Brought my Birks for resoling and cork repair, expecting $40-50. No price was ever mentioned, then they charged $85 which is basically the cost of new ones. I didn't pick them up and just bought new ones. I will never be back. They are way over-priced and take advantage of their Armitage address. read more

Went back a second time. Fixed the handle on my old time Hartman. Good as new. Very pleased. read more

The Village Cobbler - Repaired handle to manufactures spec...great job. $40 you get what you pay for. - Shoe Repair Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

20 yrs + i've come here, first stop for rubber heel protectors on new shoes. Great repair work! My most frequent are sandal straps popping out of the sole and a glue will just not work. The most valuable product / service is the lovely woman who dispenses advice and does not pressure for extra repairs. I am not a shoe fanatic in volume but picky about proper care and appearance of shoes. I'd be less groomed if Village Cobbler was not around. read more

Quality of work is good if you don't mind premium prices & have time to wait 10+ days. Get an itemized estimate in writing when dropping off items. Otherwise they may forget to do what you asked or you'll have sticker shock at the resulting price. read more

Village Cobbler resoled the heels and weather-sealed the cork on my Birkenstocks. They did a really great job, and I appreciated that they didn't push me to replace the entire sole! The service was only $40, which I'm very happy about considering it'll extend the life of the shoe by at least a few years. I also appreciated that they texted me promptly when it was ready. All this being said, I have to take off a star because the hours posted online aren't the ones on the door. Their website says they're open until at least 6pm on weekdays, but when I stopped by on a Tuesday at 3:15 they were closing up. I admit that I probably should have called ahead, but in my opinion if a business lists their hours on their website, it's their responsibility to keep that info up to date--otherwise, they should delete the hours from the website to eliminate confusion. read more

This expert was able to fix a zipper on my large suitcase I normally use as checked luggage on international flights. It functions and looks great. The business was able to fix my suitcase's zipper quickly and for a very competitive price. From shopping around it's difficult to find any businesses that can fix suitcase zippers these days but this place was fantastic! Highly recommend this shop to anyone going through a similar situation. read more

In Chicago for a week, taking care of my sick father. Stopped by Village Cobbler (first time) and requested they CLEAN the straps of a newish pair of Vince Camuto wedge heels purchased this summer. Someone spilled soda on my legs during a concert so the straps stained somewhat. I returned a week later and the straps seemed very light in color compared to the shoes but I figured it was the cleaning solution used. NOPE. A week later the PAINT used on the straps started to peel - PAINT! (see picture). I called from St. Louis to inform manager Gerardo Ulate of the situation and he asked "well, what kind of leather is it?" REALLY?? I never asked you to paint my leather shoes in the first place, who does this w/o consulting the client first??? Now I'm in St. Louis with a pair of $200 ruined Vince Camuto's. BEWARE!! read more

The Village Cobbler - I requested Village Cobbler to clean the straps of my shoes, instead they painted straps without asking!!! Peeling after 1 week. - Shoe Repair Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wow, impressed! I'm not kidding when I say I think they should rebrand as "The Shoe Therapist" as I showed up 5 minutes after closing and he spent an additional hour and a half walking me through every potential fix for pretty much every pair of shoes and every belt in my closet! Some of my items he fixed right on the spot, free of charge! He even had a solution for my run-down and falling apart pair of 30-year-old boots, a pair I had presumed destined for my garbage can. The man there answered immediately upon calling earlier in the day and has ensured me a faster-than-expected turn around. It took me a year to get my shoes there, but I'm glad I took the time to visit the Village Cobbler today so I can show up to work (without blisters) in one piece, looking like a respectable pre-work-from-home employee. Highly recommend. read more

They did an acceptable job re-tipping my heels and polishing afterward. I'm sure you could go someplace else and get it "cheaper" but they do a great job and are close to my apartment. (But at only $10 to fix a pair of heels + polish, seems pretty inexpensive to me) Note: You do need to pay 50% up front and bring cash. They do not take credit card. Bring your stub back with you too, it helps them find your order faster, IMO. read more

The Village Cobbler - Business card w/ expertise - Shoe Repair Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been going to these guys for years. They have re-soled Louboutins for me, fixed a pair of Valentino heels that I scuffed the leather on, and helped me with multiple heels I have broken or spilled on. They water proof my winter boots and also fixed / re-soled multiple pairs of my fiancees work shoes. I cannot recommend enough. They can sometimes be a little slow and not super bubbly but let the artists do their work! read more

I finally brought in 6 pairs of shoes that I love but haven't worn in a year because they needed to be re-healed. I was happy to see that they are open on Saturdays, which is very convenient. The stop is a very short walk from the brown line armitage stop. One important thing to know is to bring cash. You will have to give a deposit when you drop off. They asked for a $30 deposit for the work on my 6 pairs. The lady there warned me that they are very busy right now, so it would be a couple weeks. It was obvious they are very busy - there were shoes and purses everywhere! I told her I was in no rush and to take their time. Three weeks later I got a call that my shoes were ready. They look incredible. The cobbler is very talented, and he took the time to repair scratches on the heals as well. The overall cost was $62. Absolutely worth it! read more

they do great work. a little pricey but they do great work. i'll definitely go back .

