Really had a great experience here. I came in with two different types of shoes, and found out that the gentlemen in this shop know exactly what they're talking about. The first pair was black shoes that i'd bough on super discount from Express. Not somewhere you'd normally buy shows, and for a reason. They let me know what they could do for these seemingly plastic shoes, and I appreciated it, then took their advice. They literally resurfaced them, and got me at least double the price out of the shoes that i'd pay under $75 for. Next was a $250+ pair from Cole Haan. They had a small red win stain on them. After pointing out how beautiful the shoes were they told me what they had to do. There were a couple of options, I took the "Lets buff it and see what happens" one first. Turned out good enough for me and cost a mere $5. I know i'll be back, and I appreciate that they can differentiate between a nice and poor pair of shoes. read more

Used the wrong shoe polish and whatever they used is almost like a paint. Ruined my Allen Edmonds. read more

Sam The Shoe Doctor - Needed my soles redone. I never asked for a polish yet they must have used a brown polish on my walnut Allen Edmonds. Looks awful. - Shoe Repair Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had a good experience with this location. Have gone in twice and both times they were able to fix what I needed. Had some Timberland boots where the zipper pull had come off, and they were able to replace it, though not the same exact pull but that's totally fine and wasn't expected. Good service, gentleman went above and beyond. read more

Ricardo fixed my Donna Karan tote bag because the strap was falling off. He made it look like new. He fixed it in less than a week. Great job. read more

Very Good repairs but too expensive. If you want the cheapest high quality shoe repair go to Barrera at 1008 W 18th 60608 in Pilsen. Free parking in front! read more

I'll have to update when I get my shoes repaired. I went in seeking information about the services, and what Sam could do for my scuffed boots. I didn't have money on me so I said I'd come back. Before I left, he insisted on giving my boots a spray, on the house. While the scuffs are still there, you can barely see them with that thoughtful touch up. read more

Ricardo offered pick up and delivery for repair of a leather backpack, a pair of shoes and a baseball glove. Fair prices, quick turnaround, and high quality repairs. So convenient: he texted me when the items were ready and handed them off to me in my building's lobby. read more

I paid $40 for you to destroy my favorite, most expensive pair of boots. I will never ever forgive you, you horrible people. (Eh hem. I really, really loved those boots.) They said they'd fix the zipper. They didn't. Not even an attempt. Just not fixed, no refund. They said they'd clean the boots. Instead they SCRATCHED THEM TO HELL. All over, visible scratches. My pretty boots look so much worse than when they went in! I should say, the boots were a soft, almost-but-not-quite-suede-like, waterproofed leather. Maybe they can do shiny leather. Maybe they can shoot gold doubloons out their eyeballs. I don't care unless I can spend them on new boots. read more

I'm giving this place 2 stars because they were cheap and quick. Sadly, the ruined my boots after "polishing" them with a crappy, non-matching color. I initially told the guy I didn't want them polished, as I was concerned that they would have a problem matching them, but he insisted that all would be fine. When I just picked them up and saw the color, I told the person behind the counter that my boots were a completely different brown when I dropped them off. In response, he lied straight to my face and said, "look, we didn't polish the tops of the boots, and you can see that they are all the same color." Lie. The brush strokes of the polish are visible over every part of the shoe. Yes, I got new heels and reinforced soles for $40, but I don't plan on wearing these boots again. Next time I need shoes fixed, I'll make the trek west to Mont Clare Shoe Repair, where they know what they're doing. read more

Only same day - walk in shoe repair I've found that is so quick and convenient! Will be back! :)

I had three pairs of shoes that needed tips. I was very impressed that they did all three on the spot and in less than 15 minutes. Sam you are amazing. Thank you, I will be back. read more

Fast and conveinent! Only $12 to fix me heels and it took 5 mins! So worth it! Ill definitely will be returning!

Take your shoes and run - brought in my new Nine West leather pumps as the tip was scuffed - paid 10 for just what looks like a black sharpie colored in the scuff peeled in part. In addition I had awesome suede boots/part cloth boots, I expressed I needed the suede part cleaned and waterproofed. Paid 45.00 and I received the boots dirtier than when I brought them in as. I will try somewhere else - not happy too expensive and just awful work and a zero for customer service. read more

I parked in the garage which is $6 for the first 20 min. I was out in 5 with my heels redone! That's service!

