Ares Shoe Repair

I walk everywhere, and the city streets destroy my favorite shoes. Ares is the absolute best shoe repair. I trust him with my high end/​designer shoes. He only takes cash, and you have to pay up front, but it’s worth it! Also, his rates are very reasonable.

If I could give Ares zero stars I would. I brought in a pair of brand new boots to get rubber soles added about a month ago. After a few weeks the soles started to come apart. Today I took them back to Ares to see if he could fix them. What happened next made me wonder if I was on candid camera. Ares was so aggressive I had to take out my phone to record the interaction as I as scared for my safety.
Here’s what happened: When I brought the shoes in Ares immediately stated that I was lying and that I hadn’t had me boots resoled at his place. He repeatedly told me that it «wasn’t my work», raising his voice and shoving his arms in the air. We went back and forth for approx 15 minutes, until he pulled out the reel of rubber he keeps on site to «prove» to me it wasn’t the same as the rubber used on my soles. Turns out he was wrong, the brand was identical and the color was the same but obviously mine was dirtier having been walked on for 4 weeks.
When I raised this, Ares yelled at me, his face red with anger and this arms flailing in the air. At this point I took out my cell phone to record him as I was scared for my safety. I then calmly asked for a refund and he snatched my boot and tried to rip off the sole before storming out of his store as other customers came in.
Anyone considering getting work done with Ares should think twice about 1) the quality and 2) their safety. Women do not go in with a complaint if you not accompanied by someone else.

Two stars because it was cheap — I went in with three pairs of heels that needed to be resoled. One pair had been a little scuffed up, and he said that for $ 45 total, he’d re-​heel and touch up the shoes.
The repair work was really poor. The scuffed parts of the shoes hadn’t been addressed at all — not smoothed, redyed, polished, nothing. The re-​heeling was also poorly done — they were crooked and one pair had the wrong color.
Maybe he would’ve cared more if they’d been more expensive shoes. After all, the customer in front of me spend a good 15 minutes talking about the $ 4000 pair of shoes he got off eBay, and my presence was pretty much seen as a nuisance.

Busted my heel at work, called Ares Shoe Repair and 20 min later I was skipping along the cobble stone street (Charles St) without any fear!
And I had him resole a pair of boots for me a few years back. As other Unilocalers have commented, he did it in half the time for a much better price than the other places I called.
Glad to find a good shoe repair place here with friendly staff.
Cash only.

Amazing service and by far best prices. I called every place I could to try and get new zippers in a pair of boots before leaving the country in 48 hrs and most charged me at least $ 100+ (more than the boots). He charged me almost half that and shined them like new. Found my new shoe guy!!!

Made my 10 year old boots and water logged suede booties like new!

I have 5 year old black leather riding boots that I have not taken care of. The toes were white from all the wearing down of the leather, there was a hole in the toe, and the heels were completely broken to the point where the plastic was now what I was walking on.
I brought the boots in on Monday and they were blown away by how poorly I have taken care of them. They have been through a lot.
For $ 35 cash only, they said they could fix them.
Picked the boots up on Thursday and they certainly did. They look great, re-​heeled both boots and fixed the hole in the toe, as well as shined them up. Considering the shape they were in, I am extremely impressed and not ashamed to wear these very expensive boots.
Cash only– and ask for payment up front, but will take a deposit if you dont have all the cash.
Employees were very friendly and caring. Will definitely be bringing my other poorly taken care of shoes there to be fixed.

I went to have a pair of leather boots re-​heeled and oiled for winter.
I asked specifically that they be oiled, and not polished.
He was very nice, and I paid up-​front. It was reasonable (less than $ 30).
But, when I came back a week later, I found that he had put a bunch of polish on my shoes. He re-​heeled them very well, though.
I didn’t make a big fuss about the polish — I just asked that he take another week to remove it.
He explained that that was a ridiculous request, that I should be glad that he polished them because it makes the shoes last longer, and that they would be back to the way they were in a few weeks anyway.
That’s pretty ridiculous — polish doesn’t just totally come off in a few weeks, and he did specifically what I asked him not to do.
I won’t be going back — there are plenty of other cobblers in boston who have had no trouble not polishing my shoes.

The real deal!

WOW this place looks ancient inside. Actually, when you see how old this place looks you know you have less to worry about since it is still in business! I had several high heels reheeled, and he did a great job. When I went it cost $ 15 per pair of stilettos, which is similar to other cobblers in Boston. It is cash only, and I believe you are asked to pay up front (most tailors/​cobblers in Boston require this).

Ares (I’m going to assume this is his name) does good work. Took my black boots in on a Friday to get re-​heeled and cleaned and buffed to a nice shine (the snow and ice did a number on them) and he said they’d be done on Monday. True to his word, and comparatively priced.

Ok, perhaps I am just too lazy to look for another shoe man, but this guy is the bomb. Shoes are repaired quickly and inexpensively and well. He doesn’t bullshit you, either — if he can’t do anything for you he’ll tell you, you won’t just pay 15 $ to find out all he did was polish your shoes.
Only drawback is slightly awkward hours. But this I can handle.