The beloved Jimmy Choos have just met the dog, and the dog won. The Southern trick of putting Tabasco on the soles does not work. My Princess reads labels, forgoes Target for the spiced-up shoes that cost Mommy a paycheck and a half. What a B!tch! I have Village Cobbler on speed dial for this very reason. They look at the (devastating) damage, nod and ***hold your breath*** FIX IT! Make-it-all-better like nothing-ever-happened fix it. I've had them repair 10 years of damage to my favorite boots in no time flat, re-sole, patch, and attach non-skid bottoms to the soles so I don't fall in my four and half inch stilettos. I am clumsy- fall prevention is good. They also do weatherproofing- for those sexy suede pumps you adore- $20.00 and it lasts 6 months! A MUST for Chicago winter slush. And for all you "it's too expensive" naysayers- have them make you a reciept, with the price ON IT- I do- or go back to payless. P.S. Owners are from Costa Rica. Brush up on your Spanish or ask them how to- they do splendid work and really are super nice. read more

Not For Boots??? I hate giving a bad review, but this was my experience.... I have a pair of "work" boots that I wear everyday. I needed new soles, everybody tells me that the Village Cobbler is great. This story could be a lot longer with details, but here, I walked in and asked for new Vibram soles to match my boot, I explained that i wear these everyday and would like something that is slip resistant. Fast forward to me picking them up, everything appears fine, and the sole is put on properly, it is vibram, and the colors match. great. Fast forward again, about two months, I have to replace my soles again, because they are worn past the tread. I must have been given a ridiculously soft sole. which is not what I asked for explaining that i wear them everyday. Ok, here is my actual complaint, I went back and explained why i was disappointed, i said that i was happy with the quality of work, but unhappy that i spent about $70 on the soles that were not what i was looking for. The response from the actual cobbler was, something along the lines of, we don't really do boots, sometimes they just wear out in 60 days. ??? I asked if they would consider replacing them with a better sole for me, at cost or at least discounted. because i trusted them to help me choose the right sole, and that they did not do. He told me that it was something for the owner to decide, so I left my phone number for the owner. And i never heard back, weeks later I stopped in again, and left my number and asked to be called. no call. so, yeah. don't bring your boots there? cause they only do shoes ???? read more

So, a long story short, I have this pair of awesome leather winter boots that I just adore because I live in them for 3 months out of the year. In the three years I've had said boots I've completely walked the soles off of them and the leather part desperately needed to be cleaned and re-waterproofed. After calling numerous cleaners and other shoe repair shops to see if they could fix up my boots without much success, the very nice people at the Village Cobbler told me to bring in the boots and they would be able to give me a better assessment on whether or not they were 'fixable' after looking at them. I did exactly that, and they said that they could fix, clean, and waterproof them again no problem. However, it would take 2 weeks for them to get it all done because they were busy and the cost would be $45 for everything. Not a problem for me and honestly what a great deal because that's a fraction of the price I paid for them originally and less than purchasing a whole new pair with the pain of blisters while breaking them in. I shelled out my money and left my boots there... That was two weeks ago yesterday and when I picked them up they were ready to go. Plus, they looked fantastic, almost brand new, even though they are old. They did an excellent job on the soles and cleaning, and even though the wait was long, it was totally worth it because I'm hoping to get another two years out of them. Thanks Village Cobbler for fixing up my kicks! I am a fan and will be returning with other shoes/purses that need fixing up in the near future. read more

Best shoe repair in the city. Can repair any brand, from UGG to Louboutin. Excellent craftsmanship with extremely reasonable prices. Only shoe repair I'll use! read more

THE GOOD: They are local. Good website. Speak English. THE BAD: They mis priced and suggested soles that were not appropriate. Less than 2 months later I was back with the shoes with the worn soles hoping for a complimentary repair.. They doubled the price to replace the sole. THE UGLY: Zero customer service. They take zero responsibility. They suggested I call the sole company since the sole wore down so quickly. They then claimed the repair was done more than 1.5 months ago because the sole could not have worn down so quickly and/or the shoe must have been worn down...not worn to a cubicle job. Basically, if there is a problem, its your problem so take your shoes elsewhere. They will take no responsibility. Since they don't give you a receipt for your cash payment they will claim you took your shoes there last year and not a month ago. read more

