I can't say enough good things about James Shoe repair. It's run by a lovely married couple who have years of experience with shoes. I walked in with 3 pairs of shoes needing to be repaired. They gave me a quote on 2 of them. The third turned out to be a quick job which they fixed on the spot and did not charge me for. The shoe repair shop a few minutes away was going to charge me $50 for the same job. I'm so pleased with the way all of my shoes turned out - resole and leather repair. They are honest, skilled, and affordable. Will continue coming back! read more

Avoid if possible and don't make the same mistake as me. I came in to stretch my boots and when asked about the price, they gave me a wishy washy answer saying that they would need to see how difficult it is to stretch it, so they couldn't tell me the price. This is their tactic to make you pay more when you pickup so watch out. After a week, I came to pick up my shoes and one was more stretched than the other. The man tried to fix it on the spot but it still was a little less stretched than the other. At the end, they charged me $40 (and I COULD HEAR HIS WIFE YELL "NO, $50!!!" IN THE BACKGROUND). I told him my shoes were Sam Edelman bought at $42 only... and he yelled out, "No! They're expensive shoes! That's why I'm charging you $40 for them!" I ended up paying $40 with mediocre work. That was in 2019 by the way, so they probably charge more by now. read more

If I could leave, no stars I would. We brought my daughter shoes to have the straps repaired. The repair cost $50 for something that appears to have taken only 10 minutes. Then the repair failed within one week of having the shoes back. When we returned to the cobbler, he said"not my problem." he walked away into the back of the store and wouldn't even speak to us. This is not only bad quality craftsmanship, but among the worst service I've ever received from any cobbler ever. I would avoid him at all costs. read more

I can't say enough good things about James's Shoe Repair. James and his wife are honestly two of the kindest people I've ever met, and they've already saved four pairs of my shoes. Every single time I walk out of there, I'm amazed at how they can take something that looks ruined and make it look new again. I collect shoes, and sometimes I end up with pairs in really bad shape--leather chewed up by a dog, soles almost completely gone, broken heels, you name it. I've even brought them super rare Christian Louboutins that I thought were too far gone, but they made them look beautiful again. The quality of their work really does speak for itself. On top of that, James and his wife just make you feel at home. Every time I come in, it feels like I'm visiting family instead of just dropping off shoes. I grew up in Los Angeles and went to different cobblers there, but honestly, no one compares. They're amazing people doing amazing work, and I feel lucky to have found them. If you care about your shoes and also want to be treated with real kindness, this is the place to go. read more

See all

what a lovely couple and what a lovely shop! i knew i could trust them with repairing my doc martens :) i asked for cleaning and a zipper repair and initially they were beaten, broken, dusty, nasty, and they washed everything for me it was like getting a new pair of boots!!! super worth it, even though they might be a few more bucks, seeing them made my day brighter and it was amazing to see how the zippers matched perfectly! i love small businesses! cant recommend enough read more

TL: DR They lost my shoes, blamed me, and yelled at me about it. I brought a pair of shoes here to be resoled. I was given an orange tear-away ticket and a receipt but wasn't asked to provide my name or phone number. When I arrived to pick up my shoes about a week later, the pair that matched my ticket were definitively not my shoes. The lady asked me to come into the back to help her look and my shoes were not there. I showed her and her husband a picture of what the shoes looked like more than a few times. No shoes. They took my name and number and told me they'd call me during the week. 6 days later, I called (because they never called me) and the woman told me to come and speak to her husband. That was yesterday. Today, I returned. He asked how he could help me and I said something like "hi, I'm the one who has the missing shoes" and was shocked when the man yelled at me that they didn't lose my shoes and the pair that matched my ticket were, in fact, my shoes (we went like 15 rounds on that). I'm not exaggerating when I say he yelled at me and accused me of losing my own shoes. I asked him to please stop yelling at me. He then took me in the back to search for the shoes. Again, no shoes. I could not believe the indignation and raised voice he was giving me when I frankly think I should have been given an apology. At no point did anyone offer me a reimbursement for the prepaid service, much less the cost of my shoes. I asked for a refund and he said that I should give them a month. I said no. He said come back next week. I said no. I even said at one point that I'm not trying to get away with anything here. I said I'd like my $34 back at the very least. Clearly annoyed, he asked how much my shoes were. I estimated $50-$60 so he said he'd give me $100. I was definitely being called some kind of name under his breath as I walked out of the store but I was shaking and needed to just be done with this so I let him say whatever he needed to to feel better. I very much appreciate the reimbursement and compensation but I certainly did not appreciate being yelled at and essentially called a liar or thief. He really, really wanted me to claim the old, beat up, 90s Ellemeno Mervyn's heels that matched my ticket. But They. Were. Not. My. Shoes. I'd love to support a small, mom & pop business but you couldn't pay me enough to return. read more

