Highly recommend this shoe repair to people located in San Francisco. I have brought a couple different items to get repaired. Belts that needed extra holes, heels that needed fixing, etc. The cobbler is super friendly and did a great job on all my items. He is also super quick. The heels look brand new, I am very impressed. Thanks for all the help, I will be back! read more

Zavo has been a life saver! my shoes look amazing again I almost ordered a new pair because I didn't think they were able to be fixed, but to my surprise. read more

Great work, the best in SF! The service is great and his prices are fair, I've used him 7 or 8 times with great results.

DANGEROUS MAN. AVOID AT ALL COSTS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE A WOMAN I had an absolutely terrifying experience at this shop. I brought in a pair of high heeled boots to be re-heeled and a handbag to have a zipper repaired. When I came to collect them, I discovered the heels had been hammered in at an angle, making the boots completely unstable. When I calmly pointed this out, the cobbler IMMEDIATELY became aggressive. Yelling, swearing, and escalating rapidly. He snatched the handbag (which belonged to a friend and had sentimental value), declared it was now "gone," and hung it out of reach behind the counter. When I asked for my belongings back, he crossed over from behind the desk, shut the door, and physically stood between me and the exit, refusing to let me leave. I told him I was scared and asked him to move and open the door - he refused multiple times and only did so after I insisted. When I tried to get my phone out to record (out of fear for my safety), he tried to grab it from me and block me from filming. He physically tried to wrestle my things from my hands. I was terrified. He kept yelling that I had to pay him - despite the shoes being unusable - and threatened to "break the heels off the boots" if I didn't comply. I ended up giving him $70 just to be allowed to leave with my dog and belongings. I have video footage of the aftermath (and will be posting screenshots), but unfortunately the most violent part of the incident happened before I could get my camera on. This was not a disagreement about workmanship - it was abuse, intimidation, and a deliberate attempt to trap and coerce me. DO NOT GO HERE. WOMEN BEWARE. THIS MAN IS UNSTABLE AND DANGEROUS. read more

Ordered a custom leather key holster. Owner was kind and courteous. His workmanship was excellent. Service was prompt and the price was very reasonable. Highest recommendation. read more

Zavo is a craftsman and brings his skills to mend and/or reinforce your shoes and accessories. He helped me mend a complicated tear on the leather shoulder strap of my purse, saving me $ from purchasing a brand new strap. He's also resoled, shined and helped me maintain well made shoes so they last for many more years. I've tried to find a skilled cobbler for quite sometime, I'm delighted to have found Zavo, I highly recommend Cobblers Bench, Chestnut Street, SF. His prices are also quite reasonable. read more

I got my favorite leather mary-jane loafer soles replaced here as they had started to wear down to the wood & they no longer sell them online. They did a great job and the shoes look brand new! They even polished up the shoes and got all the scuffs out without me even asking. Best $38 I have spent in a while. My favorite shoes have a new lease on life - thank you Cobblers Bench!! read more

I have had a fantastic cobbler in Scottsdale for many years and every time I would go somewhere in San Francisco I was constantly let down. I recently relocated to the marina and found Zavo. He absolutely knocked it out of the park! In addition to resoling my shoes, he put inserts in polished my boots and made them look brand new. I was on the verge of having to spend another $700 on new boots from Italy, but he definitely saved the day and told me we could refinish them again in a few years or as needed. I'm very grateful I found him and his prices are absolutely competitive and generous. I almost felt bad for not paying him more, get a tip jar! Thanks for everything! #trump2024 :D #bayareaconservatives read more

This review is way past due..! No one on SF fixes shoes for me like Mr. Z.! He resoled my overly expensive boots I destroyed and made them even more comfortable than before. The quality of materials he uses aren't like everyone else. I've had my shoes resoled over 2 years and they still look fresh. I thought he closed mid-pandemic when he was in Laurel Heights but apparently he moved to the Marina. I'm over the moon I've found him because I have 2 more pair of boots I have destroyed that need a lot of love.! You get what you pay for so I am more than happy to pay a touch more and have the end result of the quality of work I am provided with. The photo in this review shows what my soles look like after 2 years. Yes, I wear the crap out of these and they still look fresh on the bottoms. Thank you for not being closed Mr.Z read more

Cobblers Bench - After 2 years of wearing these SOLES one the boots still loook AMAZING.! - Shoe Repair Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is the place where I bring all type of shoes for repair. The owner is very sweet, this is a little hole in the wall type of shop, no frills, but his craft is amazing! When you think your shoes are dead...they will still get a second life if you being them here. Thank you! read more

This is the best , most expert Shoemaker I have ever seen. I have been going to him for decades for help with shoes, belts & handbags.

