I had a belt that my son bought me when he went to Europe. It broke. I would normally throw something like that out, but given that my son bought it for me and had some sentimental value, and I brought it to Bedo's a couple of days before Thanksgiving. I was told it would be done in two weeks and I never got a call. I dropped by today out of curiosity and I saw they're closed for the entire month of December. That would've been nice to know when I dropped it off. I still don't have it back. I haven't gotten a call. I haven't gotten a text. At least they were nice enough to put a sign up on their door saying they're closed for the entire month. I'll update once I get it back. read more

Bedo's Leatherworks - Shoe Repair Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

Review for Bedos Leatherworks - Steve Doudaklian The transformation of my vintage Florsheim Imperials is truly night and day. These shoes arrived at Bedos Leatherworks worn and tired, and what Steve returned to me looks like a masterpiece fresh out of a bespoke workshop. Steve didn't just resole them--he completely recrafted the shoes from the ground up with unmatched skill. The welt work, stitching, and finishing are flawless, far surpassing anything I've ever seen from factory production. Every detail was handled with precision, and the shoes now look better than when they were new. On top of that, Steve went above and beyond by creating custom shoe trees, beautifully stamped with the Imperial logo. It's that level of detail and pride in craftsmanship that makes his work so special. If you want to see your shoes not just restored but elevated, Bedos Leatherworks is the place. Steve's artistry proves that true craftsmanship can breathe new life into classics--and even surpass their original glory. read more

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I really don't like to be negative, but as others have mentioned, I found the gentleman who answered the phone and who is at the front desk, a bit passive aggressive and a condescending. I had used them before and, again, as others had said, it took way too long to get my shoes back. I needed something special so I thought I'd drop by again. I decided to pass on my repair. It appears some people have better luck than others with this establishment. read more

Polite, business like, and I'm told excellent work. I pick up my repair leather case this week. I. We'll see but I have no doubt it will be excellent. read more

I took two pairs of shoes here for fairly minor jobs. The owner, Steve, was very friendly and explained exactly what he was going to do. Shoes came back looking great, and I'll definitely be bringing more boots/shoes here in the future. read more

Best leather repair shop in the country. If you have something that has been turned away, or is a complicated job. Steve can do it!

Old school craftsmen who care about getting it right, will give you good advice, and know what they're doing. Both routine repairs and odd ball stuff they can handle. Because they are one of the last places doing this kind of work you can be in for a wait, this is not a bring your shoes in Monday and get them back Friday kind of place. But they are the real deal and will do right by you. They also have a great selection of high quality supplies at reasonable prices, which is helpful given how hard it is to find a shine now. Good to support places like this because once they are gone shoes too will move more toward disposable than durable fashion. read more

I've taken my and my wife's shoes, belts, and bags to Bedo's to be repaired several times. Steve and his crew do excellent work. Yes, it's expensive and yes, they take a long time. But Steve and his team provide Old World craftsmanship. It's not fast food. If you want it done right, let Bedo do it. I saw a review on Bedo's from a lady who was miffed over the wait time and the $120 price tag to shorten the sleeves on her $900 suede jacket. When she tried to haggle on the price, Steve cut her off and asked her to leave. The price tag seems high because the work is done by hand by highly skilled artisans, and it takes time. That costs money. The wait is because there are dozens or even hundreds of people in the queue ahead of you. After you finally get reservations to that crazy popular Michelin-rated restaurant or a get an appointment with the top-doctor who really is among the best in his field, do you try to negotiate a better deal? Like the Soup Nazi, Steve is an artist. Just be glad he is willing to share his skills and expertise with you. read more

I have used Bedo's two different times for work on my Alden boots. Both times Steve did amazing work. I even sent him a pair of boots in that were repaired poorly by a local shop, and he was kind enough to finish out the detail work properly for me and make them look fantastic. Steve not only is the best in the business, he delivers the best customer service around. I will never trust my boots any anyone else. If you want to make sure the work is done right..... then theres only one place to call! Highly recommend!! 5-STARS!! read more

My beautiful, 4' vintage leather jaguar and a smaller one were accidentally left exposed to winter weather and were ruined. The leather turned black and peeled away from the frame. It was sickening. A friend suggested I take them to Steve, told me that Steve could fix anything leather. It was a huge, very challenging job but Steve DID it, I brought them home today. I am completely delighted. Steve is an artist, a master craftsman, and he was an absolutely delightful person to talk to and to work with; a truly good human being. I was astonished and shocked by some of the comments I've read, and I recommend Bedo's wholeheartedly. I WISH I had before and after photos, but I believe that Steve plans to post a video of the transformation read more