Cannot recommend highly enough. Extremely friendly customer service. Fair pricing and excellent results. They completely brought my favorite boots back to life after another shop did an incredibly poor job. read more

James Shoe Repair - Shoe Repair Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

James satisfied me 110% giving new life to my shoes. I was so impressed as another shoe repair in Irvine only put glue on my sole of my shoes and was charged $65 after using twice it broke. Thanks, James! read more

James Shoe Repair - Shoe Repair Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

Brought in some boots to ask about a zipper tab repair and stitching repair. He said he would be able to repair my zipper tab if I brought them in, which is fine. He agreed to fix the stitching on the inside of my boots. I politely asked him how much it would be and he immediately changed both his mood and mind, saying something along the lines of how he "doesn't know how much and I won't be doing this anymore." He then told me to go somewhere else. He was extremely rude. Dismissing someone for asking about the price is not good for any business. His wife wasn't much help either, giving me some excuse over how he's "too busy" to help me out when he originally agreed to fix the stitching on my boots. I can't recommend this place to anyone. They were likely going to take my boots without a given price of the service then overcharge me when it came time to pick my boots up. Please go somewhere else. read more

James Shoe Repair is run by just the sweetest couple (responsive to the phone too) in the Ralph's/CVS plaza. My health/fitness journey has taken me to a good place on my belt so I needed a few holes added in. At $3 a hole, the gentleman got my belt fixed up in less than a minute. Of course, be sure to have cash if you're going to total less than $10. James started a quick friendly chat with me and shared that he'd come over from Korea over 50 years ago, lives a few blocks away, and has children nearly the age I would've guessed him to be. This man (born 1939) is still going strong at 85-talk about a heart-warming immigrant success story! As I wrote this review outside just now, I could pick up bits of friendly conversation with some more locals who dropped by. I will definitely take all of my repair and cobbler needs to this neighborhood gem so long as I live in the area. read more

This is a fantastic place to take any of your leather goods. My favorite purse got cleaned up and new zippers installed. So happy to have them in Irvine in the Ralph shopping center. read more

James Shoe Repair - Michael Kors Red Purse repaired - Shoe Repair Near Me - Irvine, California

James delivers a strong customer service and high quality of work. We trust his work. Very nice man! I

Outrageously priced for average work. I bit the bullet and paid $158 to clean a pair of Nike Dunks and a pair of Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 68. The owner stated the higher price was because the Onitsuka were "nice" and required shampoo. Neither pair of shoes were particularly dirty and competitor pricing was placed at $60. I've had higher end dress shoes cleaned and repaired for cheaper. The shoes were cleaned, but no better than I could have done on my own. read more

Family owned business that does quality & craftsmanship to service rendered. Very nice couple, makes you feel like their own family. read more

James Shoe Repair - Repaired & looks brand new. - Shoe Repair Near Me - Irvine, California

James re-soled my whites boots for me, I was amazed at not only the quality of the re-sole but the speed at which he did it in, I wear these boots everyday and have had them for years. They were so worn out I thought that they could not be repaired/ re-soled. will definitely be back again when I need more work done on any of my shoes. So glad to find this gem of a small business! You rock James! read more

James Shoe Repair - Resole - Shoe Repair Near Me - Irvine, California

Awful customer service. I brought five pairs of shoes to have protectors put on the bottom of them and she told me no problem. My fault for not asking beforehand how much it was going to be but I was charged $503 to have protectors put on absolutely ridiculous when I came back to pick up my shoes. They were rude and the customer service was awful. Never going back there again. read more

I brought my wedding shoes/heels to fix because the straps just didn't fit right, it was too loose, and I couldn't do choreography in them. James fixed it in a couple of days before my wedding. He has decades of experience as a shoe maker, you could barely tell there was work done on the shoes. It's hard to come by an experienced cobbler! read more

James Shoe Repair - Shoe Repair Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

fastest shoe repair place ever. i dropped my shoes off like a day before i needed them back, i was planning to wear them to an event but also had backups if they weren't able to be done in time. i would have been perfectly okay, and not even shocked if it took a lil extra to get it done, the shoes were in relative bad condition, but MUCH to my surprise the shoes weren't only done on time but early! i was so happy i was able to wear my fav shoes to the event i was going to. thank you so much! read more

