I am writing an update for this business, as they have taken the care to address my prior review, and I noted the difference in my subsequent visits! The store is now cleaner and tidier; the staff are all friendly and knowledgeable. In December, I took a beloved pair of boots to get the zipper AND the heel redone during a busy time, and the staff were apologetic about the wait, and made sure to communicate to me that it would take a longer time to complete before I agreed to the repair. The boots were returned to me (earlier than expected!), good as new (better than new, actually, as I liked that the new heels were Vibrams with grip), by a cheerful girl at the counter. The price came out to around $100, which was communicated to me at the onset, and that was the price that I paid. I have since dropped my SW for more repairs; I think I might have finally found someone to trust with my Loubs next time! read more

They were able to widen the toe area of my boots and put rubber on the soles-looked great and I felt the price was fair. Have been going here for years. read more

Highly recommend this store! I had horse-riding chaps that needed a replacement strap. Novelty staff did a beautiful job, quality repair and the bonus of colour matching the blue leather. Reasonably priced and ready and only a week. Seems that if it's leather, they can do anything!. read more

Novelty Shoe Rebuilders - Repair - Shoe Repair Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Found this gem heading to a different place entirely. I had been wanting to get new holes in my leather belt that I purchased on my trip to Italy in Bellagio. It had been fitting pretty loose but hadn't found a place I walked in asked for two holes Sam was very friendly and they took care of me straight away belt fits great now and I super happy with the quality of work very straight forward good people your leather goods are in good hands at Nicks novelty highly recommended ! read more

Novelty Shoe Rebuilders - Store front. Very well stocked store for leather goods and great customer service - Shoe Repair Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Excellent customer service. They figured out a simple solution to a problem with a new pair of shoes. I have used their services for 30+ years. read more

Professional and friendly staff that won't overcharge you for minor repairs/adjustments.

I had to get some heels replaced on my shoes, so I called around to see who had the best price in the most convenient area for me. This place is close to my work, and had the best prices I could find. It's a small mom and pop shop, which I love to support. They have a wife variety of shoe products, so if there's something specific you're looking for (i.e. shoe dye, insoles, laces), they probably have it. I have only gotten my heels replaced, but I have been happy each time I take my shoes there. They do a good job, and the heels last. Just from hearing customer conversations while in the store, it sounds like they do good work replacing soles and other types of repairs. I would definitely take my shoes here to get fixed if I had another problem. One thing that I really don't like is their hours. They're only open until 5pm most nights, which makes it really difficult to get there after work. Fortunately they are located near my office, so I can pop over when I get a chance. However, I don't work out of my office most of the time, so some days I don't get there until late in the afternoon and don't have time to go to the shoe store. Also, the service is up and down. For the most part I'm pleased with the service. However, one time I dropped my shoes off to get the heels fixed and was told to come back in a few days. I came back on the day they told me and they still hadn't fixed the heels. I had to wait there while they fixed my shoes on the spot. read more

I questioned the shoe repair as it was not complete and was messy. The new owner shouted 'you say I'm liar. You are liar. GET OUT OF MY SHOP. GET OUT.' Horrible and shocking experience. The previous counter person Rob was amazing. Glad to find out he has begun his own shoe repair business downtown. read more

A simple misunderstanding of when my shoes would be ready for pickup. The clerk says "I am not going to argue about what I know, I am always right". I can't abide by such arrogance. I will take my business elsewhere. read more

Excellent job. Pricey but fair, given that I will be able to wear my shoes for at least 4 more seasons. thanks!

Outstanding as always - the new mgr John is a great addition - Keep it up!

