Do you need your shoes stitched, polished, re-soled, or heeled? There's a shoemaker shop on every corner, many of whom charge more for repairs than the original cost of the shoes. To find a "cobbler," 40 years in the business, who appreciates craftsmanship and good leather, is a bit more scarce. I know of such a man!
John Krikorian has been taking care of my family's shoes for 10 years. Born in the Middle East, he's been a shoe repairman for 40 years. He moved to America in 1976, and opened a repair shop on Melrose in Hollywood. He was there for five years.
"When Melrose became trendy, rents became impossible!" he said. "My rent at the time was $105 a month, and the landlord raised it to $1,200, so I had to move on."
I asked him if he was happy in Burbank.
"It took a full three years to build a new clientele," he answered, "but by now, I make a good living here, and the people are very friendly"
John is extremely reasonable in his charges, and will do most jobs on the spot while you wait. I've sent him many customers through the years, knowing he'll be friendly, efficient, quick, and affordable.
"In times of economic strain, business is good for cobblers," he commented. "People will repair or re-sole a pair of shoes rather than investing in new ones."
Many of his Hollywood customers still drive over the hill to John for their shoe-care needs. One of them told him recently, "We follow you like we would our family doctor."
He also enjoys a lot of studio business. He will sharpen you knives, or duplicate your keys as well. Married for 27 years, with two grown children, John heads for the golf course in his spare time. He's a gentle, kind, hard-working man. In his shop, he has a hand-printed sign that says it all. It reads...
I will save your sole
I will heel you
I will even dye for you.
So, grab that big bag of shoes you've been meaning to have repaired, and go see John. He'll take care of you, and even leave you leftover money for lunch!
John can be found at 2111 W. Magnolia in Burbank. For more information, please call (818)845-1686.