair that my mother used to wear when she was young. and over the years i kept bringing them back to a shoe clic to get them retouched for their longevity. but it seemed that this time they really needed a serious lift, and hearing good news about anthony's, i brought my babies in.
what i got done: exchanging the heel, fixing a torn strap, and a new sole
for the repair being a total of 65$ i could have gotten a new pair of decent sandals, but being seriously in love with these, i felt that the money spent was a good investment. the finish is very natural, and it doesn't look like it's had any work done unless you bust our your glasses. and the new cushions are very comfortable even though the overall thickness of the front is very thin (a bit over a 1/4"?)
another great thing was that they were dropped off this morning, and they came back to me by the evening! :) -
Review from Ramona A.
South San Francisco, CA
9/19/2011
Just came back from Anthony's. While out at lunch, stepped into a metal grate on the sidewalk and tore the heel of my new shoes. I called a shoe service down near where I live and described the problem - torn lining - and they suggested I call Anthony's since they didn't do that type of work.
I called Anthony's and the woman I spoke to said to come by. Since I work nearby, I went right over. She had me wait and in a short period of time brought back my shoe. The heel looked great - unless you looked close, you couldn't tell anything had happened.
Anthony's didn't charge me anything for this service. I am a fan and while I hope that I don't step onto any more metal grates I definitely will bring my shoe repairs to them in the future. -
Review from Cassidy P.
Chicago, IL
9/9/2006
I hate to give Anthony's a bad rating because they really are nice folks, but I had a truly dissatisfactory experience there. I brought a pair of white "Nina" brand dye-able shoes in to be dyed a very specific color (to match a sort of brown/olive green purse). Now, the shoes themselves were more expensive than I usually buy, but it was for a few shmancy weddings so (because I thought I'd probably wear them a bunch) I decided to splurge. The dye job was also very expensive.
When I went in to pick them up they were no where near the color I asked for, instead they were a sort of pine green. I didn't really understand how that could've happened when I left the purse with them that I was trying to match. When I complained, they broke out these brownish shoe spray paints and got close enough to the color that I said "fine".
Well, it wasn't fine. When I wore the shoes the first time, they dyed my feet brown. The second time I wore them, I stepped in a puddle and all the dye came off the tips of the shoes. Um, yeah, great job. The shoes were completely unsalvageable. (They looked sort of psychadelic at this point). So I had to toss them after having paid so much for them. What I learned from that? 1) Don't have things dyed at Anthony's, 2) Don't buy expensive shoes. -
Review from Dustin G.
9/10/2010
My shoes were repaired just like new and as expected. The heel on my new dress shoes wore out within a month or so and anthony's replaced the outer sole and polished my shoes for $29. Not a bad price to pay for something i bought for $165 anddd is more durable now. Great expert, professional service and delivered when promised.
well done guys! 5/5 judochops in my book. -
Review from Eliza B.
3/31/2008
Boot saga continued:
This is the second place I took my boots to be taken in at the calves. The first place (Haight Street Shoes) hadn't touched them after two weeks so I found somebody new.
George (or Georgie depending) is the boot maestro there. He doesn't work on Fridays, but you can tell he's been doing this for a loooooooooong time. He does two fittings: One initial fitting and one after he's taken them in but before they're completely finished. I appreciate that, since the sexiness of my boots largely depends on how well they fit.
It was pricey ($90) but my $200 Aldo boots (which incidentally he told me were horrifically made - that's my next review) are now so hot. I heart them in a big way. The level of craftsmanship is amazing. He completely redesigned the boot, having to move the little elastic part over and finish everything up. I'm very impressed and will take any boots I have in the future to him. -
Review from Raquel C.
San Francisco, CA
4/17/2010
The price of repairs here may seem a bit hefty- I know I've had several heels or straps repaired elsewhere and spent under $40. But those establishments weren't in the city, and while I wanted to take the time to compare price points at several shoe service shops, the reviews for Anthony's and my anxiety to have my beautiful Moroccan boots restored sent me a runnin' (bootless) to get them and a broken Cole Haan purse strap fixed ASAP.
Well, the service didn't exactly feel ASAP, as I waited a full 7 days until my items were ready for pick up; but when you see the size of the place and all those boxes, bags, and cubbies filled with shoes you can understand how much business these guys get and how much time they like to give each project.
UPON DROP-OFF:
I took in two items needing mending. The first, a pair of one-of-a-kind boots, brought back from Morocco, whose soles were peeling back, making them impossible to walk in and not trip. The second, a several seasons back Cole Haan leather bag that is SO AMAZING not only do I still get constant compliments on it, but I'm hoping to make in a lifer- so long as the strap loops don't tears again.
One leather strap loop in need of sewing down and one pair of boots needing to be re-soled = $70.00. Yes, $70.00 And at a week long wait, that's $10/day for them to possibly just sit there on the shelf not being worked on. Ok, so it's expensive.