I was recommended this place as an alternative for Kaner's in the downtown core. Since it was close to my office, I decided to give it a shot. On my first visit, I visited the shop with a colleague to check out their service - asked the gentleman to show me an example of their shoe repairs - the guy professes to have trained the owner at Kaner's. To be fair, I have taken a few pairs of less expensive shoes there and the repairs have been ok. On my last visit, I took a pair of very expensive patent leather designer pumps and asked him to remove the heel and reattach it, as I felt that the heel was loose. I also asked that he do his best to repair the patent that was lifting off at the base of the heel and to replace the insole. A week later, I picked up the shoes. Much to my dismay, I was charged almost $50.00 for the job - to which the shopkeeper indicated that he was not making money on my repair. The heels were dull since he decided to spraypaint the heels - I would have preferred that he called me first to ask me whether that was ok or not before changing the finish of the shoes. Additionally, there was dried glue all over the shoe - on the patent top part, near the heel base etc. When I complained about the glue, he scraped some of it off and told me that I was being too picky and that nobody was going to look that closely. My thought is this: 1. If you are going to charge me $50.00 - I'm going to expect you to do a top quality job. Expect that I will inspect your repair with a magnifying glass. 2. If you're not making money on the transaction, then you should reconsider your pricing instead of complaining to the customer. 3. If you are going to change the finish of the shoe, call and ask whether that is ok or not. About a week after I picked up the shoes, I realized that the heel had been broken in half (not where it was loose, but in the middle of the heel). I did not go back to complain since I could not absolutely guarantee that Novelty was responsible for the break even though I had barely worn the heels since getting them back and never had an issue with them before that. Thankfully, after some persistent calling, I was able to obtain replacement heels from the factory in Italy and will be getting them replaced by Kaner's. After my experience with Novelty, I will not be taking any shoes here nor will I be recommending this shop to any of my colleagues/friends. read more

This place has convinced me to take my old shoes for repair and polish instead of tossing them out and getting new shoes! They are fast with their service - same week for adding protective soles on the bottom of boots and next day for polish. I have this pair of ankle booties with a heel and I was always annoyed with the clicking sound. This place added a quiet sole on the bottom so now it's a lot quieter! I'd definitely say don't get the antislip sticky pad that you can get from stores like Aldo and Nine West and bring it here to get a protective sole done. Con: sometimes they don't call you to tell you your shoe is done which may result in unnecessary delays. read more

Rebuilders is right! I brought in my sad, torn up cowboy boots for a tune up. Let's just say that each aspect of them was falling apart. I was actually looking for another shoe shop but I stopped in front of this one because it just LOOKS so legit. I judged the book by it's cover. Also, I remembered seeing some complimentary reviews on Yelp. So I brought out my boots and the one man working there perused the damage done. He was clear about what he could and could not do, apparently lining/inner sole issues are for others to deal with but I was fine with that considering the bulk of damage was on the outside. With a resounding, "I can fix this" I gave him a deposit of 20 dollars and was told to call in back in week. I called a week to the day. They had them ready! I came in, the man called me "Sweetpea", I picked them up and they put them in nice bag for me. The whole detailing was 60 dollars in total, plus tax. Upon arriving home, I got to examine the handiwork up close and was very impressed. There was a complete reconstruction of the heel, new sole on the bottom and it was all pieced back together. I wasn't even expecting this but the leather was treated so it was buttery smooth and shiny! They looked like a completely new pair of boots, expect it was even better than that because they were MY boots- just better! read more

Recommend: NO Quality: subpar Pride in their work: I cannot believe it exists Did what they promised: technically I brought in a leather belt to have the side seams restitched. I completely understand why they ask you to prepay. Although they technically did what they promised, aka the seams are restitched. Are they straight? NO. Was it done nicely and does the finished product look good? NO. They can't possibly take pride in such a shoddy job. Not only are the seams not even close to straight, they didn't even bother to remove the old broken threads at the end. read more

I brought my beloved and beat up cowboy boots to Novelty Show Repair for a much needed TLC treatment. In the past, I've had poor experiences with other shoe repair shops, specifically the chain like Moneysworth and Best. Being protective of my favourite pair of shit-kickers, I was looking for a shop that specialized in repairing cowboy boots. Upon the recommendation of a friend, I headed to Novelty Shoes. I dropped the boots off on a Saturday afternoon (open till 5pm) and I picked them up a few days later, and admired the quality of work: one of the soles has been replaced and the hole in the boot was sealed. Plus they were given a beautiful polished treatment which made them look new again. For the quick turnaround, friendly service and quality of work, there isn't a doubt in my mind that Novelty Shoes is one of the best shoe repair shops in the city. It doesn't surprise me to hear positive reviews about them - they are that good! Another bonus is that they're close to work which means I can drop off my other beat-up boots in for repair that I've been putting off for some time. read more

I can sometimes hear myself telling others... let me take you to my guys. They have fixed my families shoes, boots, even roller blades (broken strap). Quick, helpful, can provide suggestions without steering you into buying something (or a service) you don't need. Robert and the gang (sounds like a band) are my Go-To Shoe Guys. Highly recommend above any chain the Path. read more

