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Sunset Shoe Repair
Rating Details »
Category: Shoe Repair [Edit]
Neighborhood: Inner Sunset621 Irving St
(between 7th Ave & 8th Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 661-8259
- Hours:
Mon-Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
31 reviews for Sunset Shoe Repair
Took about 3 days to repair the heels on a destroyed paid pair for $10. They look good as new. Took a week and a half to replace sole/heel of a pair of frye boots for $46.50, and they look as good as new as well.
I was tentative, considering some lost shoe complaints, but I had no problem, and my shoes look beautiful. Def recommend it.
BEWARE FOLKS! THIS ISN'T GLENN'S SHOP ANYMORE!!!
For those of you who have been patrons of Sunset Shoe Repair like I have for the last decade (my 10th year was last year), you will know that Glenn knows his shoes like no other! He is incredibly well-versed in the history of shoes and very knowledgeable of current shoes brands and trends. Glenn treats every pair of shoes that he repairs with immense TLC. He always checks each pair of shoes in front of the client before he returns the shoes back. (Yes, I know he can be a bit slow at times, but it's worth it!)
Glenn has done a wonderful job taking care of my shoes for the last 10 years. He makes me look fabulous. So Glenn, if I could, I would give you 10 stars!
Now you can imagine my surprise when I didn't see Glenn's jovial face when I brought my shoes in 2 weeks ago to have soles added. I thought Glenn might have been on vacation and didn't ask too much and asked for 2 pairs of shoes to be soled and one pair for polish. (Although, I was very suspicious because Glenn tends to close shop when he is on vacation.)
When I came to pick up my shoes, the satin on my pumps was much dirtier than when I had brought it in. With Glenn, my shoes would have been much cleaner than when I brought them in. I had asked the current owner to please clean it up a bit, but they are are only a little bit cleaner. They are still dirtier than when I brought them in. Additionally, when I get the shoe soled, the heel gets the same protective layer. This guy doesn't do it. Plus, when you get a sole with Glenn, you also get your shoes polished as part of the service. Again, this guy doesn't do it. My shoes don't look awesome. They only look okay. When I get my shoes back from Glenn, I'm always so excited by how sexy they look.
Overall, the current guy does an okay job for the price he charges. He's actually about $5-$10 more expensive than what Glenn was charging. So for Glenn, 10 STARS! New guy, sorry dude, I'm might need to find a new awesome shoe guy.
I can't believe I forgot to review this place after the first time I went here.
On that visit I had a pair of tap shoes with hard soles that were starting to split. They cemented them for me and buffed them up all new & shiny. Only cost $10.
On this week's visit, the same pair of tap shoes had insoles that were totally suffering some wear & tear (I freaking love these tap shoes and one of the gentlemen here pointed out how good quality they are). This time it cost $20.
Totally reasonable prices and they never hesitate to ask when I need my shoes back by (I've always gotten them back on the requested days...3 days wait time at the most).
These are definitely my shoes guys and I'll definitely keep coming here.
Just a note since they don't have it listed here, their current hours are actually Monday through Saturday, 9a-7p, and closed on Sundays.
This place is absurdly expensive. The guy wanted $56 for doing simple heel replacements on a pair of boots and taps on a pair of Nike walking shoes. Plus which, they wanted a week to do the job. In West L.A., this would have cost $15 or $20 tops and would have been ready overnight. "This is really expensive," I said in a challenging but not combative way. Had he answered, "That's what it costs, and we'll do our best for you," I might have gone along. But the guy snarled at me and was very diminishing. So I walked out. Those people might be the greatest shoe-geniuses in the world. But they would make it painful for you to discover that.
Whatever, Mr. Hasty McRushington, if you don't feel like paying the price for quality shoe repair then that's totally up to you, especially if you "need this done lyyyykkeee right nooowww!!" and don't have the decency to wait. Anyway, the heels on my favorite shoes were well repaired and look great. Superior, friendly service. I'll be back every time my heels wear down. So there.
I love 1980s pumps, and every type of boot. In order to get my fix without going broke, I buy most of them secondhand. With the money I save, I have my shoes all spiffed up at the shoemaker and still come out ahead.
I just tried Sunset Shoe Repair and they were amazing. I got my shoes back looking brand new, beautiful, sparkling new. They replaced the rubber nubs on my high-heels and fixed the leather which gets torn off and scrunched up every time my heel slips into a grate. And they hand sewed the leather on some purse straps that had begun to split open. The crowning jewel, however, was the work they did on my suede boots. The heels were completely worn down, so much that the suede had a hole in it from dragging on the ground. They replaced the heels, repaired the tear and brushed them out to look smooth and new.
They were ready on time and price was wonderful too, all of this: 3 pairs of heels, 1 pair of boots and a purse repair done by hand for $66. I will go back again and again and again.
I love that big shoe hanging out front.
I need to add a photo of that to this site.
I have been going to this place for over 10 years, and they always do a great job, so I guess the question is why 1 star.
1) They take forever, not just for repairs, but even for shines.
2) If you bring in multiple shoes they are never finished together.