Two words: OLD.SCHOOL. There's nothing else to describe this place. If you were to transport me to the old country (Italy) and stick me in a shoe repair shop, this is where you'd take me. Love the little Italian family that runs this place. They have fixed numerous shoes of mine (sewn ripped patent leather, replaced heels caps, etc.) and they have cleaned my Uggs and leather purses. They are pretty timely and usually let me know an accurate time frame for the job. They always do excellent, beautiful work but a few pitfalls (hence the 4 stars): -cash/check only (I know it's old school, I get that. But it's also 2011 and credit/debit cards are the norm and you have to change with the times) -50% deposit on all items dropped off (never heard of this, anywhere) -strange, funky smell emanating from that place -no chairs to sit in while you wait for them to search for your stuff read more

Please note: This place does NOT take credit cards. This was my first experience employing the services of a cobbler, so bear in mind that I have no frame of reference. They seemed nice enough inside, shocked as they were to see the boot heel my puppy had mangled. The estimate they gave me seemed a bit high--but hey it's boot season, and I wanted to get this pair road ready in a hurry. Overall, they did a fairly nice job. The material they used to re-cover the heel was an excellent match (they did allow me to approve it when I first dropped the boots off), as was the reconstruction. Sole material covering the inside of the heel was a bit jagged and unevenly cut, but who would really notice? In the end, the work ended up costing more than I paid for the boots (which I did manage to get a steal of a deal on thanks to the clearance rack at Lori's). But for what I paid the cobbler, I would have expected the job to be nearly flawless. Next time, I think I'd check out the place in my neighborhood first. I'd imagine an Albany Park cobbler would be able to manage the job at least as well, and likely for less. read more

This place is amazing and I don't think I have recommended a place of business so much in my life! Apparently I go through my shoes quite quickly... this is probably because I don't spend too much money on my shoes. However, I fall in love with shoes and want to continue wearing them after one season. And especially in the winter months, that is hard to do in this city. So, this place has come to my rescue many, many times! They have repaired every heel I have worked through, every toe I have scratched, and every button I have lost! They are wonderful. The shoes come back looking brand new. They even fix things I didn't ask and they don't charge any more! As Jessica states THEY DO NOT TAKE CREDIT CARDS! That is hard to remember :) So, if you have a pair of shoes or a bag that's sitting at the back of your closet and you miss - take it here to get fixed! read more

They did a great job re-heeling my boots, which would have been $10, I think, but then they suggested I add a new sole (they were so right). I invested $30 into my not-so-spanking new black boots, and then another $15 to fix the zipper on my suitcase. I'm ready for my business trip! They did it in three days and as other reviews noted, it did take them forever to find my shoes (I recommend putting them in a colorful bag or box and reminding them upon pick up because it appears they have no system of actually finding your shoes) and they did request half of the payment via cash or check up front. Overall, I'm happy with the workmanship and service. read more

This shop has been in the neighborhood for a very long time 25 plus years however, they are price gouging. I used to bring all of my repairs here but recently brought a belt that needed simple stitching( 1-2 inches) and was charged $25. The fee is NOT commensurate with the repair. There are other repair shops that do excellent work at half of the price or at least a fair price. Really disappointed, I will not go back anymore after 20+ years of knowing this business. read more

Definitely my go-to shoe guy. Does excellent work for relatively reasonable prices. $10 for standard heel fixing/polish for woman's pumps/booties. I think I've been charged a few different prices for re-tipping pumps based on how many pairs of shoes I was bringing in at a time..... so that is maybe a little "sketchy", but I don't really mind. He is a nice guy and does superior work so I'm not going to argue with him over $4. As many other Yelpers have highlighted, NO credit cards. And yes, he's gotten strict about the 50% down payment. I've been a customer for well over a year and it used to be more of a "we'd prefer if you'd pay partially up front" and now it's "we need 50% down payment or we will not fix your shoes". I don't really have a problem with the 50% down because I have every confidence that my shoes will be returned to me looking brand new! read more

They do very good work. However, I was charged $50 for a minor repair on a handbag! Beware!...and ask about costs in advance.