For whatever reason I am heavy on my shoes. I buy beautiful heeled boots and pumps and within weeks of wearing them the heel is a pointed metal nail head that causes me to slip and slide all over the place. Having just bought a brand new pair of Nine West and seeing that they are already wearing thin I decided to check out Sam The Shoe Doctor with some other pairs. Not only could he fix them there and then (while I wait) but it only cost me $12 a pair! I'm pretty sure I paid much more at a formally reviewed place! Very quick excellent service! I will be back with all my other pairs! read more

I have to say, I thought my favorite black leather boots were done for. THISCLOSE to just chucking them. Half the sole and the whole heel missing off one, and the heel ground down on the other one of my wedges, with the metal exposed. Granted, it was a little more expensive than what some other people are saying ($28 due at the time of drop-off) due to additional sole repair plus heels, (reason for one star off), but they were scuffed beyond hope and salt stained to the bone as well. Replaced both heels with much better, sturdier caps than they came with, and half the sole of one, polished them up, and they look like the day I bought them! Pleased! Would pay the money again if I had another dire case like this one. read more

Yes, the reviews are true. It took LESS than 5 mins and it's $6 per shoe to repair your heels with the busted bottoms/exposed metal problem. I'll be going here every time. read more

Not happy with the work. I think if you are paying half the price of a new pair of shoes you should be expecting something more than sloppy. I knew there was a reason I haven't repaired shoes in 15 years... read more

I was quite disappointed. First, I felt I was charged too much. I was charged $25 for heals fixing and shine. I felt many people on the site suggested ~$15 for that so I was surprised. Also, when I came to pick up shoes the job was done poorly and when I pointed out they fixed it but it was frustrating they couldn't just do a good job in the first place. I'll try to go to another place next time. read more

Dropped off a pair of $500 pair of men's dress shoes that had a small stain on them. When they were returned the shoes were missing the shoelaces (while a small thing, they match the shoe specifically). More importantly, they were a completely different color. Rather than fix the specific spot, they died the whole shoe. They now look like garbage and the manager is offering no recourse. Do not go to this place!!!! read more

It's a shame that as an African American, I have to give an African American business a low rating, for something as bad as their poor telephone customer service. I looked up online, the various places in the downtown area that can fix backpacks and such; I have a single-strap shoulder bag, that has begun to gain a hole in the bottom. It's such a nice bag, that I hoped I could get it repaired. So, I found "Sam The Shoe Doctor" online. I called the number, and an older African American woman picked up. She sounded bothered by having to answer the phone to begin with. I politely tried to explain the dilemma with my bag, and asked if she could give a rough estimate for repair cost for what I'd described. She interrupted me, and said "Look, I can't give no price for nothin' I ain't seen. Thank you". And hung up the phone on me. Wow, really? So, no "why don't you stop by with the bag and we can take a look at it?" or anything of the sort... This is why it's so hard for African American business to thrive in today's world. The most basic principles, such as good customer service seems to allude our people. I wish this business all the best, but I personally will take my business elsewhere. read more

I just had the worst experience at your 203 North LaSalle store. I brought my shoes in on Monday to be re-soled. The guy who helped me could not tell me the difference between the $80 and the more expensive option. I decided on the $80 because I was told they did not have the high end leather sole in stock. Hard to imagine why a shoe repair place would not have a leather sole in stock. He said for an extra $10 they would add a rubber bottom as well as heel and toe guards. I agreed. I said I had a groupon and asked if I can bring it later - I was told YES. I asked if they deliver the shoes when finished and the guy looked totally disgusted and said yes. It was clear he was annoyed I asked. He said they would call me when they were ready. I never heard from the store so I called on Friday. I was told the shoes were ready. I asked if they would deliver the shoes and they said no - the guy is sick. I said what about Monday and he said - I don't know. Maybe. So I went to pick up the shoes. The rubber soles protectors were not on the shoes so I asked for the $10 back. He said well leave them here and he could put them on. I was not coming back again! He said he could not give me the $10 because I didn't pay in full. Also he said he would not take the Groupon since I should have used it when I first came with the shoes. I said that was not what I was told when I dropped the shoes off. After another few seconds of me calmly asking for the $10 back he gives me the $10 and says he isn't in the mood to argue. He reluctantly took the Groupon. I just got back with my shoes and realized the heel and toes guards were not put on my shoes. 1. Advertise delivery but don't really do it. 2. Employee can't explain the services. 3. Did not put on the rubber protector. 4. Told I could use the Groupon then told no. 5. Rude employee. 6. Never put the heel and toe guards on. read more

