Jazz Shoe Repair

I had a terrible experience here with very poor costumer service. I really wanted to support this «mom-​and-​pop» business but the experience was so bad I had to write this review. All I wanted to was get have my tuxedo shoes cleaned and shined after a muddy outdoor wedding last weekend. This turned into a 40 minute debate about how I also needed to get the heels repaired on shoes I rarely wear. He would not accept no for an answer. I was running late for work and was in no position to continue this inane discussion. Ultimately ended up paying $ 30 to have my shoes shined (at first he said it would be «$ 15» then when I returned from the ATM stated it was «$ 15/​shoe»; and then he asked me if I had change, even though I clearly just went to the ATM after he told me he accepted cash only). Accepted cash only so I had to run to the Bank of America a block away to the ATM. Made me late for work. I have a very mild-​mannered temperament but the owner was extremely rude and argumentative with very poor English and an irascible disposition. I will never go back and was just grateful to get out of there with my shoes in a single visit, to avoid the hell of having to go back and pick them up.

Yuri was fantastic, in under 6 hours he resoled and reheeled my two beloved shoes and extended their lifetime longer. He is kind, full of knowledge and seasoned with over sixteen years of experience serving Brookline, thank you Yuri.

Exceeded expectations which were high after searching for the best place in my general area. He rescued some favorites and got them back to me in two days. Now I’ve found a place where the craftsmanship is worth every penny.

I dropped a pair of suede boots off last Tuesday to be stretched. The gentlemen said that he was stretching someone else’s shoes but that he would do mine next and they would be ready the next day so I should come then. I told him I had to go out of town for work, and he said ok, come next Monday. He insisted that I pay at the time. I returned the following Monday as agreed, and he had not stretched the boots yet. He said he would do it that day and call to let me know when the boots were ready. On Tuesday, I had not heard from him so I called and was told the boots were not ready but that he would do it «today» and call to update me. It is now Wednesday afternoon, and I still have not heard. I called and he said, «Come and see.» When I asked how late he is open, he hung up on me.
I think if you live in the neighborhood and can pass by to check-​in this might be an ok shop. As someone who bikes over from Jamaica Plain, it is very disappointing for service to be this unreliable and for the shop to be uncommunicative about it. At this point, I would just like my boots and my money back.

Great experience and speedy service at Jazz Shoe Repair. The buckles on my leather purse strap had worn thin over the years and were expertly replaced in approximately 15 – 20 minutes, right in front of my eyes after I walked in.
It was amazing to see Yuriy work. He employed a number of tactics, from cutting the leather, re-​sewing it in matching threads, burning off the hanging threats, gluing the pieces — and the finished product looked good as new. Even the new buckles seem sturdier than my old ones, which had lasted me for 5 years. $ 25 cash on the spot and I was on my way, when the purse manufacturer wanted to charge me $ 54 for a new strap, plus 4 – 6 weeks of time. I love shopping local and loved the quality and speed of work at Jazz Shoe Repair.

I also had a bad experience with this place. I usually go to the other place in Washington Square but wanted to give Jazz Shoe Repair a try. The owner was rude both at drop off and pick up. I haven’t worn the shoes yet, but the work appeared to be good. The start rating is really only about the poor customer service.

Don’t come here. The repair shop owner was rude and won’t even give me a receipt nicely after I paid him. He also gave me a hard time when I returned to pick up my shoe. I paid $ 20 to replace the rubber piece on the heel and he didn’t even clean/​polish my shoe and didn’t give me a bag to carry it. I had paid less for the same service in downtown with my shoe polished and placed in a bag nicely for me to take it. I won’t be going back and don’t recommend this place.

Worst experience ever! This was a perfect example of what repair service looks like in communist countries. I had to pay cash up front, then returned SEVEN times over the course of the next FIVE weeks before my simple shoe repair job was ready — and the only reason he finished it then was because I finally had to put aside my nice, give-​him-​the-​benefit-​of-​the-​doubt attitude and demand he finish the job while I sat there and waited. Each time I came to pick up my shoes, he would tell me to come back in 3 – 4 days. I’d come back, and he would be sitting outside talking with non-​customers, clearly NOT busy with work. I was getting my shoes re-​soled, and he initially ordered a completely different shoe size, then tried to tell me it was «better.» I had to repeatedly insist, that, No, I would like to keep the same shoe size — the original size that I have been wearing for this shoe for the past 20 years is perfect. He just didn’t get it. The repairs he did are shoddy, which was obvious when I finally took the shoes home, but it wasn’t worth demanding he fix them properly. By that point, I just wanted my shoes back and never have to go back to this place again.