Zavo knows shoes better than anyone, by far. Trust him for preventative and repair on louboutins, jimmy choos, all of it. If he can't fix it, he tells you - expectation management is the most important customer service trait imo. If you want someone friendly who would rather please you than be honest, this probably isn't the guy for you. If you're looking for a professional (immensely talented craftsman and unquestionable honesty), and value your shoes and not wasting your money more than you value hugs and hi-how-are-yous - go here. Ignore the 1 star reviews of his personality, that seems ridiculous to bring down this business's entire rating for petty and irrelevant complaints, but that's just me. read more

I took one of my favorite pairs of cowboy boots in for repairs (restoration)! They have walking heels. I wear boots about 25% of the time so I am quite familiar with good workmanship (is the gender-neutral term- what?). Excellent worth, old school. Very good value for money spend. No much as too much really for a long-ago broken in pair! Highly recommend. read more

I dropped off a pair of nice boots for a minor heel repair and never got them back. Be sure to get a claim ticket and hold onto it. Taking a picture of the items wouldn't be a bad idea either. read more

I am beyond delighted with the work Mr. Z did on my Louboutin shoes. He recommended adding a red rubber sole protector which preserved the life of my shoes while making them more comfortable. He is amazing and I could not do without him. read more

Brought in a pair of shoes with a unique heel. It was nothing but a VERY pleasant and honest experience. He warned he might not be able to repair it exactly; but when I picked them up, they were PERFECT. Quickly done and with a smile - I have found the cobbler. Thank you! read more

I brought in my favorite pair of white leather sneakers. I got them back cleaned and looking brand new, way better than I thought was going to be possible. Will be returning for another cleaning in the future! read more

Do not go here!! Take your business elsewhere. I brought a backpack to fix a broken zipper. I paid $40 only to find out when I used the backpack that the zipper wasn't fixed. When I brought the backpack back they would not try to fix the zipper again and claimed it was "very complicated". No refund was offered. Waste of money and time. read more

Reliable and exceptional work! I take the time to go to Cobblers Bench knowing that my shoes will be taken care of. Worth the time to get there. read more

This guy is like the "soup nazi" in the Seinfeld show! Went in to get a bag repaired. He's down right rude. Said he "didn't have any time for me". Also, doesn't wear a mask! Don't come here... read more

I called here to inquire about getting my favorite backpack fixed and Zavo said I could bring it by and he would see what he could do. I dropped it off with him and not even 24 hours later he called me and let me know it was ready. His price was VERY reasonable and he was friendly and responsive. I highly recommend this shop! read more

Have had two pairs of shoes re-soled here and will continue to use Zavo. The work is top notch and he uses high quality materials.

Zavo is my trusted go to shoe guy. He does amazing work, and treats my shoes very well! I highly recommend him for quality repairs.

This place is way overdue for an updated review. Yes, they held a special place in my heart because of their location 2 blocks away from where I grew up, and the fact that my grandmother used to go to them. However, either my expectations for shoe repair have gone up, or their level of service has gone down, because nowadays, I won't DARE take a pair of shoes here. I forget his name, but the main shoe repair guy was always very stubborn and consistently had a pompous attitude with me on a regular basis, especially if we're not seeing eye to eye on something. He was never willing to hear me out, on anything...a very "know it all" attitude that I did not like. The last straw was when he cracked the lucite heel of a pair of $475 Rock and Republic heels after I asked him to put a new heel tip on it. He said that "I brought it in that way" and refused to hear me out or make up for it. He was blatantly lying. I know for A FACT that the heel was not cracked when I brought it in. I've never gone back to him since. Also, there were numerous occasions where he had told me that there was "nothing he could do", yet when I'd take my shoes to Union St shoe repair, somehow Victor would miraculously find a way to do exactly what I wanted every time. The guy cuts corners and he's rude. He is not the customer service specialist by ANY means. Don't take your fine shoes here. Go to Anthony's downtown instead. read more