I had an expensive suitcase with a zip on daypack that was damaged (zipper) while traveling. I took it to three places to see if they could fix it as I didn't want to have to replace a perfectly good suitcase because of one faulty zipper. Every place I went told me it wasn't possible, I'd be better off buying a new one, it was a faulty design, it would cost more to fix then it was worth, etc... I was determined, so I started searching for luggage repair, and came upon shoecrafters.com. I took my suitcase in to 203 N Lasalle, and tried not to get my hopes up. I was SHOCKED when they fixed the zipper in 10 mintues for $15. Their repair saved me $250! I was so happy that I wanted to post this online, as I had seen a lot of other questions about good luggage repair... I would highly recommend stopping by here before tossing your old suitcase you think is ruined by the airlines! read more

I needed a suitcase repaired. The little latch or tag which is attached to the zipper was broken off by an airport machine or one of the genius baggage handlers whom we pay $25.00 to mangle, inspect, and load our luggage. I thought this would take all of 5 minutes and $5.00 to replace. Estimated cost? $30.00!!!!!!!!! These guys should go into the ink business for printers! Cheaper to get a new one! read more

I went here to use a groupon to get my suede boots waterproofed and new soles put on the heels. When I went to get them (a few days after I was told they would be ready), the boots had black marks on them and I wasn't sure they had been waterproofed. Today I am wearing them for the first time and BOTH heels fell off. Apparently, Sam the Shoe Doctor thought gluing the soles to the boots would be acceptable. It's not. I have work them for a few hours and now I have to take them back to get resoled and I really doubt they even bothered to waterproof them. Waste of money. read more

Very impressed with the price and quality of the service here! I got two pairs of shoes back and they look great. Also, when I dropped off my shoes I decided to get my boots I was wearing polished and they did an excellent job with that as well. My shoes were ready to pick up the very next day. Will certainly return. read more

I had a pair of heels I was THIS close to throwing away thinking there was no hope for them as the silver metal was already exposed in the bottom of the heels AND those nifty little cracks between the sidewalks had gotten the best of the leather on the heel itself and torn off....I have passed this shoe shop a couple of time and thought I had nothing to lose...not only did they restore my heels to nearly new shape (they are almost 2 years old) but they did it in less than an hour and only charged me $12. I'm VERY happy to say the least and I will continue to take my damaged leather here....It's centrally located in the loop which makes it very easy to get to when going to or coming home from work...Thanks! read more