I have taken many pairs of shoes to Yuri in the time that I’ve lived in Boston. Each time became more expensive and this last experience was awful. I had to return to the shop four times because my shoes were never ready. Once he could not even find them! I went to pick up my” repaired” high heels and wear them for the first time to an interview. I was horrified when the heel that was (so called) repaired, slipped where it had been cracked before. All he did was wrap new patent leather around the cracked heel. also when I went to put the shoes on, I realize that he never even bothered to glue the insole back into the shoe.
Talk about humiliating! What a waste of $ 50!
I went back to show him the poor workmanship, and all he could say was I fix I fix. I asked for my money back, but he told me he didn’t have any.
He kept holding my shoes, saying «I fix.»
Maybe you should really have fixed them the first time!

Oh my gosh this review is from years ago. The fall of 2011 I believe.
I brought in a pair of leather boots that could barely fit around my calves (all boots for me to be honest). And I really wanted them be stretched to fit. I paid maybe around $ 40 dollars up front — what I’ve found is typically for stretching, and he measured them on my leg and went to work.
Well, they didn’t fit. They kept not fitting actually. It was driving Yuri crazy, and every single time he apologized and insisted he would keep working on them. He would target different areas of the boots etc. I think overall I went in 3 times and on the 4^th time they fit!
He was so happy he jumped up and hugged me. I could tell it had frustrated him, but unlike other cobblers he never said no or that he couldn’t do it.
I also asked him if he wanted me to pay more because it was so much work and he declined. I still have the fondest memories of that experience and still wear the boots, as worn out as they’ve become.

After reading other people’s reviews for Jazz I have to think this place is going downhill. I brought in two pairs of shoes about two months ago, paid upfront (mistake) and called one week later. He said they should be ready next week so I came in. Shoes sitting in a grocery bag in the corner not even touched. He said he was sorry and he’s going to work on them today. Ok fine. I come back close to New Year’s Eve. Yet again they are not done. One more chance I said so I swing on by about mid January. They have to be done right? Nope. One pair is now on a shelf and the hysterical thing is of the second pair, one shoe is on a table by the window and the second is on the other side of the shop. What the heck goes on in this place?! I asked for my shoes back which he did and what does he care he has my money. Oh he also hand writes all his tickets in Russian so good luck trying to fight this one! Avoid this place like the plague. Also one star is one too many.

This place is not worth the trouble. I brought in 3 pairs of heels to get the heel caps replaced and it ended up costing me $ 100 (cash which he needed upfront). Long story short, I went back in two weeks later after not receiving any phone call about being able to pick up my shoes and was able to get one pair back at that time. I was told I could pick up the other two pairs the next week. When I went in then I was able to get one pair back and was told to come the following week for my last pair. I went back then and was told that he didnt know who I was without my ticket (which he took the first time I came in). After a lot of communication and language barrier issues, I was told that he didnt know where they were and to come back the next day (which was Sunday and the store was closed). At this point I thought my shoes were never coming back until I finally got a phone call saying he found them and to come pick them up. I was in the middle of finals and couldn’t go in that week but thought I would just get them the following week. Then I received a very angry voice mail, yelling at me for not having had picked up my shoes, telling me he would not store them, and that he couldn’t afford to keep calling me (apparently my $ 100 isn’t going very far). Finally just got my shoes about 2
months and 5 visits later. Like I said, not worth it. (Oh, and one of my shoes squeaks when I walk… unexplainable).

Yury the owner is an expert at working with all types of shoes. His shop may not be the cleanest, as there’s shoes and supplies all around, but he takes good care of your shoes and fixes them beautifully. Go here to support a local business that’s been going strong for 40 years!

First I must disclose I wore my new shoes in the rain… not pouring rain, but rain (it wasn’t raining when I left for work that day). I had them less than a month; wore them less than 5 times. I won’t do that again.
My BF loves this place, and I too have had decent experiences here (I have had boots cleaned and soles replaced). I was willing to pay the price for decent service. Though, as other reviewers have stated, this place is expensive. However, when my BF dropped my shoes off for cleaning (delicate ballet flats), the owner suggested new soles. I agreed (via text) thinking my shoes would be better off in the long run. In hindsight that was a huge mistake. Really, new soles on a pair of shoes that cost me $ 110 and were less than a month old?
Three weeks later (yes, that is way too long) I got my shoes back, and they are ruined! The sole is completely inappropriate for a pair of ballet flats. I am not going to complain about the cleaning. I did wear them in the rain, and the leather is quite delicate, so I didn’t expect perfection. I just wish he had said there was nothing he could do so I that I could attempt to bring them back to where they were purchased… actually I’m still going to try. However, I’m pissed I had to shell out $ 35 to have my new shoes ruined. Not to mention I had to wait 3 weeks to get them back. Now I’m out a total of $ 145…
Go ahead and bring your clunky riding boots or men’s shoes here. You’ll be over charged and it might take a few weeks to get your shoes back, but they’ll do a decent job. Do not take anything delicate here… you’ll regret it later. I sort of feel bad for writing this review. But they should know their limits on what they can do and cannot do.

