Joe’s Cobbler Workbench

Ugh I hate writing this review but I feel that I need to inform women about taking their shoes here. I say women because my husband’s shoes turned out just fine, mine on the other hand, not so much. So they get one star for my husband’s shoes and no stars for mine. I took my gold shoes in for new tips and grips on the bottom. The original tips on my shoes were a light tan, which went nicely and blends with the gold shoe. What I got back were ugly black tips that didn’t match the soles and made my heels look horrid. When I pointed it out, the woman at the shop explained that they only supply the strongest tips which they only have in black. It would have been nice if they informed me of that when I first brought them in. Replacement tips mean I want the same color.
I was so distracted by the black tips that I didn’t notice that the bottoms were stripped and a new, supposedly grippy sole were glued on. Now at least the shade was correct but she left large pen marks (which I can’t get off) and a gap where the original sole and the shoe meet. It looks awful. Then to make things worse the new sole extended beyond the shoe and looked unfinished. And on top of that when I put them on my hardwood floors I slipped all over the place. Awful just awful.
I was so upset I didn’t even take them back. Instead I took them to Village Shoe Repair on Magazine Street. They looked at them in shock, said that this is terrible and asked me who did this. In the end, Village Shoe Repair put the right color tips and finished the sole so at least it was flush against the shoe all for only $ 10. Thanks Village Shoe Repair! Now only the pen marks and gap on the underside of the heel remain which are visible even when standing. It sucks… thanks Joe’s Cobbler for ruining my shoes.

This shop does quality work, but they are a staff of two and it takes a long, long time.
On my second trip, I dropped off two shoes, one each of a pair. I explained that I had a singing gig on Sunday (this was on the previous Tuesday), and I really needed at least one of shoes that needed repair by the end of the week. I even offered to pay extra to have them ready by Friday, knowing that they are rather slow.
I didn’t pay extra, but she marked «Friday» on my ticket, I paid in advance, and I left with some hope. Well, come Saturday, I stop in, and of course, no shoes. «I have carpal tunnel,» she says.
Of course I understand they have a staff of two, and the owner/​operator is in ill health, but I just can’t justify returning. As of this writing, they have my money and my shoes. I would feel better had she just admitted that Friday could not be done. I might still have left one shoe.
I should have just bought new shoes from Zappos for my gig.

I had an interesting experience at Joe’s. After looking for quite sometime for a good boot repair person I found Joe’s Cobbler to get my boots re-​heeled. Having heard some good things and it being near work I figured it work out. Unfortunately, when I come in with my ticket, I was told they misplaced my boots and they would call me once it’s found. After 3 weeks of waiting I decide to head down and finally get my boots. They did an ok job and everything seems to be in order but I don’t know if I could recommend these guys if one I was on a time restraint or if I was looking for a repair on some expensive shoes.

Update:
A year later, and I have brought many more pairs of shoes in to be replaced — from more scraped heels (those city sidewalk grates are terrible) to worn heel caps and soles on beloved boots, Joe’s always does a fabulous job for a reasonable place. I will be a loyal customer as long as I live in New Orleans!

Who even knew there were cobblers anymore?
This place saved my dog from being put up for adoption after he ate through my favorite pair of boots (don’t worry, Sully, Aunt Emily is mostly joking) by patching them with an exact match and excellent craftsmanship. Several months later, I needed the strap on a bag adjusted, and swung by to drop it off. The lady who runs the shop, who is colorful in the best of New Orleans locals ways, fixed the strap right away and didn’t charge me a dime.
The only word of warning I will give you is to keep in mind that this shop is very New Orleans in its color… and its adherence to deadlines. Yeah, they might say you’ll get your shoes back next week, but that’s more like a guesstimate. And if you call, they might not remember the shoes you’re talking about. Don’t panic! They still have your shoes, they are probably looking for the right suede patch or wood for the heel or what have you. You will get your shoes back, and you will be extremely happy with their craftsmanship.
I have taken other articles of dog-​victimization to other shoe repair places in town, and found that they 1. charged more 2. followed the same loose timelines of returning said articles and 3. the work they did didn’t last.
This is the only cobbler I will use anymore. Sully is pretty grateful to them as well.

It has been 2 years so maybe things have changed, but the woman at the counter was very brusque to me while being very nice to the woman before me in line… and i was not being an a**hole or anything provocative like that. They did not shine my dress shoes after replacing soles (adequately) for $ 40 which others have done and which i kind of expect.

I’ve had several articles dropped off here. One pair of shoes was close to replacement and the shop brought them back to new! I couldn’t be more please with the work here. Timing was perfect on all articles.

Ugh — I hate to write a bad review but I feel like I should warn people after my experience here! I dropped off a few pairs of shoes for repairs and shining and was told to come back the following Wednesday (about a week later). I was fine with the wait as the shop seemed a little bit busy. But after a week, I was ready to get my shoes back! I went by the shop on the specified day on my lunch break and was told that none of the shoes were ready to be picked up. Actually, they weren’t even sure how many shoes I had brought — and I had the tickets stubs they’d given me! No apologies, nothing. It was disconcerting, I was annoyed, but I thought, «Hey, whatever, I’ll swing by on my way home from work.» The lady working told me she would call me shortly when they were ready for pickup. Well — about 5 hours later, 30 minutes before they closed, I still hadn’t received a call! I called them and was told the shoes were not ready and that I would get a call back. Yeah — I never got a call back. I ended up calling the following day and was told they were still working on one pair of my shoes. I took the risk and went by on my way home from work and everything was ready. My shoes looked great — they seem to do nice work.
I really wanted to love this shop. It reminds me of stores I went in when I was a kid, they have a shop dog, and I like to support small businesses when I can. But they just do not know how to run an efficient, organized business. Really, if I had gotten a call that Wednesday morning letting me know the shoes weren’t ready, I would have been fine with it! But they didn’t warn me, I wasted my time, and they never called me back! Not to mention you pay up front — they already had my money and my shoes! And I’m not the type to start yelling when a business doesn’t hold up their end of the bargain. I stay polite and try to be understanding. I just will never, ever give them my business again.