I first found Steve/Bedo's Leatherworks through their YouTube channel and all the repair work videos Steve posts. Really gives you a lot of confidence in someone when you can watch them work and the attention to detail Steve gives to everything. My beloved Fossil messenger bag was starting to develop some holes from so much use, and having been a follower on youtube for so long, I sent it off to Steve. And, man, he worked wonders and saved my bag--now it's ready for another ten years of service! I really can't recommend Steve enough--top notch work and a nice guy to boot. read more

Bedo's Leatherworks - Steve replaced the entire back panel with a new piece of leather and you have to look hard to notice it's not original - Shoe Repair Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

I had a men's leather jacket repaired and restored, replaced zipper and lining and reconditioned the leather. Excellent timely work.

I regret only one thing - that our scale only goes to five stars. If I could award more, rest assured Bedo's Leatherworks would receive the full measure permitted me. What they have done for my family is amazing. 13 years ago...we went though a pretty tough spot, medically. I bought my wife a pair of slippers. Long and short - she wore them nearly every day around the house...for 13 years straight! By the time I noticed, they were so knackered that they were barely two straps of leather dangling from her feet. What can I say? She had an emotional attachment to those slippers as they had seen her through a very challenging time. Regrettably, she has been facing some new challenges recently and her old friends were at their end. Thankfully, I've been watching Steve's excellent video series on the store's YouTube channel. It was about two months ago that I thought...if anyone can rescue these poor bedraggled slippers, it would be Bedo's Leatherworks. Over the intervening two months, he worked nothing short of Santa's Magic on my wife's slippers. Yesterday, we picked them up and surprised her with the final unveiling. She was ecstatic. I was beyond pleased. Please understand...money is not the driving force behind this restoration. It was the desire for a caregiver spouse to see his wife smile. And smile she surely did. Thank you to Steve for being the incredible artist and master craftsman he is. She will wear these for many years to come. Slipper well, my friends. read more

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Steve (Bedo's son) is the guy to go to for all leather needs! He repaired some Red Wing boots for me. He does beautiful work at a good price. read more

I've been going to Bedo's for years. I've used them primarily for reconditioning Coach saddle bag purses that my wife beats up. The purses come back looking brand new and ready for another round of abuse. Over the past several years I've been losing weight and my heavy duty belts needed new holes punched so I could keep my pants on, they punched them for free ... twice. Prices are OK, as a friend once said to me, "sometimes you get what you're paying for" and at Bedo's you get quality and craftsmanship. Everyone there that I've interacted with were very nice. They can get a bit backed up on orders at times but that has never bothered me, I don't mind waiting for quality work. I'll be stopping by there soon, I have some Red Wing Irish Setter boots that the soles disintegrated even though they were barely used, uppers are like new. Won't buy those ever again. I like shopping locally and being a resident of Falls Church for 50+ years I'm just a hop, skip and a jump away. read more

Ultimately, we agreed to a three week turnaround with a tentative possibility he could be done in two weeks (no promises). I showed up in two weeks and completely understood they needed the three weeks. When I showed up on the third week I was told they needed until Tuesday and would call me. I said that is ok - I'll see you next weekend. Now, I'm thinking - they have four extra days from Tuesday. They know I'm coming in on the weekend and we are good to go. The shoes have been in their possession four full weeks. Alas, the shoes were not done. And after being told: 1. I should have waited to be called as stated on the ticket. 2. They don't have the leather to complete the job. 3. And somehow this is my fault for showing up unannounced. I asked for my shoes back and a refund. They get credit for issuing me a refund check on the spot and we will all move forward. When doing business here - it's going to take time - a lot more time than they promise. Hopefully, their leather supplier will come through, soon. Lol. read more

The zipper on my suitcase ripped and they told me they might be able to fix it but weren't sure how long it would hold up. Well, that was over 7 years ago and my suitcase is still going strong. And I continue to overstuff every time I travel, with no issues! Great work! Glad I got it repaired instead of wasting money on a new one. read more

Bedo's Leatherworks - Suitcase - Shoe Repair Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

