Inman Square Shoe Repair

This place does good work at fair prices.

I think my shoes are being held hostage. No voice message when you call, just rings endlessly. No hours posted (aside from a sign on the register from circa 1982 that reads «Not Open Wednesdays, Frownie Face». I should have known when I wandered by trying to drop off my shoes and no one was there but he mysteriously popped out of his car parked on the street explaining that he was about to go to the bank, good thing I caught him.
I drive by almost everyday, and it always is dark and very much closed looking.
I agree that Nick seems like a nice and entertaining character, but if I can’t get my shoes back, I’ll never know what his work is like.

So far no luck dropping off shoes, and I’m not sure I’d ever get them back if I did. They’d probably be lost under all the junk by the time I found the store open again.
No. I will not call to see if they’re open. If they want my business they can post their hours.

I went in to just have some extra holes put in my Birk’s because they were too narrow. The owner was super nice. I asked him how much I owed him and he goes «You look like you must be my neighbor, and I’m old fashioned, so I can’t charge you for such a simple job.» He got to talking about how he used to be a ballroom dancer which was cool because I used to be a ballet dancer. He was just such an interesting and nice guy. When I have something more substantial I need fixed I’m going right back to him!

Aside from how freaky and hoarder-​ish this place is, he did a good job stretching my shoes for $ 3. The problem is that he doesn’t keep regular hours, so you don’t know if the place is opened– annoying.

This guy, and his shop, bear an uncanny resemblance to «the keymaker» from The Matrix. Put in some mood lighting and some pulleys and it is straight steampunk in there. And I say this all in a good way, just don’t go in if you’re allergic to dust.
Anyway, I had him add rubber soles to a pair of cowboy boots (yehaw!). He did it in a week, a beautiful, seamless, nailless job, that you’d swear had come with the original boot. He charged $ 23, which seemed eminently reasonable.
I think I’m going to switch to him from Felix Shoe Repair in Harvard Square. The guy there is very nice, and will always try to save you a buck with your repairs, but I’m tired of him lecturing me that my shoes are too crappy to bother repairing every time I bring something in. I have a weird shoe size! I’m sentimental! Leave my old scuffed up shoes alone… except for fixing them I mean. Nick was nice about that.

This is one funky store. And by funky I don’t mean SOHO-​cool. I mean funky as in cramped and filled with crap. But Nick, the cobbler, is sweet and funny and so damn interesting that within seconds you’ll forget that you’re standing in the midst of his crap. You’ll even forget that the store is open irregularly (in fact, I would recommend calling Nick before walking over with your shoes — sometimes it seems there’s no rhyme or reason to the store’s hours).
Oh, right, and the repair-​work: Nick repaired my favorite pair of boots (twice — first in 2004 and then a month ago) and for that, I adore him.

Let’s be clear, here: at least 1.5 of these 5 stars are solely for Nick, the amazing storyteller /​ballroom-​dancer /​Providence-​landlord /​concerned parent /​long-​lost-​brother /​former Alaskan /​fishing-​pole whisperer /​traveler and – oh, yes – cobbler.
The rest are for his… cobbling.
I’ve been taking my not-​meant-​to-​be-​walked-​in-​on-​cobblestones heels there for years – first gave Nick a try in 2004, when other cobblers advised me to put the most amazingly worn-​in, cognac-​leather stiletto boots out of their misery. (Like I could!) But Nick had them back in action in a jiffy, and my legs never looked longer. I’m just saying. Still going strong.
Since then, I’ve brought several pairs in for repair, and – yes, it’s true – his shop is crowded and dusty, and his hours are spotty and impromptu, but I find that as long as you call ahead to let him know you’re coming, he’ll be sure to be there. Such a sweet guy. Will regale you with stories that are equal parts self-​deprecating, funny, touching, politically significant… Okay, don’t want to go overboard here. I’m just saying that you’ll be more entertained – and better shod – than if you were to spend the afternoon a few doors down at that God-​awful «comedy» club.
Last time I went in (March), I brought a pair of $ 300+ black patent d’orsay heels, which I’d worn exactly twice. They were so worn down that the metal stud had begun to spread out. This is known in the shoe world as «N.G.» (not good). Nick charged me $ 10 ($ 2 deposit – love it) to make them as good as new AND when I returned to pick them up two MONTHS late (sort of a busy time, ahem), he remembered me (and them) instantly.
Heart-​heart-​heart!

God, I love this place. Nick (the shoe repairman) explains that he’s «an old man» and so he «only works a few days a week.» Me, I go on Thursdays. Nick will fix your shoes, do it really well, and do it for a fraction – you hear me? a FRACTION– of the price other Cambridge shops will charge you. And you can buy a fishing pole from him if you want, because the whole front of the store is crammed with ‘em.
I would give five stars except for the not-​open-​every-​day thing. Also know that this shop is old man funky, so if you want some mall-​type shoe repair… well, go to a mall. If you want a genuine neighborhood experience and some good (and cheap!) repair work, visit Nick.