I always have an up-close-and-personal relationship with my local shoe repair shop and fell in love with this one right when I moved to town. Shop keepers are friendly, always have turnaround within a week and pricing is extremely reasonable. Even better, they don't up-charge for bringing in fancy pairs of shoes. My Stuart Weitzmans cost the same to repair as my Franco Sartos. Muy bueno! Convenient to Armitage El but street parking is not the greatest. Also they're located in a garden level shop so keep your eyes low to the ground when you go looking for it. read more

Excellent service right here in Lincoln Park. They fixed the heels of my boots up just like new. I've taken other shoes and sandals here in the past and have had the same excellent experience. Thanks!! read more

I've been bringing my shoes here for years. They do a great job every time! They will tell you if it's better to replace the shoes or pay them to do the repair. They've always had my shoes ready on time and the rates are pretty reasonable! Be sure to bring cash. They typically ask for at least 50% up front when you drop off your shoes. read more

One week ago I brought in my favorite black suede boots. The heels were wrapped in suede, which kept ripping to the point that the white plastic underneath started to show. The woman I talked to when I dropped them off was so helpful and came up with the best solution that would look good and last the longest. I picked them up today and they look amazing! They look brand new and the fix on the heel is definitely going to last a while. They also cleaned and weather-proofed them. read more

Great job on the shoes. Went above and beyond to make them look good.

I went here to get a worn-down kitten heel replaced. They did a fine job (it's a pretty simple repair) but I had to wait almost a week to get my shoes back even though it must've taken 5 minutes to fix. The person behind the counter wasn't especially nice, and it wasn't especially cheap ($10, and I think I've gotten the same repair done for cheaper elsewhere). They got the job done, but I won't be itching to go back. In fact, I don't think I will. read more

Once upon a time I would have given 5 stars but my last experience with them has changed my views. I took in a pair of boots to be re-done and of course when I go to pick them up, they are mis-ticketed. I also drove all the way from the South Side to have this happen. Then they found them and when I picked them up they were not completed to my liking. Thank you for wasting my time and money! read more

I stopped by optimistic from the reviews and left with my shoes. I told the clerk I wanted my Birks resoled, as I love them and can't locate this exact combination new. He tried pushing me into just repairing the heel only. I don't want them kind of repaired. After agreeing to this service I asked about having 2 shoelace eyelets installed. He quoted me $30 and told me it takes time to install. Some other establishment in Chicago is getting my business. A bit confrontational and smelled like a liquid lunch and it was 11:30. I packed my shoes and left. Horrible vibes and I'm not confrontational or try not to tarnish someone's business and livelihood, but I didn't. Use caution. read more

I find these folks a bit unfriendly. And I'm not blown away with their work. My shoes were kind of smashed beneath a pile last time. Great customer service is required these days. read more

Worst place I've ever been. They overcharge. They charged me $30 to put 2 buttons to fix a bag. Bag broke in 2 days. I called. Woman was horrible. DO NOT GO THERE!!!! read more

1. The boot repair work was not fixed when promised. 2. Ridiculously expensive. 3. Extremely poor customer service. This unfortunate trio means I will not be back and would not recommend this cobbler to others. read more

This is THE BEST place to get your shoes repaired. I brought my black Uggs to be de-salted and fixed up, and they gave them back to me black as night. I also had a pair of heels that had the leather stilettos skinned due to the rooftop bar at The Godfrey, and the Village Cobbler made them look good as new! I saw Louboutins and Jimmy Choos that they were fixing for others, so they can for sure handle designer shoes. Their prices are very fair for the expert work they do. I have tried other shoe repair places, but their work is not as precise. From now on, I'm only going to the Village Cobbler. read more

Brought in a well worn pair of Birkenstock Chukka shoes in dark brown suede. Note, these are not the regular Birkenstock sandals which are somewhat easy to repair. They brought these shoes back to new by replacing sole, repairing cork bed, buffing out the suede, recolored the suede to dark brown, and they look and feel great! All this for $60 or so, which is a great price for a really tough project. They're certified with Birkenstock and use original parts (I assume), and do honest high quality work. Really nice job!!! read more

I would recommend this place to everyone!! My friend had borrowed a pair of shoes to me and gave them back on a Wednesday. I needed them for a wedding that weekend which was out of town. I called several places on Thursday morning - downtown Chicago and Lincoln Park to see who could re-tip the stiletto. Some of the people were rude, expensive and there was no possible way to get them down for me in one day. The Village Cobbler is near my house so I called there. The guys was very nice and said they could do it within 24 hours and they werent too expensive. I stopped in after work Thursday to drop them off. He remembered me from the phone call and said he could do them quickly for me. I sat down and waiting about 10-15 minutes and there were done and PERFECT! This is a great place with great service! read more

They've saved many shoes and boots from the donation bin. They are very reasonable and don't take very long. I'd give them 5 stars but they mispriced one pair I brought in by $35. Not sure who was working that day but it hasn't happened since so I continue to give them business. read more

I brought in a pair of Frye boots that were 4 years old, multiple holes in the soles and water markings on the leather. A week later they are re-soled with an additional rubber sole and look brand new! A bit pricey but it was worth it compared to buying a brand new pair. They are cash only and request a cash deposit up front. The best part was they are dog-friendly and stock up on water and treats! Now whenever we walk by my dog always pulls to go back inside. read more