The profession and art of the cobbler seems to be slowly slipping from the fa e of the world. As we become more and more of a disposable planet, these skilled tradesmen seem to slowly disappear from the landscape of our day to day world. As the world becomes more casual and people embrace the notion that a cheaper pair of shoes that lasts a few years is more desirable than a pair of shoes that can have the soles recrafted and last a lifetime. Look at T.V. repairmen (if you are old enough), they are few and far between because people can buy a new set for a few hundred dollars. Fortunately, we still have men like Steve around and companies like his (Bedo's Leatherworks) to keep this vanishing craft alive. First, be forewarned, his services are not cheap, but skilled craftsmanship rarely is. He will bring your shoes to life and give you a lifetime of quality footwear. Oh, also be forewarned that it might take awhile to get your product back to you. This is a small shop and Steve's skill is more a cobbler than a consummate businessman. Organization and a streamlined organization are kind of lost on him. Bedo's is the culmination of four generations in one family of cobbler, where father hands down to son his knowledge for his son to learn from and hopefully pass down to his children. If you are regretting living so far from this shop, your worries are over. You can ship your shoes to him and he will get them back to you, just not right away. I have a lot of good quality Allen Edmonds shoes and they are not cheap, disposable type shoes. A quality cobbler is worth that cobbler's weight in gold and Steve and Bedo's definitely meet that description of quality. I definitely recommend here and offer this shop five stars. , hey I will even throw in another five stars . In all seriousness, Bedo's is a great cobbler to bring if you have quality shoes and need them to be recrafted. If you do not have the aforementioned quality shoes, you might want to check out a pair. Great shoes are definitely a fine investment. We spend a majority of our time on our feet, we really should put quality upon them. read more

I asked the owner to build up a leather sheath for an old knife given to me by my father. Mind you while the knife isn't a family heirloom, but it is a good back up camping knife. Regardless, he charged me $100 upfront for the sheath and to say that it is a cheap quality product doesn't begin to describe the poor craftsmanship that went into this. The leather is ridiculously thin, and poor quality. It doesn't even properly hold the knife. Unfortunately I cannot post video but see the pictures, mind you he charged me $100 for this. When I challenged him, his response was that this is good quality leather and that he would give me a discount on future purchases. No worries, I'll never be back. Please see the pictures. For scale, I am using a penny... read more

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Great place for everything leather. So much talent in this shop. Skills the way things used to be repaired. If you have a shoe need, bag latch or zipper that needs repair- try here! read more

We are so lucky to have Steve at Bedo's. He is the fourth generation to run the place. He is a world class cobbler, right up there with the best in New York and London. He always does it right. No shortcuts, no cheapening. Only right. I have purchased some beautiful Allen Edmonds shoes and boots on Ebay and several need new soles and heels. He helped me pick the kind of sole (Vibram with a crosshatch pattern) that will be quieter than leather, handle slippery surfaces (i.e., ice) and wear well. Vibram wears much better and longer than leather. The work is beautiful. The sole is sewn to the welt and will never come off (a cheap trick is to use only glue which means the sole will come off in a very few years). He is a one man shop and very busy, so sometimes his estimated time to finish is not met. But another few days seems to do the trick. His shop is a little old house set back from the road, so it is easy to miss. But well worth the trip. read more

Great experience, shoes took about 2 weeks to get fixed up. I'm happy with the customer service as I had read reviews of other people being mad that when they showed up to pick up their stuff it wasn't ready, I just called instead and got updates that way. They were ready on time and look fabulous - happy my shoes have a new life!! read more

Bedo's Leatherworks - Shoes - Shoe Repair Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

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Overrated. I'm not happy with the outcome for the money. It took way too long for the items we sent to be completed (well over a month past the estimated time frame). We were overly excited about this place and the owners enthusiasm and expertise with leather goods. We brought vintage Gucci & Celine handbags along with some of my boyfriends Ferragamo shoes and a Tumi bag. I could have done the shoe repair myself On the Ferragamos with the products I have at home. The Celine bag was never done thankfully. However, I had my grandmothers vintage Gucci horsebit purse repaired and it looks like nothing was done to it other than some staining to the edges of the straps (which then stained the purse and ruined it!) I will post pictures later. Basically, if he isn't excited or motivated about the project that you bring him to upload to his YouTube channel, then good luck. You are better off buying a new pair of shoes or new bag bc the pricing is almost as costly as the item itself and while some outcomes may be great as seen on his YouTube channel, other outcomes turn out like mine and actually damage the bag. You will also need to call and find out if your stuff is ready. We were told, they would call us when it was ready but 2 weeks after the date we were given, we still had not received a call so I had to contact them only to find out that they hadn't done anything yet other than to fix a zipper on our Tumi bag. read more

Great experience getting my leather coat repaired. I needed torn pockets and stitching repaired on my 20++ year old leather coat. I received a time and a price based on a careful review of my coat. In fact, my coat was completed several days ahead of schedule. To be clear, you do get what you pay for and quality workmanship comes at a price. I paid $120 for the repairs. While not a bargain, I thought I got a fair value for the repairs. Today, qualified craftsmen are hard to find because so many clothes and shoes are inexpensive, so it is easier to just throw away your damaged goods and buy something new. Bedo's Leatherworks is a nice amenity for our community, so I hope you support this business for your leather repair needs. I would definitely return to have high quality shoes or another leather coat repaired. read more