(July 2011)
Yuri’s apparent respect and skill for his craft is worth every penny. One rainy day this summer I stopped in to see if he could temporarily halt the self-​destruction of my favorite sandals. Not only did he offer me a seat as he proceeded to completely rebuild the soles (for a mere $ 20), but I also received a fascinating history lesson on Russian politics as well as a visual presentation on the poor workmanship of modern shoe-​making (not his work, but rather what people bring in for him to fix). His is a lost art.

Expensive for a shoddy job!
I have never paid so much money to have my shoes repaired and I expected perfection for $ 35/​pair. But, after shelling out $ 70 up front, I received one pair that still had scuff marks and dents (with visible glue underneath as well as remaining water stains), and one pair with brand new soles but unrepaired stitching which Yuri told me not to worry about.
Huh?
Looks like I’ll have to wait for my next trip down to my former cobbler in nyc until I find someone here. Sigh.

My favorite pair of leather boots are finally fixed, and I am very happy about that. That said, it was expensive. $ 50 for new heels and new front soles, plus a polish. However, the boots were originally over $ 300, so I considered it well worth it to get another few season out of them. Be prepared to fork over some cash if you venture in here to get your shoes fix.
You should also be prepared for a bizarre experience. I would probably give Jazz four stars if it weren’t for some of the oddities I’m about to explain. First, the place is a mess. There are shoes everywhere; I have no idea how he keeps track of anything. Second, my bill was $ 50, I gave him $ 60, but he didn’t have change. He wrote on my invoice that he owed me $ 10. I got my change when I retrieved my shoes later than day, but I had to trust that I would. And finally, when I walked in to retrieve my shoes, the guy was on the phone. Since he urged me to come back the same day, he went right back to finishing up my boots (which were lying on the floor in the middle of the shop), and had me sit on hold on the phone for him! I didn’t have a huge problem with them, but it was very unprofessional and a first for me.
I might go back to Jazz Shoe Repair, but I will probably do a better job of shopping around first.

I wish I had the experiences that the other reviewers had. I did not. I would give this place negative 20 stars if I could. I had a pair of boots that needed to be re-​heeled. Fairly simple nothing complex, but this guy Yuri held on to my boots for over two months. It was always two more days, come back Monday etc. Finally, I sent my girlfriend, and he had her wait and did it in about 30 mins with her standing there. There is a language barrier with Yuri, but he didn’t explain himself ever.
Bottom line is that I wouldn’t recommend this place to my worst enemies. Good luck.

I love this place, and would totally come here again!
I was so happy with the boots that Yuri fixed. I talked about it for weeks. I have told all my friends in the area that they need to get shoes/​boots fixed at Jazz Shoe Repair.
I had just moved to Washington Square and I desperately needed my boots fixed. I brought my them into Yuri and he put an estimate on the boots… $ 20.00! I was shocked by the great price! I paid him on the spot and he offered to do my shoes on the spot, if I would sit and wait. I told him not to rush and that I would pick them up tomorrow. The boots were starting to wither away slowly and they needed help! The heels were not doing so well and needed to be fixed so badly. He also buffed them up to make them nice and shiny!
He not only did an amazing job but he also did the job quickly. I have been completely won over by his wonderful work. I am happy to tell everyone to get your shoes/​boots fixed here!

HE’S MOVING TO A NEW LOCATION July 1^st!!! 1018 BEACON STREET, BROOKLINE. Its at the St. Marys T stop next to the Bank.
I’ve been to his Washington Sq location. Yuri is GREAT! He’s such a nice man, super friendly. I brought him a pair of new shoes that needed to get new heels & resoled-​I got it back the next day. I just brought him another pair of shoes with heels that were worn down to the metal and destroyed from getting stuck between the gaps in brick sidewalks. He did the work right in front of me and I got my shoes in less than 10 minutes (we chatted while the glue dried).