3) They loose shoes
The proprietor is very nice, but nice don't keep my feet warm. I am afraid this latest incident was the last straw. It is bad enough that they have lost 2 pairs of shoes, but as of today they did not even really look for them, even after repeated visits to get my shoes.
I will not be going back, even if they do find my shoes someday.
Phenomenal neighborhood shoe repair place... tiny tiny storefront amongst the main area by 9th Ave. and Irving. I live in the neighborhood but this is the type of place that generates such loyalty, were I ever to move elsewhere in the city I would come back any time I needed some TLC for my shoes.
They are the epitome of a gracious, locally-owned business. There is usually a line because everyone loves them, but you don't mind waiting. In my time standing outside the little space, I've seen the man there help so many people, and often with very random requests. He never seems to fluster, and always does the best he can to have people walk away with the most useful information possible. He'll also be realistic when he doesn't have the most skill in an area necessary for your repair, and point you in the right direction. I recently had some rhinestones on sandals come loose and, because it was stitching, he told me I'd be better off going to a place that does alterations.
Every pair of shoes I've taken there has come back looking much better. I'd trust him with Jimmy Choos, if only I had them.
Although they could not help me in putting an additional 1/2" sole/lift under my son's shoe, the guy who answered the phone gave me a couple of names in the area to call. He told me that the service is usually expensive and would be very difficult for tennis shoes. That was very nice of him.
The guy here was nice enough, but...his customer service was bad, and so was the repair job on my shoes.
I took in my dress shoes on April 15 asking for new backings on the inside of the heels. The guy talked me into new soles as well, and told me they'd be ready in two weeks. I came back about 3 weeks later and the store was closed (on a Tuesday at 10:00 am). I even tried calling ahead to see if he was open, but they don't have an answering machine. I came back the following week, and he apologized: he had put in the soles, but forgot to do the new backings, which is the only thing I wanted in the first place. He told me to come back. I did, a month later, and they still weren't done. He apologized, and gave me $10 bucks off the cost of the soles. When I tried on the shoes, one soles he put in felt lumpy, like he used too much glue in the middle of the left foot. Nice.
I then took my shoes to Shoe Whiz at the Embarcadero Center. They put in new backings the **same day**, and the price was about the same as Sunset Shoe Repair. You can guess how many stars Shoe Whiz gets.
2 stars for the fact that this guy is ALWAYS smiling when I interact with him. He is super friendly and accommodating. He knows so much about shoes and will tell you all about the types of leathers, heels, etc. that he considers in repairing. And, he wants the customer's approval before he just goes and does his thing. I appreciate a service done with my consultation so I know what's happening.
The only thing that lost him 1 star is that sometimes he underestimates how long it takes to get things done. I've stopped by a few times to pick up my babies (read: shoes) on the designated day, and only half of them are done. Since my shoes are the center of my world, this always throws me off a bit. But, he's always so nice and apologetic and works super fast to get them done within the day. I think his rates are reasonable and I just love being greated with that smile.
Can't make my rice without my ricecooker. Can't have beautiful shoes without my Glen! He is amazing! I've taken my shoes there about 10 times; each time I get them back, they are like new again. He keeps my boots looking fabulous.
Problem: The store closes at 6:30pm and I get off work at 6pm.
Glen's Solution: I call him and inform that I will be 10 mins late. He is happy to wait for me. I've done this twice. =)
Be cautious the repair might take a week; Glen is a busy man. So plan accordingly. Also, they are closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Sunset Shoe Repair is that abusive boyfriend that you keep going back to even though all of your friends tell you not to. I used to live three blocks away, so it kinda made sense for me to put up with it taking WEEKS, and I mean WEEKS for a new heel to be put on my kicks. When I moved to the Mission and now to Glen Park, I KEPT GOING BACK out of a strange feeling of loyalty, I am not sure why. So really, it is MY fault, when I am told something will be done in a week, I come back in said week, and I am told it will be ANOTHER week.....it is pretty annoying. The work itself is excellent- it is being told something will be done on a specific day, then having to make MULTIPLE return visits to retrieve a pair of shoes or a bag that has made me finally break up with Sunset Shoe Repair and find another beau, er, cobbler closer to my new abode.
The man behind the counter who has a smile on his face .... he'll take care of you. Worried he'll loose your shoe? ... it's okay, he'll still be smiling behind that counter. Worried your shoes will take 7 days to get polished ... that's alright because he'll still be smiling for SEVEN STRAIGHT DAYS until their done.
Seriously, if you can tell me one time this guy ISN'T smiling, I'll give you my shoes.
Disclaimer: read in speedy end of commercial voice: 'shoes may come in way too damn small to wear form, may cause serious stomach problems including vomiting, nausea, glaucoma, IBS and tingling of the face neck chest and ass.
Very prompt and responsible business.
Dealt with them once and left satisfied both in quality and price.
Went to the other places for estimates before gave these guys my shoes for repair. On average I received 2x - 3x times higher estimates from those places (Haight, West Portal).
My shoes were repaired as expected in a week, and returned to me when I had a chance to pick them up on Saturday precisely at 5:30pm! The guy had a line of people at the moment!