Just a gem of a shop. I've lived in Irvine all my life and they are the only consistent shop in that center besides Ralph's. And that's for a reason. They are nice and great at what they do. You don't get shoe repair wizardry like this very often. They don't just work on shoes. Bring in your purses, bags, or any other leather item and James will work wonders on it. I have a leather bag on my wheelchair armrest and the way it looked. It really should have been thrown away. I had it custom-made so I would have to have another one custom-made, but rather than doing that, I came here and had it reconditioned and it looks and works beautifully. I see there are some one star reviews here, but to be honest, you know what unprintable on yelp thing they say about opinions and you know that everyone has one. read more

Great at fixing shoes. Great with customers and great customer service. Best shoe repair in town! read more

Charged me $100 to apply a topy outsole to a pair of Margiela Tabis, and only the forefoot part at that. I needed it done that weekend so I paid the $100 but thats outrageously priced. They quoted me an ADDITIONAL $40 to do the heel but said they were "honest" and that I didn't need it. I wore it once and the heel was already seeing damage so I had to go to another cobbler to get it topyed. The topy sole was also sloppily applied and you can see where they cut and sanded the leather underneath. read more

James has ZERO INTEGRITY. I came in last week to have the zipper on my belt bag fixed. The direction of the zipper was already correct - I only needed it to glide smoothly because a previous shop had damaged it. He seemed to fully understand what I wanted, but when I returned to pick it up, he had completely reversed the direction of the zipper, which I absolutely did not ask for. When I explained this, he told me he couldn't fix it the way I originally requested, something he never mentioned during my first visit. It was clear he focused only on making the zipper smooth and ignored the actual reason I came in. If you can't do what a customer is asking, just say so upfront instead of charging them and delivering something they didn't request. I asked for my $40 back since he previously said I wouldn't have to pay if I wasn't satisfied, but he refused to acknowledge it. The craftsmanship may be fine, but the communication and customer service are genuinely terrible. They mentioned they're retiring next year, and based on how little they seemed to care about customer satisfaction, I believe it. Both he and his wife saw how upset I was, yet acted like it wasn't their problem. The owner's behavior is very fickle and moody, one second he's nice and the next he's dismissive. It's a good thing they are closing shop soon. This was my first and definitely last visit. If you choose to go here, be aware you may not get the service you ask for--or your money back. read more

They transformed my white sneakers back to new! I can't thank them enough for the immense time and work they put into cleaning and revamping my sneakers. Highly recommend! read more

James Shoe Repair - Shoe Repair Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

My family has been coming here for at least 35 years because they are simply the best! We primarily get our leather shoes and purses maintained here. Prices are great and the owners are so friendly and helpful. Anything you need, they can help you do, with a smile on their face. Thank you James shoe repair for decades of amazing leather working! read more

I wanted to like James Shoe Repair. I took two pairs of men's dress casual shoes in. They were dirty, I'll admit. The shoes were cleaned, conditioned & polished with new heel pads on one pair. They look fine, not spectacular. Now the tough part: I was charged $177. I was stunned. I am usually a good sport, but even with inflation, this seems to me to be outrageous for the services provided. The people here are very nice, and I am sure they are good at what they do. However, I'd advise anyone going here to ask the price up front. Had I known what I was going to be charged, I would have gotten a new pair of shoes instead. (These shoes were probably $150 a pair when new.) To me, value is more than a low price -- it also depends on quality. In this case, I don't think the quality I received matched the price I paid. read more

Wow, what an amazing experience... The service I originally requested was to shorten a belt I had bought in Florence, Italy that has sentimental value beyond any amount of money...and they did an amazing job! I then remembered that i had some classic Johnston Murphys, a pair that you cant source anymore that I hadn't worn in years due to it having damage in the outsole. I legit held on to those for sentimental value for all these years and the owner did such a great and caring job with my belt that i felt comfortable giving him these shoes that I loved. The price was more than fair and the work...well...never had I ever dreamed that the craftsmanship could ever be this level of quality. I am big on shoes and even bigger on quality and this is artist level work! The seam is barely visible and the midsole and outsole was perfectly aligned and looks like it came directly from the original manufacturer! The shoe looks like the first day I bought them! He even took care to keep the Johnston and Murphy brand on the outsole! Stitching was en pointe! Literally stared at them for a few minutes trying to find any technical defect and was constantly amazed as to what I was looking at! If you have any leather work, I can think of no other place I would trust more than James Shoe Repair! Amazing work! Artist level work! I will be back and I honestly recommend him to anyone who demands quality work at fair prices. This type of service you don't see much nowadays, it deserves accolades being what i can put into words. read more

See all

At James Shoe Repair, I get consistent, quality work on my shoes and boots. Have been going here for many years!

