J J’s Luggage & Shoe Repair

I had a couple of pairs of shoes I really like and the choice between buying the same ones new or having them re-​soled for about 44 bucks. JJs did a great job and I feel better supporting small local businesses. These types of shops are becoming few and far between. I’m glad I have the opportunity to do something that promotes both sustainably and is also economically advantageous.

Here are the facts. JJ left me a voice message on July 1, telling me that my leather coat had been repaired. I didn’t pick it up on time. I forgot about it. I waited until Oct. 8 to pick it up, when I went to put it on and remembered where it was. But he had sold my $ 400 coat. I guess that’s fair; I left it there for 3 months. But he could’ve called me a second time reminding me to pick up this coat. I think that it’s worth a second voice message before you sell someone’s stuff. 3 months is a long time, but it’s not insane (especially given that it took more than a month to repair in the first place). And that coat got me; it was the type of jacket that you wear when you want to feel great. That was my coat that I loved and he sold it without taking a moment to call me a second time. The worst part is that I originally tried to pick it up when the ticket said, but he had not gotten to it and told me to wait another couple of weeks. It was summer, I didn’t need it, that was fine. But then he sold my coat and didn’t give me the courtesy of a reminder call. I’m devastated.

I took my shoes in during Mid-​August and they were done by the end of August. I find this very reasonable because I had the soles of my favorite pair of oxfords re-​done.
The sole on the right shoe was completely cracked. I did not think that it could be re-​done, but the workers did an excellent job. They put a leather sole over it and leveled the bottoms out. The cost of the job was $ 38. It was a little steep because the shoes weren’t even leather, but I still paid for it because I love those shoes.

I love my shoes from black house white market– but they’re made like crap. He fixes them up for me better than new. Even added no slip soles to the bottom of some of my favorite black pumps. Quick easy and done. Takes about 1 week. He’s fixed shoes other places said couldn’t be fixed.

I just took a boot there because the zipper had come unthreaded. The man who I dropped it off with was pretty nice and he did a good job. I gave them four stars because they didn’t call to tell me it was ready, I had to go on myself and because they only take cash.

I came here needing some extra holes in a belt, which they punched within seconds and didn’t even charge me for. I was literally in and out of the store in less than a minute.
If that’s not awesome customer service, I don’t know what is. If I ever need shoes repaired, I will be coming here.

This guy is a major tool, use him at your own risk… I personally know multiple people this guy has screwed over. Lost shoes and boots, repairs that were sub standard, not to mention this guy is not polite at all. Having worked in the downtown area for over 20 years, I have heard a lot of negatives about his business, so just beware…

Too slow. I go to heel and toe in Urbana now. I had to wait over a month to get a pair of sandals repaired. And the guy is maybe the meanest person I’ve met in any store in champaign.

I was kind of nervous to bring my boots here since people felt they were slow or disorganized, but my particular experience ended up being highly favorable and should I need to, I will be coming back!
The zipper of one of my boots required repair. They did so very quickly, in an organized fashion, and it only cost $ 8! I’m very pleased and again, should I require their services, absolutely will use them in the future.

JJ’s is not the best cobbler I have ever used, but in the Champaign-​Urbana area, they are the best we’ve got. In short: they are slow and not exactly inexpensive, but they do really good work and can usually save any footwear you have got.
I had a pair of winter boots that I thought were goners. They were cracked and stained, and the zippers on both were separating from the shoe. I took them in, and while it did take them a solid month to repair, I basically got returned a brand new pair of shoes. For new soles, reconstituted zippers, and general refurbishment I paid approximately $ 25.00 as quoted when I brought them in. It felt expensive, but these boots haven’t looked so good in years and I think they added at least another two years onto their walking lives.
The store however, is a jam-​packed mess and at first they thought they had lost my shoes altogether because they do not tag or label them aside from repair price. The staff is also not particularly friendly either, but again, they do good work. Also, they are conveniently located across the street from the Amtrak station in downtown Champaign – easy to get to if you do not have a car.
NOTE: this is a cash-​only establishment, so come prepared with bills when you pick up your shoes.

After searching HIGH and LOW for someone in this godforsaken town to fix my (far-​too) expensive Italian Leather Sandals after the toe strap came loose, I finally was recommended to JJ’s…
I am so glad. The work he did was wonderful, only cost me $ 8! AND they will last many many years because of it. The only thing to be prepared for is that because C-​U is short of Shoe Cobblers, you will have to wait a while… like at least 2 – 3 weeks… So… stop putting it off and take them in!