HOWEVER, the attentive service upon arrival was exceptional. There are actually several re-soling options, and after being taken through them all I was advised as to what'd be better for comfort and price. I was also assured they understood the value of my bag, and that they had re-looped many leather goods before, so I need not worry about it looking like it had been broken and then repaired.
UPON PICK-UP: Everything came out wonderful- like it'd never been broken! I was guaranteed that should anything look amiss in the near or distant future, to just bring it back (no receipt necessary) and they would remedy it.
Friendly, knowledgeable staff, who do great work is about all that you look for in repair shops when the good are priceless to you. I wouldn't think twice to pay $70 again. -
Review from Nancy D.
San Francisco, CA
10/18/2009
Based on another Yelper's review, I went here on mission to get my new boots to fit me.
My boyfriend got me a gorgeous pair of Mark Nason Siren boots called the "Lauper." To my utter dismay, I couldn't zip the beauties up all the way. I am one of many women who have a hard time finding fashionable boots that can accommodate muscular calves. Shoes aren't supposed to make you feel fat! I was just about to give up hope on ever being able to wear these boots when I came across a review below by Caroline E. on how she was able to get a pair of boots stretched a few extra inches.
I took a chance and brought the boots in and was helped by a very friendly and attentive staff. One of the staffers asked Gino to personally come out from the back to take a look at the damage. He asked me to put the boots on and did a fitting for me. To my surprise the total cost was under $30. After two fittings, the boots were able to zip up all the way with ease after being stretched out a total of 1 1/2 inches. The best part was that the boots were able to be stretched out without having to resort slashing the boots at the seams or adding stretch gussets!
I would highly recommend this place for all of your shoe needs. The staff is friendly and very knowledgeable when it comes to assessing your shoe needs. ^_^ -
Review from GIR ..
San Francisco, CA
7/10/2006
I'm soled on Anthony's.
They did a fine job of adding soles to my moto boots to give me a bit more height (you do what you gotta do). It wasn't dirt cheap but the work looks good, and damn I can actually reach the ground more securely now. Will update if needed as the boots wear in, but insofar Anthony's is a shoo in.Listed in: Bike Me
-
Review from C M.
San Francisco, CA
6/2/2006
I live in purgatory (aka the pennisula). Why do I drive into the city to get my shoes repaires/serviced?
My wife enjoys the fine footwear. My wallet does not. Especially when bad things happen to expensive shoes. However, regardless of budget Anthony's shoe service is a must
So far our tally is:
Reconditioned her favorite Pradas ($12.50)
Put a little plastic thingy on the heel of another pair of Pradas ($6.50)
Manged to buff out/fix a snag in the leather of her Louboutins ($12.50)
Each time the service has been excellent, they are prompt, and will rush an order for you if you need it. The repairs are unbeliveable, they look like new each time. We haven't given them any true trainwrecks yet . . . but I am sure she'll break a heel, there will be a twisted ankle (hers), some tears (mine) and then there will be Anthony . . . thank god.
Thank you Anthony, you're the best. -
Review from Alan B.
San Francisco, CA
4/5/2009
High quality and predictable service. When you drop your shoes off, before they leave the counter the left one gets a name sticker. Not only do you know that your shoes will have a chance to socialize with the other shoes in the back, if they drink too much shoe polish, they will still find their way home. And leaving your shoes here for soles or heels isn't like an open tab at a bar; It's more like summer camp--they have a regular method of pricing the services and that's what you pay whether your shoes decide to spend the week doing archery or basket weaving.
Most recently, I paid about $35 for new lug heels on engineer boots and about $25 for new heels on the cowboy boots. When I picked them up they looked well-rested and ready to head back out into the city.
They also have a good selection of fairly-priced polish, soap, polish brushes, and shoe trees. -
Review from Jen L.
San Francisco, CA
7/23/2011
i love the look of tall boots in the fall/winter but they never fit as snug around my ankles as they should. apparently shoe designers think someone with a size 10 foot should have the calves of an elephant. so this year, i decided i would spend money to have a couple pairs of tall boots taken in. as one of the more established shoe repair services in the city, i knew anthony's could do this work. but i have to admit i was hesitant to pay a visit when i saw the number of low yelp ratings they've received lately. still i went in to check them out. having boots taken in is not cheap so i was determined to make sure i was feeling good about my experience before leaving them in their hands.
i was told to talk to george about my boots. he's an older gentleman, not warm and fuzzy....but he knows what he's talking about. when i put my boot on for him, he took a look and told me what he could - and couldn't - do with it and described how he'd do the work. he took the time to educate me on the best possible type of boot to buy for tailoring purposes.... and then said, can you return these boots and find a different pair? now THAT'S customer service. seriously, i could've left them in his hands and ended up with a boot that wouldn't have looked the way i wanted it to. but instead, i left feeling confident about his ability to do the work and am hoping to return soon.
more to come when i get the work done.