Where do I start, James is a wizard with shoes! So I bought a pair of Alexander McQueen leather trimmed Tough Canvas sneakers. Basically an expensive looking chuck Taylor. Since the shoes are European, they felt extremely tight on the sides closest to my small toe. I tried to break them in, I bought shoe stretchers to widen them, and nothing worked. That feeling when your feet are killing you at the end of the day. I first took them to Leon's in Newport Beach. He took one look and said it was impossible. He only works with leather or suede shoes. I stopped by James shop for a second opinion. Wow I am glad I did. He was hesitant, but had me try on the shoes and investigated where the source of tightness was coming from. Said he could work with the shoes, and come back in a few days. Man they feel excellent! I purposely wore thick socks to really get a gauge on the end result. They are perfect. I strongly suggest taking your shoes here. One tip, call before you pick up your shoes. James gets busy, so if you're in a rush, call them the day before you're supposed to grab them. read more

James Shoe Repair - Post stretched shoes - Shoe Repair Near Me - Irvine, California

Went in for a consultation, during the intake the older man ripped my shoe even more, and in the end he couldn't even assist with fixing it!

Resoled, stretched, and conditioned my boots! Friendly and quick turnaround. Thank you! read more

These two sweet, hardworking artists refreshed a pair of very expensive boots I was bringing to them as a last ditch effort. I had worn them nearly into the ground. When I came to retrieve them I thought it was an entirely brand new pair. It's super challenging to find anyone who will take the time and care to revitalize a high quality investment and I'm so grateful to have found this place. Highly recommend! read more

James Shoe Repair - Boots - Shoe Repair Near Me - Irvine, California

I brought in a pair of shoes for a sole replacement, they did a great job with a new rubber sole and polished my shoes up, too! Highly recommended shoe repair service. read more

James Shoe Repair - New rubber soles - Shoe Repair Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

James is absolutely amazing. His craftsmanship is beyond incredible. I had these boots I loved but the calves were too big. I was told by multiple companies they couldn't help me. Then someone recommended James shoe repair. He was able to adjust them perfectly. Him and his wife are a joy to talk to. Highly highly recommend. read more

James Shoe Repair - Boots with crystals!! Calves were too big but thanks to James they fit perfectly. - Shoe Repair Near Me - Irvine, California

Husband and wife owners are THE CUTEST EVER!!! They are talented and can fix up any shoes! They can also customize shoes to fit your feet (which is perfect, because my boyfriend has very wide toes!) Parking: easy, next to Cheesetella, in the same plaza as Ralph's. They have tons of extraordinary shoe products and you will be blown away. The owners are so chatty and personable, which makes you really want to support this small business Do not go somewhere else. They are the best!!!! They are fast, reliable, and SO GOOD. read more

See all

Bad customer service very rude and would not stretch my shoes. He said 40.00 outrageous price. He told me to leave

I was very happy to find James Shoe Repair! Quality work and friendly people! Thank you for repairing a favorite pair of shoes!

Amazing hidden gem! It is tough to fine a good shoe repair in the Irvine area- so lucky to have found James. Old world quality workmanship and very reasonable prices! Just picked up 4 pairs of Bruno Magli's and they look better than new! He and his wife also have a remarkable backstory and always have a smile on their faces! Please give them a try! read more

Beautiful job repairing my boots. The boots were more comfortable than original design since the owner repaired them with superb quality cushions. Also, the owners were super sweet and nice. Thank you for an amazing job. read more

James & his wife run a great leather repair/shoe repair/leather anything repair here in Irvine. They work very hard to produce quality repairs. I have been coming here for 5 years+ and have never been unhappy. If you value quality work - see James & his wife. Amazing end results. read more

Big thank you to James Shoe Repair! I brought in five pairs of my grandma's old shoes (heels), since they're overall still made of great materials and still in style. All of the shoes' soles were made of plastic and had crumbled over time, and they did such an amazing job reviving them. The rubber soles are a much needed improvement from the original slippery plastic ones. And I basically got five pairs of nice shoes I can wear to work for the price of one, max two new pairs. read more