The shoes you already own, repaired to last.
A two-person repair shop on Lincoln Ave. Soles, heels, stretching, dyeing and leather work — all done here, by hand.
The shop
- Address
- 2208 Lincoln Ave
San Jose, CA 95125 - Phone
- (408) 978-2589
- Mon–Sat
- 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Sunday
- 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Years in the same Willow Glen storefront
Customer reviews posted on Yelp
Below the area average price, surveyed by Consumers' Checkbook
Craftsmen — Angel and Jose do every repair
A repair shop, not a shoe store
Everything is quoted at the counter and repaired on the premises. Nothing is shipped out to a factory, which is why the work costs less here and why you can ask the person who did it what they did.
Bring it in and we will take a look
Stop by the shop on Lincoln Ave, or call for a quote before you come.
Services
No shoe is ever too old. If it is leather, canvas, suede or cork, bring it in and we will tell you honestly whether it is worth repairing.
Soles and heels
Half soles
A protective layer over the front of a worn sole. Catches the wear before it reaches the welt, so the shoe never needs a full rebuild.
Full sole replacement
For shoes worn past the point a patch will hold. The old sole comes off and a new one goes on, so the shoe keeps its shape underfoot.
Heels and heel tips
Leather and rubber heels, plastic tops, lowering a heel that is too high, and replacement tips for high heels.
Boots and specialty footwear
Heavy leather and cork dry out and crack if they are only glued and sent back. These get conditioned as part of the repair.
Western and cowboy boots
A specialty of the shop. Resoling, heel rebuilds, stitching and refinishing for boots that get worn hard.
Work boots
Rebuilt to stand up to another few years on a jobsite, then oiled so the upper does not stiffen and split.
Cork-footbed sandals
Birkenstocks and similar sandals. New soles, cork repair where the footbed has crumbled, and a clean-up of the suede bed.
Fit, finish and leather goods
Stretching
Tight toe boxes, narrow widths and pressure points opened up so a shoe you already like actually fits.
Insoles and orthopedics
Insole replacement and orthopedic modifications, including build-ups for a leg-length difference.
Dyeing and cleaning
Shoes, boots and belts dyed back to color, plus cleaning and polishing for leather that has gone dull.
A cobbler's machines sew and patch more than footwear:
About the shop
Two people, one storefront on Lincoln Ave, and more than twenty years of repairs done on the premises.
A neighborhood trade
Lincoln Shoe Repair has been part of Willow Glen for more than two decades. It is run by Angel and Jose, who between them handle everything that comes through the door — the quoting, the machines, the hand finishing and the counter.
Customers bring in decade-old work boots, a favorite pair of sandals, a handbag with a failed zipper. The work is unglamorous and it is meant to last.
How we work
You get a price first
Every job is quoted at the counter before any work starts. If a repair is not worth what it would cost, we say so.
The work stays here
Repairs are done on the premises by the two of us, not sent to an outside workshop and returned weeks later.
Materials matched to the shoe
Cork, heavy work leather and dress leather each need different treatment. Conditioning and oiling are part of the repair, not an upsell.
Reviews and ratings
The shop has never advertised. What follows comes from independent review sites, with the date and source of every quote.
Rated the shop “superior” overall in the Consumers' Checkbook survey
Below the average price of nearby shoe repair shops
Customer reviews posted on Yelp
Neighbors have marked the shop as a favorite on Nextdoor
In customers' words
“Cute little shop that has been in the neighborhood forever.”Customer review, 20 June 2022 — Consumers' Checkbook
“I was very happy with Re Soled Red Wings shoes.”Steven R., 10 November 2020 — Yellow Pages
Where these come from
Yelp
More than 180 customer reviews and over 100 photographs, collected independently of the shop.
Consumers' Checkbook
A nonprofit that surveys customers and checks prices undercover. It takes no advertising from the businesses it rates.
Nextdoor
Neighbors in San Jose have marked the shop as a local favorite.
Common questions
How much will my repair cost?
It depends on the shoe and the work involved, so we quote each job when we see it. Consumers' Checkbook surveyed Bay Area shoe repair shops and found our prices run more than 10% below the area average.
How long does a repair take?
Customers commonly report about a week for a resole. Simpler jobs are quicker. We give you a pickup day when you drop the item off.
Do I need an appointment?
No. Bring your shoes in during opening hours and we will look at them with you at the counter.
Is my pair too far gone to fix?
Often not — but we will tell you straight if a repair is not worth the money, rather than take the job anyway.
Gallery
Repairs from the bench — soles, heels, boots and leather goods. Select any frame to open it larger.
Visit the shop
On Lincoln Ave in Willow Glen, between the community center and the hardware store.
Opening hours
| Monday | 8:00 am – 6:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 8:00 am – 6:00 pm |
| Wednesday | 8:00 am – 6:00 pm |
| Thursday | 8:00 am – 6:00 pm |
| Friday | 8:00 am – 6:00 pm |
| Saturday | 8:00 am – 6:00 pm |
| Sunday | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm |
Look for the dark storefront on the south side of Lincoln Ave, a few doors from the taqueria.
Parking
There is free lot parking at the shop, plus street parking along Lincoln Ave.
Payment
Cash and check are accepted. Please call ahead if you would like to confirm other payment methods before you visit.