If I could rate this business Zero, i would. Poor ethics, unprofessionalism, continuous moving date of pick up, rudness.​

I came into have belt holes added to my leather belt. Bedo's added two holes, no problem... The holes look exactly the same as the other original holes. It was my first time in their shop, and I saw lots of designer bags and shoes. It looks like they do beautiful work, and I wouldn't hesitate to bring anything else here. I also saw them working on a leather jacket... I will definitely be coming back here in the future! Thank you Bedo's! read more

Stopped by yesterday to bring in a suede coat that needs the sleeves shortened and I get an astronomical quote of $120! (I paid for the entire coat $890). So I ask the guy if he can give me a better price and he is adamant. I mention that I am a returning customer and he says: so what, do you want to pay $180??! I ignore his rudeness and counter offer $100, which would also be an overpay for such a job. But what I hear back is mind blowing, he says: you know what, you have disrespected me with this counter offer and I am NOT willing now to do it even for $120!! Have a nice day! This scene immediately reminded me of Trump yelling at President Zelensky a few days ago in the Oval Office and then telling the whole world that he has disrespected him! Alas, I wasn't asked to apologize to the leatherworks "genius" for his own rudeness. My fault, I should have read the previous reviews stating the same issue with the guy being rude and dismissive. I bet he was also showing off in front of a friend who was sitting in the shop and having coffee. I concur with other reviewers that it takes forever for him to finish the job, last time he was fixing my purse, it took a couple of months instead of weeks. I do not recommend this shop to anyone, or go to your own risk of being mistreated and disrespected. There are plenty of places in the area to provide the same services, such as Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus who have excellent alterations services for a much better price, and this is where I took my coat this time as well. No problem. read more

I called to see if they were able to help me add some holes in my Gucci belt (yes they could) and if I needed an appointment (nope, just walk in). I showed up around 11 on a Thursday and they were able to help me on the spot. I left about 5 minutes later with my tighter belt. It looked just like it came from the store...you would not be able to tell the difference between the original holes and the new ones. I'm very impressed by this place. It's the real deal and you just don't find leather craftsmen around much these days. read more

Bedo's Leatherworks is a genuine class-act business. Dropped by near closing time on a Friday, yet Steve still took time to fix a heel on a much-need pair of dress shoes. This business and the owner are clearly customer-oriented, and it shows from the moment you walk through the door. read more

Upon walking in, I was greeted by a super-friendly young man with the biggest smile! I showed him my chipped Chanel bag and my filthy suede boots and he eased me within seconds that they would be able to repair both at a reasonable price. In fact, he took my purse in the back and came back less than 5 minutes later with it fixed and back to perfect condition. I explained that these were my favorite boots and the designer no longer makes this style and he said not only would they get them cleaned up but they would also weatherproof it for me. The entire transaction would only cost me $30.00!!! WHAT IN THE WORLD?! I love finding great, honest, & genuine service. They have definitely made a customer for life and I have already told family and friends about their work. They have plenty of parking right in front of their shop and are located right next door to the CorePower Yoga in falls church. Huge thanks to Leila & Sue for the recommendation! read more

Bedo's Leatherworks - Back in perfect condition! - Shoe Repair Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

Went in, now I see why there were other 1 star reviews on here. Don't bother, never see a business that was "selective" on which shoes they'd repair read more

I had three pairs of very expensive designer boots which needed desperately to be restored. These boots were all around 10-15 years old and in poor shape, to the point that they were no longer wearable. Because they represented such a big initial investment (between $600 and $1000 per pair) I was sure that I'd want them restored, however I also knew they required a real craftsman to do them justice. I had a one pair repaired years back by a local cobbler here in NYC who claimed to be an expert, but even to my layman eyes it was obvious that I received shabby work. This time around I wanted to ensure I got the best. Like many, I came across Bedo's Leatherworks via the YouTube channel, and boy am I glad I did. After a quick phone conversation with Steve and a few photos, I sent my boots down to the shop in Falls Church, VA. Steve examined them, and gave me a recommended course of action to restore them. It wasn't cheap -- nearly $850 for the three pairs -- but I trusted his expertise, and agreed to the work as he recommended. I could not possibly be any happier. When he returned my boots a month later, they were better than new. I was frankly in awe when I opened the box and took them out. The work on the soles was obviously top-notch, with meticulous attention to detail. And the restoration work on the uppers was absolutely brilliant. I must have spent hours just staring at them in appreciation. Frankly I'm almost afraid to wear them now LOL. And in all honesty, the replacement cost of those three boots in today's dollars would be well into the thousands, so the restoration cost was modest in that perspective. In reality, for the cost of one new pair of boots, I got three that are truly better than new. I could not recommend this shop more highly. It's obvious that Steve cares deeply about his craft, and I will absolutely be sending him any business I can in the future. If you have ANY need for leather repair, don't even hesitate. read more