In this economy anyone would like to spend less and get nice service, right? You bet! These guys well deserved their 5 star rating on this occasion.
My shoes always come back looking better than new. He is a busy man so sometimes it takes awhile, but if you tell him that you need them sooner, he is usually accommodating. It is just a tiny shop. Perhaps a one-man show? So be patient and you will have a "brand new" pair of shoes on your feet when he is done.
Not the speediest, but the best service for the price. I have been looking for a place that will repair my vintage shoes WELL, without using cheap and shoddy materials and just glue, and this is the first one I find that does a good job without charging me a fortune.
The man behind the counter, as they say, is always smiling, and yes, sometimes he does have a hard time finding my shoes, but he always has come out victorious in the end. No horror stories here, but I am concerned now after reading other reviews of people whose shoes have been lost.
This area is not close to anywhere I live or work, but I take the trip to get my shoes fixed because it is worth it.
Dear Sunset Shoe Repair,
Please give me back my shoes. I know you said you forgot to call me the first time to discuss the material's color, and when I stopped by you said you couldn't find them and then later on it turned out you didn't need to order new material afterall. I know you probably get a kick out of having my small, white, sparkly pair among all the chunky black and brown ones, but I really want them back. I think you're running out of excuses and my feet miss them. Thank you.
Sincerely yours,
Julia
This place does GREAT show repairs and people know it, so if you are having new heels put on or more involved repairs done, be prepare to wait a week or two. It's worth it though.
I love this place. The guy is a sweetheart, who is very friendly and accomodating. He always does a great job fixing my shoes.
This place SUCKS!!! I left a pair of boots to be repaired with the owner and when I went to pick them up - he COULDN'T FIND THEM!!! I am not kidding. Then he has the audacity to ask me to come back the next day after he's had a chance to look for them and then he started helping another customer. The funniest thing is that he has a framed review of his store on the wall touting his store as a "tight ship." Sunset Shoe Repair is the loosest, saddest rowboat I have ever seen.
I'd go here again. They were able to replace the heel of my vintage leather shoes for less than 5 bucks. I dropped it off Wednesday.. they told me to come back Saturday, but I was able to pick it up Friday. The guy was totally helpful too. I like the old-school feel of this repair shop... hecka OG!
These guys are a teeny-tiny outfit smooshed between a drycleaners and an athletic shoe store, so if you're not paying attention you could easily miss them on the street. I have to admit that I haven't yet gotten any shoes repaired here, but they did fix my favourite leather backpack for $7. Though they are not usually open on Mondays, the door was ajar when I walked by one day. They most graciously accepted my order. I'll certainly be back should I have any shoe-care needs.
I hate this place. I live nearby, and somehow I always convince myself that it would be more convenient for me to drop my shoes off at Sunset Shoe Repair rather than my favorite cobbler, Haight Street Shoe Repair. Then I end up foaming at the mouth with the jerk who runs the shop loses my shoes, overcharges me for everything ($17 for a piece of elastic?!), and defames other cobblers in the business. He can't even get shoes polished but for a 7 day lead time. He's crap. This last time was indeed my last time.
Maybe it's my penchant for pointy, skinny-heeled shoes, but my shoes all wear down fast. I've taken lots of pairs here to get re-heeled, and have had no problems with the service. I also have a pair of bright pink suede shoes that got ruined after a overly-crazy night at Popscene, and Sunset Shoe Repair gave them back in even better condition than when I got them (they were used). The only negative was that it took a week longer than they said it would, but that's what I get for letting boys with dirty soles step all over me.
As far as I'm concerned these are the only people that I will let touch my dress shoes. If I'm spending $300+ on a pair of shoes they are going to get the best treatment.
This place is kind of expensive, but I'm obsessed with them because I'm obsessed with my shoes. They re-did that annoying tippy part of all my skinny heeled shoes, and the replacements ($8) were way better than the originals.
The guy knew my boots were Costume National right off the bat "because of the tabs," as he put it. Well, at least he actually knows something about shoes, right? That should be a good sign...
I went to get the heels replaced for $8.50, and when I got them back, there was a pretty deep scratch on the tip of the shoe. The heels were perfect though. I don't know, I might just have to come back again and see what they can do. Tons of people seem to come here so they must be doing something right. They are closed on Mondays and take lunch breaks from 2-3 P.M.
Oh, and I did have to wait a while for him to find my shoes in the back as he nervously came out a few times to ask me about them. Having read the reviews below, I was deathly afraid that he had lost them also. Whew.
good ol' glen...always there when i need him. i swear nothing is impossible for this man and his wee helpers in the back! every pair of shoes i've taken into him, he's done a brilliant job on. most of the shoes i take in are vintage or from the 80's, so the heels are constantly cracking off, i take them into him, and VOILA, they're beautiful again. the turnover on getting the shoes back are always speedy, unless he is super swamped. i referred a good friend to him, and she loves him too!
I've been bringing my shoes here for more than 10 years, and they always do a great job. They were able to completely resole my work boots, and it was like having a brand new pair! Consistent great service!
