Anonymous
Peggysue, you are asking for the moon. My friend is an old fashioned cobbler out of Canyon Park in Bothell. He’s been doing it since he was a boy and learned from a master before him. He’ll be approaching retirement in the next 5-10 years or so. Been searching for an apprentice forever. Very frustrated in the lack of desire in people to learn a skilled trade.
I think he told me the only other shops on his level is one on Capital Hill and one somewhere near Southcenter. Once in awhile you can find the quickie-mart franchise version of shoe repair, but it’s just not the same.
And then, there’s the customers who don’t understand that a quality pair of shoes can last a lifetime. They see a $20-$25 repair fee as being the cost of a new pair. However, it’s a new pair that will last a month.
In any case, next time I see him I’ll ask if there’s anybody closer. They seem to all know each other.