The owner is a TOTAL D*@K!!! Hands down the worst experience I've encountered in town. I brought in my brand new belt to get shortened. When I returned to pick it up, I pointed out that the fastening screws that he reinserted into the belt were no longer flush with the surface of the belt and would scratch the leather. He attempted to fix it and said that was the best he could do. I felt the belt again and tried to explain to him why it wasn't acceptable work. Without looking at it, he opened up the register, pulled out my $12 and threw it back at me saying, "Go! Go now! Have a nice life!!! Have a nice life!!". He then took me by the back of my neck and *physically* pushed me out the store yelling, "A*sh*le! A*sh*le! Stupid a*sh*le!" and shut the door behind me. I was and am still stunned that anyone can run a business that way let alone get away with treating their customers like trash. Please, please, please do not patronize this sad old dude. read more

I had a great experience with this business. It was a simple shine/condition but Service was quick and the price was very reasonable! Parking can be challenging but I'll definitely use them again in the future. read more

Bravo, Zavo! Zavo is the man who brings your St. John peep-toes back to life after an awkward heel-break gone unnoticed for too long. Zavo curses your Pradas as "poorly made" as he re-heels the little nubs for the 5th time. Zavo stretches your Elie Tahari flats, which you mistakenly thought would actually be comfortable, not feet-binding torture devices. Zavo points to the sheepskin inserts on the back wall to render your old dog-walking Uggs fluffy inside once more. Zavo educates you on the need to apply protectant to your nude-colored suede to prevent denim staining, but then removes the blotches like a magician. Zavo...solves problems. And my feet thank him for that. read more

85$ per zipper to be replaced in my FAVE black boots???...I think not. Skip this place if you have an regard for spending your money wisely. read more

Had a great experience working with Zavo who helped me find the perfect new insoles for my shoes. He was kind, patient, considerate and went through three different options with me. Prices were reasonable and he was very eager to help. Would recommend highly read more

I'll admit I'm a guilty one that uses Yelp all the time, but rarely submits reviews myself. I was so infuriated after my Cobblers Bench visit, that I realized I have to start Yelping on the reg. Rather than write on and on and on (NASA studies show that people only like to read one paragraph), I'll just give you bullet points and takeaways. 1. Location was key for me as I live in the Presidio and he has Saturday hours 2. The work is OKAY. Nothing great, but he did what I asked. 3. He definitely doesn't go the extra mile for any extras (e.g. shoe shine) 4. He can be blunt and at time it can come off as rude, but I'm somewhat of an A Hole myself, so this didn't bother me, plus I think it's mostly cultural. 5. He is insanely over-the-top expensive, hence my fury. I get it. You have a shop in Pac Heights where nobody cares about money. So, this is mostly a fair warning to those that can feel the difference between $20 and $200. 6. There are better, friendlier, more economical options on Union st and in Lower Pac Heights on Fillmore. I even went straight from Cobblers to the shop on Union to see what he would have charged me. I didn't tell him what I paid and he shot me a quote 25% lower. At the end of the day, I should have just left the shoes there and told him to keep them. My biggest mistake... not checking Yelp before going here. Any place with sporadic reviews like this place is a crap shoot. read more

I love Cobblers Bench. He always does amazing work replacing/repairing the heels of my shoes as well as for my wife's. Recently I scuffed the top of a boot and he was kind enough to fix it on the spot. Have and will always trust him with my shoes! read more

From other reviews, it seems like he does good work and has plenty of good reviews with people who are satisfied. However, the owner really is unfriendly and rude. He doesn't like questions. Tries to absolve himself from anything that might go wrong (lowers expectations repeatedly)... and Cash only. If customer service is important to you AS WELL AS quality work, I would look elsewhere. read more