I am very petite & a huge lover of leather jackets. Most of my clothing has to be altered but finding someone who can alter a leather jacket is a true find. I have taken 2 leather jackets to Bedo's Leatherworks & couldn't be more pleased. He's a master for detail & the quality of his work is spot on. You can say I'm a total loyal customer. read more

Steve is the absolute finest leather craftsman in the area. I discovered his store on Youtube when I was first curious how shoes were recrafted and restored. Some of his videos have a couple hundred thousand views. I have taken a couple of shoes here before to be restored, but recently I took over a 4 year old cherished pair of walnut Allen Edmonds (my first decent pair of dress shoes). I sent these bad boys to Allen Edmonds to be resoled, but they didn't do too much in the way of restoring the uppers. My uppers had taken everything from wine stains, salt stains, to cuts, from years of wear. Unfortunately I travel for work Monday-Thursdays, with little room to bring an extra set of dress shoes, so these guys frequently get overused. Steve gave me a leadtime of two weeks (due to the holiday season) which I was fine with because I firmly trusted in his craft and his attention to detail. When I got my shoes, I was mesmerized in how well he restored them. He removed the stains, brought back the beautiful coloration and patina they once had, covered up the gouges as much as he could. He did such a great job that I simply had to write a review that showcases his talent so that others can consider going to his store before throwing out their old beloved shoes for a new shiny pair. read more

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I begrudgingly give Steve a five star only because his shoe repair work standards are the best in the area and he's such a darn nice guy. If you have shoes or any leather product that you are worried about not coming out right, and you want the best, Steve is the guy for you. I returned to being a customer at Bedos after trying some less expensive shoe repair places and got tired of never being satisfied. It all comes down to how much you value getting the job done right. Steve is expensive and his prices have crept over the years, but he does great work and stands behind it. Any time I've had a hint of a sole peel or anything, Steve free of charge has fixed the problem. I have even been taking all of my wife's new heels to him even before she wears them to put a rubber sole protector on the front. Not only does it provide a nonslip surface, but they wear a very long time. He also has a ton of colors, so color matching is possible to the original sole. The downside to Steve being a leather whisperer and a nice guy, is that he is a one man show, is a little disorganized, and is frequently behind schedule. He loves to interact with all of his customers on the phone and in person. unfortunately that means he isn't working on shoes. He tries to do too many things at once. Go to Bedos, take your shoes and be patient. He will have them for a while, but when he finally calls, you will be impressed. read more

Amazing job he does! May take awhile to get back but worth the wait! Highly recommend!!

I brought in a piece for a repair estimate. The staff member clearly explained that extensive work would be required based on how the piece was constructed and gave an estimate that was much higher than I had planned on. In light of his explanation, though, the price sounded reasonable. As the cost of repair was almost more than the piece was worth, which I'm sure he knew, I opted not to do it. There was no pressure or upselling. I appreciated the honest communication. read more

If you want a storage site for shoes you need resoled, Bedo's is your place. If you need to wear them, not so much. I dropped mine off at the beginning of November, didn't hear anything and checked back in December to find a sign on the door which said they would be closed all of December "to catch up on work". Not a big problem and at least they would be done after Christmas. I needed them for a trip after New Years so I went in right before leaving on it. They weren't ready. Three or four hours later, as I was driving away I got a call from them that they were ready. Somehow couldn't fit them in during December. High prices, terrible service. Basically a captive market. Never again. Good luck. read more

VERY HAPPY CUSTOMER! The Wizard Steve performed outstanding communication with me. I wasn't sure what to do and he advised me the the perfect order for my Alden U-Tip boots for a resole. I called all over the nation for Cobblers and Bedos Leather Works was the one that I choose because the YouTube Videos. You get a real good idea how just how of a Pro Steve is. Thank you ***** read more

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Does amazing work, but it does take time. I would only drop off things that are complicated and need a true Craftsman. Small things, are fine too, but it will take much longer than other places because he is so in demand. We are super lucky to have such a talented craftsman here in Falls Church. read more