Took in a 5 year old pair of brown Rockport wingtips to be re-soled. They were the most comfortable pair of shoes I ever owned. When I took them in, I was shown a thin, black rubber sole that matched the original sole on my shoes. I paid $125 for the re-sole plus other repairs. A week later I come back to pick up...a pair of clown shoes! The replacement rubber sole was THICKER than the original sole and made these shoes look like a pair of rockabilly shoes from John Fluevog. And it was a different colour than I was shown originally (brown shoes WITH brown soles???). My loss was Value Village's gain as I donated them. I should have gone to the guys at Jones Ave and the Danforth... Business Owner: If you are reading this please do not bother to contact me to "make things right" - I did not take before and after pictures and threw away my receipt. read more

My beautiful and favourite Frye boots have been great to me for 3 years. Last year my rubber soles were replaced at a shop in Kensington Market for the first time because I had worn them down to the wood. But I found myself bringing them to Novelty after only 2 seasons because the soles from the other place had worn down. For the same price, my rubber soles were replaced, the wood was polished, and my boots were nicely buffed!!! The vibram soles seem so much more reliable now!!! Thanks so much for returning my boots in beautiful working order! read more

Novelty Shoe Rebuilders - Beautifully stained wood, polished leather, and new sturdy rubber soles! (I had worn the soles down to the wood) - Shoe Repair Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I've had my shoes repaired before so I think I know a thing or two about bad quality. My heels and soles of my leather boots needed to be repaired as they were coming off. I found this place via yelp and decided to give it a shot because of so many reviews. They were very quick in fixing my shoes, I think a week. They charged me quite a bit of money for them. Okay, as long as the work is done correctly. The shoes looked good and they had shined them as well. Fast forward a couple of months, shine quickly faded and the other side of the shoe started to fall apart. Odd. If I had just brought in the shoes for repair, would they not have seen that there was another part that needed to be fixed? Brought them in again and got them repaired for not so cheap. Then a couple of months the soles started to detach! The glue that they had used totally started to come apart. For the price I paid I could have bought new boots! I find it disheartening that they could not tell me either because of a lack of skill or just a money grab that my shoes needed more than just glue. I have since taken them to another cobbler who told me they did crappy work and that my shoes needed more than just glue to fix the problem. These people just want your money and their work looks good (for a short period) but it won't fix long term problems. read more

LOVE this place!! I needed my Hunter boots repaired as the soles on both shoes had holes in them. Also there was a tear near the front part of my left boot. Because of this I couldn't wear my rain boots during the rain and I didn't want to spend money on a brand new pair of boots. I paid $50 for the repairs and they did an amazing job! They patched up the tear with a piece of rubber and did it on the other shoe so it looked like it was made that way. I am so happy I found this place. I very highly recommend them. You may have to wait a bit for your shoes to be repaired but it is worth it. I will not go anywhere else! They have been in business for over 50 years so that says something. read more

I used to go here for ages. It's under new management and it's HORRIBLE workmanship. They destroyed 2 pairs of shoes including YSL shoe and a louboutin shoe. The ultimate worst customer service I have ever received. Beware. read more

I found this place on an internet search for a cobbler who could stretch shoes. The gentleman working there is a consummate professional who made sure my shoes were stretched to my requirements. The prices are very reasonable and transparent, which is refreshing in a boutique neocobbler landscape thats all about booking consultations online and whisking away your footwear with no talk of pricing until you receive your kicks back and the shoe drops. The selection of peripherals is also good, lots of laces and saphir products. I will be going back for more serious repairs, love this place and its pace. read more

This place is a trip. Hilarious - and you are not even paying for the entertainment. Jokes aside, if you have a really good pair of shoes - and I mean GOOD pair of shoes, this is the place to go to. Their workmanship is far superior to anything else I have experienced. They are immensely popular with the suit crowd and most everyone else - so expect a bit of a wait (in line, especially during lunch hour) and your shoes/boots, etc. may take 2 weeks or so (based on my experience). Well worth the wait. These guys know their stuff. read more