September 14, 2016 E-mail: shoecrafters2000@yahoo.com Snail Mail 13 Pages c/o Mr. Albert Levin, Please update who the owner is? President Sam, the Shoe Doctor, Inc. 111 N. Canal Street, Ste. L 018 Chicago, Illinois 60606 Voice: 312/928-0810 www.samtheshoedoctor.com Voice: 1/312/750-0604 shoecrafters2000@yahoo.com Dear Mr. Levin: 1. On September 12, 2016, about 10:30 am I walked into 203 North LaSalle (Lobby) and there were other customers in the store, getting their shoes polished. 2. Luiz Miranda was at the counter. I recognized him and commented, "Did he know me?" by saying "He is the boss!" 3. I brought four single shoes with me, and they were: a. Two proto-types, two old and different right shoes Cecilio Lozano had serviced with corrective heels, b. The Lands' End brown "moc" needing to be re-heeled and an old white Reebok walking shoe. c. Two new and different right shoes for a corrective heel, one was a Lands' End moc and the other was a Reebok walking shoe - both were black. 4. Luis's face showed that he recognized me and perhaps it was Ricardo Serrano that tried to help me when I stepped up to the counter. 5. I hadn't seen another shoe repair man since 2013, since I left Sam the Shoe Doctor at this location. I stayed away from going downtown because of a CTA incident when passengers were rerouted from the Brown Line to a Bus at Belmont. I took another bus either a 22 or 36. The packed Clark or Broadway bus turned out to be a very bad experience for me. When I had arrived at the store to drop off my shoes for repair I had already lost my purse. I returned to the store saying I just discovered I had lost my purse and I found it at the Piedmont Building's washroom. All was Okay at that point, but I was still overcoming the stress of the disturbance directed at me by a female I was sitting next to on the bus. After she pushed her body and belongings over me and other passengers moving out of the bus, she made a spectacle of herself shouting obscenities at me and spitting at me on the other side of the window. The bus was not moving either at Clark and North Avenue. Everyone on the bus shook the bus back and forth, in a rocking motion, and the bus driver stayed at a long stop light. People were shouting for her to stop, but this female was testing if I was sensitive to the war she had created - as if I was a 'war dog'. I kept my cool on the bus, but after getting off the bus, I stopped at Piedmont's bathroom where I forgot my purse in a bathroom stall. Luckily someone found it and returned it to the beauty shop, and they in turn gave it to the management, who then returned it to me. So, Cecilio and Luis were told of this hairy tale of woes on that day back in 2013, the reason why I stayed off CTA buses going downtown. This is an example of the ordeal older women are facing with forced retirement. It too is unreasonable mass violence of people pushing themselves off the CTA abusing others in the process to make a point..."You are unwelcome!" Naturally I reported it to many at the CTA and Redeye. I know how to handle these outrageous people - do everything I can not to give them me to shout at - in the outrageous female's situation in 2013, I should of ducked under the window and withdrawn myself from her as an object of derision. I also didn't enter the loud argument with Cecilio - I couldn't talk. 6. I am accustomed to getting my shoes repaired at Sam, the Shoe Doctor by Cecilio Lozano, and the guy who repairs shoes, although it has been problematic over the years. 7. Now I am being sent away from a place of public accommodations for a phony reason - "I won't be happy". 8. Can Cecilio Lozano show off any more "How to mishandle a customer?" 9. Luiz Miranda told Ricardo, to fetch Cecilio Lozano. 10. Greetings were exchanged between Cecilio and me; however, immediately thereafter Cecilio picked up the tempo of the communications loudly with accusations, "That the last time he saw me he got into trouble with his boss!" 11. Luis left the counter and disappeared in the backroom as I entered into a sales transaction alone as a single female facing a rough deceptive Cecilio, who insulted my personal liberty. 12. Cecilio can be generous when he wants to display his largess, but he always serves some personal motive disarmingly. 13. About me, I am no longer working, and my civil rights cases are still in the federal court waiting for a final review, and have stopped for now. 14. Further I suffer from Spinal Stenosis. I am delaying spinal surgery. The surgery is known to have an inferior result for women over men with a list of ailments from increase opioids, lower back and leg pains, difficulty walking long distances, disabilities, etc. as published in "Spine" magazine. 15. Allegedly, I am not considered worthy of Cecilio's respect, because read more

Bit of background. I was going to a department store to get my trusted shoes reheeled, and stretched - and was paying for it. After numerous attempts to find the right place, I found Sam on a whim when the handbag I loved needed monumental saving. I knew the designer and it is still a coveted item and one I still receive so many compliments on, even though she's moved on to jewelry. Sam matched the dark green color on the bag, redid seams and matched the metallic green detailing them. I am a patient person when it's worth the wait, and in this case it was! Since then, I've taken my beloved APC flats and he completely matched the color with a specific batch. He did my Anna Corinna bag, and has since been my go-to guy. I have since recommended him to friends, and personally I know Sam balances prices with great quality work. read more

I have used them 3 different times on 6 pairs of shoes (3 boots). The first emergency was a tip replacement on my broken heel to work fixed really cheap and while I waited. Second emergency at work the tip of the sole of my shoe came unglued - they fixed it in minutes while I waited for $5.00. Then I dropped off 3 boots in major need of repair of soles being glued, heels, and leather stitching. All of these boots were done to be brand new for a very reasonable price!! And my last one needed a large heel and looks new. I am so happy with the turn around time and service and quality of the work. I highly recommend them. read more

I just picked up my boots this morning, and they look AMAZING! They were doing work on the heels, and they honestly look brand new. I normally don't post reviews, but I was so happy with the work they did, I had to. I'll definitely be back. read more

Sam the Shoe Doctor was pretty sloppy. I brought in some Gucci suede flats to have a rubber sole applied and they were returned with glue on the suede. On a positive note, they do repair shoes very quickly! read more