Monroe’s Shoe Shine

Monroe is like the friend you didn’t realize you badly needed. He will take care of your shoes and tell you about his travails in the world with a smile. At the end of the day, men having their shoes shined is like women getting their nails filled. You need someone you can trust, isn’t expensive, and keeps you entertained. Monroe more than fits that bill and should be the guy you trust your best shoes to on a regular basis.

Monroe is a neighborhood fixture. He does an amazing job polishing shoes and they always come back looking brand new! In addition to his great skill, he is also a kind soul who gives wonderful life advice. He remembers everyone’s names, and all their dogs’ names too. Rain or shine, Monroe is there, patiently waiting to breathe some life into your scuffed or dull shoes.

On my way to a networking lunch at Paragon, I passed Monroe in my «get a job» boots. So focused on my mission, I might not have paid any attention to his quiet suggestion that I get them shined had I not caught sight of his cobra-​crocodile shoes, which were so dazzling I woke up out of my single-​track mindset and retroactively heard what he’d just said. Looking down at my own slightly sad and dusty footwear, I told him I’d come by after lunch.
Which I did, and got not only a great shine on my shoes, but a melody in my heart, as he spun me tales of this neighborhood over the last ten years, and offered me some pretty damn good job advice. For instance, I’m not looking for a job; I’m looking for a **project.** Monroe’s been around the block, but he chooses to stay at the corner of 2^nd and Townsend. Go find him there. He does detail work, has all the equipment, and does the job right.

I have to admit, I’ve only had one pair of leather boots done by Monroe, but I talk to him almost every day and feel like he’s a ‘brother from another mother’ if you know what I mean. My boots were AMAZING, of which I had no doubt, because I’ve seen his work. He does my roommates fancy shoes all the time, fast, excellent service every time.
I just want to encourage you all to come support Monroe, he’s a rock solid guy doing his best to make a living in a tough economy — making the most of the ‘collaborative consumption’ or whatever you want to call it, I call it great community we should support as much as possible. You can drop your shoes, grab a bite outside at Paragon and enjoy the show, especially on game days!

My Eccos are like MIRRORS. Monroe’s the best

Do you need your shoes shined? Well look no further, no one and i mean no one does a better job than Monroe. Come for the shine and stay for the stories. Born with the gift of gab, Monroe has become a staple in the SOMA neighborhood greeting everyone in the neighborhood with a smile and smart remark. Next time you want to step it up for a meeting, wedding, etc, try out Monroe.
His nickname? Mun the gun from his bball days in south san francisco.

Monroe is still at his usual spot, the NE corner of 2^nd and Townsend, and he’s still doing outstanding work. He rehabilitated a two year old pair of daily-​wear Red Wing work boots for $ 25, and I don’t regret a single cent. He’s not quick, but you can’t rush this sort of quality, with the added bonus of a solid one-​man-​show while he works.
Monroe seemed genuinely distressed when I told him about all the five star reviews he’d garnered on Unilocal,so I promised to leave him a bad one…
But I just can’t bring myself to do it.
Tell Monroe I gave him 2 stars, ok?

Great guy, very friendly, fast, and thorough. My shoes looked better than new in the 15 minutes I had before my interview. Thanks Monroe!

Just got off the chair after getting my shoes shined during lunch. Wow! Monroe is amazing! He brought my shoes back to life… I told him that my shoes were jacked up and Monroe said to me, «Ray Charles coulda seen dat!» LOL! If you’re looking for a good laugh and an even better shoe shine by a local San Franciscan, then Monroe is your man!

This guy is as good as it gets. To start with, he delivers an excellent shoe shine. I just got back from a trip where I was walking on dusty dirt roads with my nice leather shoes — Monroe worked his magic, and they’re back to shiny. He’s done this every time. I sit down with worn, dirty shoes, and leave with nice shiny ones.
I was talking to him today, he said that most shoe shine guys have two kinds of shines, regular and deluxe, but he only has deluxe. I’d take him at his word on this.
One thing to note is that he does take awhile, probably due to the aforementioned deluxe shine, but it’s well worth it. You can also drop off your shoes and pick them up later.
The last great thing about Monroe — he remembers everyone’s name. I’m not sure how he does it, but he’s got a great memory for names and faces. He even remembers my girlfriend’s name, and that we took a vacation to San Diego. He’s just great. Great shine, great personality.

i got an excellent shoe shine at monroe’s. he really breathed live back into my boots, which had weathered a year of snow and sludge. he’s there most days of the week until 4/​5pm. (i caught him on a saturday)
aside from a great shoe shine, monroe himself is fun to talk with. some of his conspiracy theories are a little on the far out side, but they provided a fun hour of googling afterwards!

My Docs were beaten and terribly scuffed before I met Monroe. I really should have taken a before and after picture. I couldn’t believe how great they looked once he was done. He’s 70 years old, and maybe just a tad senile, but he is polite, friendly and a real master of his art. He uses a time-​tested recipe and it shows. Every five minutes, a customer would wave and smile at him while he worked on my boots, even from their car! I can hardly wait to scuff up my boots again just so I can go back. Thanks Monroe!

Having your own personal shoe shine right in front of your condo door, what more could you ask for? Monroe — that’s more! More great shines, more great conversation, more sun in a possibly foggy San Francisco day. Class act all the way — Monroe, you the man!

Introduce yourself the next time you walk by… he’ll remember your name… he’ll remember your dog’s name and will smile and greet you every day with the wisdom and patience that only time can bring… he’ll also whack the crap out of those scuffed up wing tips of yours. In a world full of chain stores… this guy is the real deal. Drop off your shoes and he’ll call you when they’re finished. He even walked over to our home and met me at the door. Ask him to tell you his stories about modeling in Chicago when he was younger… you’ll get a shine and a laugh as well. Sometimes you pay for a service and you walk away feeling let down; with Monroe, you walk away wanting to pay more for the priviledge of having spent a few minutes of your day with such a class act!

Getting a shoe shine is just about the best way you can spend any 5 minutes of your life. It’s pure ego. Monroe’s corner shoe shine stand hoists you up 5 feet off the ground, where you sit like a king on a throne, basking in the glory of your superiority over all the unworthy low-​lifes beneath you who aren’t getting their shoes shined.
Now the reality of it all is that no one pays any attention to you sitting up on your rickety wooden platform, so the ego trip is entirely self created. But there’s no finer place than Monroe’s to create that ego trip! Lots of basking, lots of glory, all at a low, low cost and a fine, fine shine…