Thank you Yelp community for another reliable recommendation! I can safely say I have found my go-to shoe repair shop. I brought in three black heels, all requiring a bit of TLC. To my amazement they all came back looking brand new in just a weeks time. I got the tips of all of my heels replaced and they also fixed spots where the leather was fraying to prevent holes from occurring. My bill came to just around $55 which in my opinion is a steal for the workmanship they offer. Tip: I suggest you call ahead before you go to pick up the shoes to make sure they are ready. I'm not positive they take credit (didn't see the VISA sticker anywhere) but they do take Interac/Debit. My only real complaint would be there was some leftover flakes of dried paint or sanding from something on the interiors of the heels. Not a major deal since that just required a quick wipe with a soft rag and some leather cleaner. If I was paying a bit more or if they were very very expensive shoes, I would have liked a bit more attention to detail on this. read more

This place is my go to for any shoe repair or shoe tinting needs. The only place in the city you can get taps put on pointe shoes, leather shoes properly dyed and your birkenstock soles rebuilt. They are friendly and helpful. You usually have to wait a week for repairs, but the work is on pointe. read more

If you like your shoes Goodyear welted and benchmade this is the only place in Toronto that you should allow to touch them. Decade old Church's came back looking brand new. The team are traditional craftsmen and can repair just about anything. Also the best selection of creams and polish in the downtown core. read more

I read some reviews here and thought it best to go here. I have been putting off fixing some designer heels for some time. very high, knee high leather boots, small heel. Wore the tips of the heels out 2 years ago and never wore then since. (procrastination!) Went today on my lunch hour. I was the only customer. In 5 minutes my heels were fixed, done and he even polished the toes just for the hell of it! I feel like I have brand new boots! So happy :) While I was there, about 5 people came in to pick things up, it got busy. Very happy and will be back. Good prices! Good customer service as well. Smiles all around :) read more

Since the change in ownership this place has gone wayyy downhill. They lie and say it is the same but the workmanship has degraded so much. I took two pairs of boots into the store, where they told me the ownership is the same and they destroyed both pairs. They will charge 2-3 times more than the previous owners and due a terrible job "repairing" your shoes. I had brought my shoes here for years but never again. read more

Majid does magic !!!! He fixed a metal button in minutes and made them look brand new ! Also spectacular work for CLs !! My louboutins are slip protected - job well done and fast !! read more

Novelty Shoe Rebuilders - Shoe Repair Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Dropped off a pair of leather dress shoes to repair a small tear and to change the lining on the heels to provide some extra support. The work was well done and the shoes came back cleaned up, polished 'on the house', and looking like new. I would suggest calling ahead to make sure that the work is done. I dropped by mid-morning on the day I was told to pick them up and they weren't ready. To their credit, they gave me a call a little while later to let me know they were ready and apologized for the delay when I returned to the store later that day. read more

My LD Tuttle shoe broke while I was in Toronto for business. I like to travel light, and the only other shoes I had with me were running shoes. Rob had my shoes fixed so quickly! He really came to my rescue and I'm so grateful. My shoe is as good as new (better even) and hence I was compelled to write this review. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!! read more

When I first started working downtown, I had to readjust to figure out the best/most efficient places to get things hemmed/fixed/whatnot during regular business hours. Luckily, Novelty Shoe Rebuilders made finding a good shoe repair super easy! I've gone in to have a couple of heels repaired (after grinding down the heel something fierce) and they came back looking as good as new and have lasted longer than the original heel lasted. The staff are all charming and funny and if you pay in cash, you can usually save 10%! The hours are challenging if you're not close to the area, but they cater to the downtown crowd and the area pretty much clears out when they close, so it makes sense. Also, I hear that a lot of theatre organizations use them to resole, dye and repair company shoes too. Who knows who might be in there the next time you drop off a pair? read more

This place is very expensive but it's because they really know what they are doing. They took a pair of my leather boots that are three years old and made them look like new. Amazing. I'll definitely be going back with another pair. read more

I bought a new pair of shoes and needed to add rubber sole (not to slide) at the front and back part of both shoes. They told me the fee would be $50 for the front and $40 for the back. Told the guy that $90 was the price of a new pair of shoes and he told me to go ahead and buy new ones. This place is not serious and prices are outrageous! Do no t recommend it. Your answer is indeed very childish and funny. How much is the cost of a rubber sole? $5, $10?? And you charge $90 to clients!?? How much are you charging the cost per hour for your work?? More than a lawyer for sure and being a shoe repair guy?! I am going to post my review and your answer in google so everyone in Toronto will find out how you think. And you will not be able to erase it as you're doing in Yelp. You should be ashamed of your poor answer to me read more

