Sky Valet Shoes

Bad customer service. They sell men’s dress shoes for $ 1000 but yet can’t even walk up to me when I’m the only person in the store and ask to help. It just really bothers me when I’m sized up when I walk into a store because I’m wearing a backpack or something. I like nice shoes — I would have certainly been a customer.

Sky Valet has one of the best men’s shoe selections in the city, and they carry brands like Crockett and Jones that simply cannot be found elsewhere. That alone should warrant 5 stars, but I found the service extremely unwelcoming. Maybe they have enough customers that they don’t need any new business. They put absolutely no efforts in obtaining my sale and acted perturbed to help me, so I went elsewhere.

Highs:
–Great selection of high-​end shoes: Alden, Crockett & Jones, etc.
–Prices are, for shoes made in the U.S., U.K., Italy, and Spain, not unreasonable ($ 300+).
–Aram does phenomenal work with shoe repairs (for folks who’ve bought a pair from him). New goodyear welted soles, heels, and a polish will run you ~$ 125 depending on the type of sole you choose. The work takes about a week, and he’s open until 7:00pm on weeknights and 6:00pm on Saturdays (so pick-​up isn’t all that tough).
He’s replaced the goodyear welted soles on my work shoes a few times and his new soles have held-​up longer than the originals!
Lows:
–Don’t bring in your everyday kickarounds (or brands obviously purchased elsewhere) for repairs. There’s not much he’ll do.
–It’s pricey. But again — you’re buying really great stuff and extraordinary craftsmanship with his repairs!
Not sure what else to say… Buy shoes from Aram. Sky Valet is a classic local business.

I walked in with a pair of Tod’s and Ferragamo’s. The guy looked me up in down (and I was wearing a pair of Ferragamo drivers mind you) and told me they only do repair for «retail» customers who buy from their store. I thanked him and left. The selection is moderate (didn’t see any goodyear welt pieces). Many shoes they sell in this store can be had elsewhere for cheaper prices.
Turning down business AND so-​so selection with non-​competitive piricing? Seems like the big SALE sign outside is just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

Went to Sky first thing in the morning to pick up a pair of double monks I had been lusting after for a very long time. Not only was the owner very knowledgeable, he was very patient and friendly. Sky has a great selection and superb customer service. I have no doubt I will return soon. This is the place to go when looking for top-​quality shoes in the DC area, period.

If you have a truly excellent pair of shoes from the make of John Lobb or Berlutti this is the only place to get them repaired in DC. They are simply the best.
Sky also happens to sell some of the finest shoes around, including Edward Green and Alden Cordovan. Check this place out for yourself, the shop is very unassuming and you would might miss it if you didn’t know where to look.

This is the place where I bought my first pair of grown-​up shoes a good five years ago. Sky Valet only carries the good stuff; none of your cheap glued, mass-​produced throwaways. The shoes you buy here are those of timeless style and hand-​crafted quality, all the way from relatively affordable Cordwainers to gorgeous and utterly expensive Edward Greens. The owner knows his stuff and will walk you through the shoes graciously to suit your budget.

I’d give zero if I could – based on customer service. I dragged myself in on a cold, rainy Saturday in December for a shoe repair, only to be told rather gruffly that they only repair shoes of customers who have purchased from them – no other explanation provided. I asked if there could be some mistake, based on the glowing Unilocal reviews and the sign in the window that says «shoe repair», but the older man behind the counter was not interested. I suppose I’ll take my business elsewhere, but I am far from impressed with their customer service.

After 15 years of shopping at Skyvalet, the review calling it’s owner a racist is outrageous. The service is excellent, shoe repair is first rate, and the owner is simply a pleasure. He himself came to this country 30 years ago and is entirely sensitive to service and treating everyone with dignity and respect. Judith

I’d hate to just call the gentleman there a cobbler, because he’s more of a fine craftsman.
I brought in a pair of low profile men’s leather lace-​ups for a half-​sole replacement after wearing through the ball. My previous attempt at resoling a different pair elsewhere had been a disaster, with insole-​outsole separation after a few months & failure to trim to contour the shoe.
The resoling turned out beautifully. The replacement was trimmed to appropriately match the chisel shape of the shoe and the recessed stitching looked secure and fine. The gentleman there was extremely knowledgable in all aspects of shoe construction. It also costed much less than I expected for the amount of work done. If craftsmanship defects become apparent, I’ll be sure to update. But thus far, a fantastic experience.
**Update 9÷15÷2012
The first pair I had resoled are still going strong. I brought a second pair for a full resole and they seem to have come out better than new.

This place is absolutely the best cobbler in DC.
I can’t speak to the shoes they sell here, but (with one exception) every time I’ve brought a shoe to them for repair it has come out perfect. Even the one exception was so minor I did not mention it — a smudge on the heel where a finger had been used to smooth out the finish.
They do cost quite a bit more than lesser cobblers, but if you need the work done perfectly they are the place to go!

Really happy with my trip to the brothers at Sky Valet from the ‘burbs. Great hours, great knowledge, great inventory. I’ve got some seriously hard feet to fit and, well, they did it. I bought a pair of Camper, a pair of Loake and a pair of another brand that I forgot. So one Spanish, one English and the one I forgot is Italian. Cool stuff. I look forward to my next visit.

I started going to Sky Valet in the 90’s and only once did I go someplace else (for convenience only) when my job moved and it wasn’t really convenient to go there anymore. NEVER again — I needed a new zipper and got a pair of ruined boots. So now I make my way to Sky Valet and don’t look anywhere else.
These guys simply know what they are doing and they do it so well I keep going back after all these years and will continue to go back so long as they are there.
They are a bit pricey but cheaper than a new pair of shoes. Since I wear really good shoes they aren’t cheap so if I am going to invest in repairing them I want them done right.
I brought in a pair of shoes that I just LOVED. They were so worn they had holes in the soles… when I picked them up 7 days later they looked almost as good as when I bought them in the first place.
There is not a cobbler anywhere in DC that I would recommend except these guys…

Just got my shoe repaired there. Fantastic work. I called ahead to see if he could fit me in and he was as accommodating as can be. I showed up soon after and 40 minutes later I had my repaired shoes in hand. He even ran out an put a quarter in the parking meter for me because it ran a little bit later than anticipated. The shoes they sell are way out of my range, but the service is exemplary.

Got a cool pair of Camper shoes here this week. Looks like the store is doing well — it’s packed with shoes.
For men I saw…
Edward Green
Allen Edmonds
Loake
Camper
Crockett & Jones
Alden
Some other I’ve forgotten
For women I saw…
Stuart Weitzman
Camper
Claudia Ciuti
Lindsay Perry
Prada
Many others no doubt

Couldn’t take it anymore… Had to go back to Sky and get a second pair of shoes! :)

This store is excellent as a function of both service and selection. I bought a pair of Allen Edmonds and it was the most expensive pair of shoes I have ever bought by a factor of 2. I can safely say after a couple of weeks that it was worth every penny. The shoes feel better and look better than any I have ever worn. The business is also clearly are looking for customers that they want to return and treat you accordingly.

I have never set foot in this store, but their customer service from an online transaction was excellent. They answered all of my questions, promptly shipped my purchase, and I am now sitting pretty with a pair of tan Weston demi chasse (and on sale, of all crazy things!).
I would definitely purchase shoes from this establishment again, despite living on the opposite coast (free return shipping policy, nice). I think I spy some Edward Greens with my name on them. ..