We have taken items to Joe’s for over 10 years. The repairs are amazing! The prices are reasonable and have saved us so much by having shoes renewed to like new so we don’t always need to purchase shoes. Don’t write anything off… she was able to salvage a favorite pair of sandals for me… that really looked hopeless. Fantastic place!

I’m a dude. I have dude leather shoes that needed repair. After a long search I found this place. No frills, just a shoe and leather repair shop. Twenty bucks to get my nice leather shoes rehealed. It took two days for them to get to it and actually did it a little ahead of schedule. They used Goodyear rubber on the heal. It looks nice but I’m no expert. I’ll follow up and let you know how it held up.

Quick and easy repair. Did two pair of shoes. Good price as well.

Businesses like this make me proud to call New Orleans home.
Took my favorite shoes in after my dog used the wooden heel as a chew toy. She told me they would never look the same, but she’ll try to do what she can. I came back and they looked amazing! On top of that she refused to charge me, just said to come back soon. I will never go to another shoe cobbler again, she’s made me a customer for life.

Joe’s Cobbler Workbench is the best shoe cobbler in New Orleans, and as every dandy knows, all dandies must have a reliable shoe cobbler for repair and the occasional shoe shine. A small shop located in the East Carrollton neighborhood, the inside is set up like an old-​school shoe cobbler shop, which it very well is. Shoe shines are affordable at $ 7.50, and all other work is top-​notch and realistic.
I brought in a pair of Bruno Magli slip-​ons that were coming unglued, and Joe fixed them right up, good as new and dapper as they’ve ever been. Service was also very quick– I was given a written slip to come back in two days after having dropped them off. Also available are shoe shining products and laces. It doesn’t get any better than this in terms of a reliable shoe cobbler.

My experience was quick and painless. Needed new heel covers on my boots, paid $ 20 (it’s a bigger heel area, like a biker boot) and picked them up 2 days later, good as new!
Friendly and prompt service, I will definitely return there for future shoe needs!
Also, the area is super cute so it gives me an excuse to walk around and check out the other restaurants and shops.

I don’t know the quality of her service because I never got to that step. I wanted help with some boots that my mother handed down to me and she was less then helpful on the phone. Very short with me and would not even help recommend what to do do or who else may be able to help me. Maybe I caught her at a busy or bad time but not exactly friendly or helpful. You expect small local business owners to value costumes and treat them as such, but I wasn’t really feeling that at all. Like I said hopefully I just caught her at a bad/​busy time.

Joe was a really nice gal, and any business that has a well behaved shop dog (his name is Ace!) steals my heart automatically.
I needed a heal repaired on a pair of pumps that my dog decided to snack on several months ago. I dropped off my shoes on Thursday in the late afternoon, and she told me she would have them ready next day. She advised me to bring cash because she doesn’t take credit cards for totals under $ 10, and advised that my shoes would be $ 8.84 tax included.
Came back on Friday mid day and the shoes were ready to go! Price was as quoted and the work was good. I can’t quite give 5 stars because she had to alter the color of the heels — this is a denim pair of pumps with a dark brown heel that she buffed black in order to better match the caps. They look great, I’d have just appreciated a phone call before she made the alteration. Additionally, my shoes were stored in just a thin plastic bag with a tie around them. It was fine for these shoes — they were inexpensive a durable because they’re denim, but a pricier leather shoe may have suffered.
I will definitely use her again!

I have recently moved to New Orleans from San Francisco.
I found Joe’s Cobbler from all of the other positive posts here on Unilocal.
I must say that they are the best shoe repair shop that I have been to.
I took six pairs of shoes to them and all of work was excellent. I tend to buy more expensive shoes and have them repaired and reconditioned.
I would not hesitate to recommend them for any work that you need.

I took 5 pairs of shoes here to have the heel caps replaced. It took 2 days and was charged $ 8 each.
I thought the store was quite tidy for the work that is being done. I’ve been to other shoe repair shops where there was zero organizational structure and I felt like this one was very well run. The shoes are stored in plastic bags on an alphabetized shelves so the owner was able to quickly locate and retrieve my shoes. Ditto Jilly’s review that if you’re taking in particularly expensive shoes, I would specify how you’d like them stored so they don’t get squished and scuffed.
Planning on taking my boots in to be refinished in preparation for fall. She quoted me $ 9 for that.

I must have gone to this place on opposite day, judging by everyone else’s great experiences.
I dropped off a sack of my wife’s shoes (5 pair) at the end of May and was told I’d get a call shortly. I was called back on July 21^st and told the shoes were ready. For those keeping score, that’s two months. These were standard Steve Maddens in need of heel and strap repair; it’s not like they had to be mailed to Siberia for rare Amur Leopard fur lining or something.
The work was fine, the time with no contact or updates was absolutely not.

So mostly I just ditch shoes when they wear out, but I recently blew out both heel caps on a pair of vintage suede boots that I love. So off to Joe’s Cobbler. The repairs are always stellar and the woman who works there (Josephine? or perhaps Joe’s daughter?) has always been very helpful and kind.
Plus I love stores with shop dogs. Hers is well trained and does not come down the stair into the store front without permission.