I needed to have the heels on my Louboutin boots re wrapped in leather. I did not want to risk having the job botched and so took to the Internet perusing consumer reviews about the various cobblers in the city. I elected Novelty Shoe Rebuilders based on the reviews and articles that abound. The fact that I was coming from the west end was a bit of an issue, but upon visiting NSR, I felt that it was worth the jaunt. Make no mistake, NSR is a busy joint. The service is friendly but more importantly these people know their craft. I was charged $100. to have the heels redone. It was a price that I felt was incredibly reasonable. He also re soles the boots with the red Vibram and conditioned and polished the leather. The leather he used to resolve the heels of the boot were a match to the original Louboutin leather. I was told that the job would take some time maybe 10 to 14 days.... I was called within a week. On pick up my boots were carefully stored with boot trees to preserve the shape. As a former retailer, I consider myself to be a relatively tough customer as I have an immediate expectation of good customer service. It is after all part of the transaction. I believe that being polite and informative, are part of the job description for all who choose to engage in trade. NSR did not falter in this regard, in fact the bonus for me as a customer was that they were extremely friendly! Pride in workmanship + knowledgeable staff + fair pricing+ excellent customer service= A LOYAL PATRON. I will definitely be back and I most highly recommend Novelty Shoe Rebuilders. read more

So I've known about this place for years and had heard that it's the only place to go if you want your favourite shoes to get some love. I had (foolishly) bought some lovely low leather boots (on sale $45, all leather, seriously) but realized (after I'd gotten them home) that 1. I hated the colour and 2. this little strap they had made them look like they were plastic. So I went to Novelty Shoe Rebuilders. The man there was super friendly and helpful. He explained to me what they'd do in order to re-dye the boots (not just put black polish over top of the existing colour, but to strip out the colour and saturate the leather with the new colour). Unfortunately it was going to cost me $90 upfront. Then again, I know that this place is the best, so I kept the faith, paid the man and too my receipt, noting down the date to call (in about two weeks). I happened to be walking by a day or two before the ready-by date, so I stopped in. The same man was really friendly and apologetic that they weren't yet finished (remember, they weren't supposed to be done by this date anyway), but he did bring them out to show me what they'd done so far (they looked silvery metallic) and he explained what was left to do and offered to have it done by the end of the day. I had to be elsewhere, so we agreed they'd be ready the next day, and they were. Perfect, beautifully done, they look elegant and now I love them! I think that these guys have been doing this stuff for so long that people who aren't familiar with shoe repair (like myself) may feel a bit overwhelmed and confused, but ask them. They're super friendly and helpful and will answer your questions. And remember, they've been doing this stuff longer than you've been alive! read more

Definitely my go to place for shoe repair before they changed management and front desk person. Went to get a quote today, and the price went up 3 times. Will not go back again :( Any one has another highly recommended shoe repair? Much appreciated! read more

After reading all the 5-stars reviews on Yelp, I was really excited to take some shoes to Novelty. After taking the subway out of my way specifically to visit, I was met with the rudest employee. He didn't greet me, but rudely just asked what I wanted when I walked in. I had brought in a pair of partial leather boots in to see if they could do anything (I realize they probably work mostly with leather, but a reviewer said they fixed a roller blade strap once so I figured I would give it a shot). He said they can't fix anything that isn't all leather and called my boots "plastic" which was unnecessary. I couldn't believe how condescending this man was, and he walked away from me after that exchange, so I didn't even bother to see if they could fix my coral red leather pumps I had also intended to drop off (leather has ripped and rode up on the heel). I also didn't feel like I could trust them after being in the shop. I realize that other employees may not be this rude, but customer service is really important to me. I also just read the other 1-star review, which seems to justify my weariness. Guess I'm still in search of a shoe repair shop in the city that compares to the stunning quality of the shop I used when I lived in Sudbury, ON (Heels'n'Soles). For now, I'd rather lug my shoes home whenever I visit than go back to Novelty. read more

I've used Novelty for many years for replacing soles, heels, and cuts, and continue to be impressed by the quality service they provide. I recently tried another shoe repair place that was more conveniently located, but the quality was not even close. You might pay a little more, but in my mind, there really is nothing better in Toronto. read more