Cobbling has to be one of the oldest skill sets since we moved into villages and stopped wearing animal hides. Zavo is a true cobbler and knows his way around leather and shoes in general. He can fix any shoe you bring to him if it is salvageable. He can also make your current shoes look brand new with a nice shine. Tip - don't lose your blue slip, he gets upset read more

I had a great experience with Cobbler's Bench! I brought 2 pairs of shoes there for the first time and the owner was kind and friendly and did a great job putting protective soles on my shoes. I used to go to Jack's (downtown), who also does amazing work, but no longer convenient as I don't work downtown anymore, and Cobbler's Bench is now my new go to. Great workmanship and prices...so happy. Will take all my shoes there from now on. read more

very rude. I asked if he could replace a grommet on my daughters converse he said he did not want the job as it would take too long to find grommets of the correct size-no worth his time-what kind of shoe repair business is that??? read more

I was pretty surprised with the price. I asked them to pre-sole a pair of heels so they wouldn't wear down so quickly. The job is very nice, but it was almost $40. Maybe that's the going rate in SF? I haven't been to a whole heck of a lot of cobblers out here. The owner is a little gruff, but he'll tell it like it is. He once told me not to waste my money fixing a pair when it would be better to just buy a new one. I appreciate his honesty. read more

Not sure how many of those positive reviews about the place is authentic.But these guys actually ruined the heel of a brand new pair of boots I had them stretched out recently. I only needed to have the front portion of the boots stretched and they said no problem. When I went to pick them up there were two deep creases along both ankles. They are very deep creases like the leather was folded up for a long time. When I asked them what happened there they insisted that the boots were like that when I brought them in. I was astonished with their replies! Now these are pair of brand new Dr Martens Boots I ordered. For people who are familiar with the brand you know how durable and tough the leather is. Hence the long break in period. I was hoping for a shortcut so I brought them here to be stretched. I literally only put my feet in them twice for less than 5 minutes each time. If I were able to crease the leather so easily there would be no need to come here in the first place! When I tried to explain there was no way the shoes were like that before the one guy actually said "You are driving me crazy! Can you just pay me now? I got work to do." I could barely get a word in! He was constantly interrupting me. So I decided to stop arguing with the insane. Word to the wise, take pictures before dropping off your shoes there! These people are lairs! read more

God Bless Him. Juicy Shoes are made cheaply and sold expensively. Which is a very lame paradox. So, after a year of really wearing my favorite flats, they got a hole in the bottom of the sole. He re-soled and re-heeled my favorite flats and now they are back on my feet, where they belong. If you have a favorite pair of shoes that do not have a sturdy rubber sole on the bottom, I highly recommend taking them into the Cobbler before you wear them so he can put a protective sole on them. In my opinion, the $38 for the new sole is worth the extra year or two of keeping your feet happy :) read more

Got the job done. Nothing too fancy but exactly what I asked for. $15 to fix a pair of stilettos who's heels were clicking. Plus an additional $6($3 per drill bit broken- shoes were way past due to be fixed so understandable) plus tax out the door about $24. Not bad considering my shoes were $120 so to keep them going for another few months or hopefully more this was perfect. Nice owner, probably would have given 5 stars if more elbow grease was shown but really he did exactly as I asked so no complaints, also quick turn around -next day. read more

Cobblers Bench - After -I didn't ask to have them cleaned/leather fixed near base of heel ( he made look nicer) only asked to fix tip - Shoe Repair Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I don't care how may great reviews this place had. I took a pair of flats that needed four studs to be replaced. The owner immediately told me that the price he was going to charge me was going to be really expensive, he would have to tear apart the lining to replaced the studs and the shoes may get damaged as he was doing it. So he turned me away. Sad to say but I took it to a great shoe repair in Pleasanton the very next day. The guy fixed it properly without having to tear any shoe apart, as I waited and only charged me 3$. So really, how great is this place? Was it that he just didn't want to be bothered with my shoe dilemma or was he just incapable of performing the magic the other cobbler did? read more