Cornell Shoe service does excellent work! And really fair prices for shoe repair. Every few yrs I take my favorite old boots to have the heel replaced and wham! they're like new again. Nothing like getting great wear out of an expensive pair of 10 yrs old boots! So If you've got a favorite pair of shoes that just needs a facelift, take them here. Don't toss them! read more

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Excellent service. I took three pairs of shoes here. The workmanship was excellent, the price was reasonable and the service was excellent.

While he has affordable pricing, he doesn't answer the phone or communicate particularly well. He fixed my shoe stain and supposedly sprayed them with a water resistant spray, but he returned them to us without the insoles, and the shoes stained in a light rain despite the supposed water resistant stain. Do not plan to come back. Also, only accepts cash payments. read more

Fixed my show, purse strap and luggage handle in a timely and efficient manner. Definitely a repeat customer.

I was very disappointed with a pair of leather sandels I took in to be cleaned and came out discolored. I immediately notice the color was different when he at first denied. I asked what did her use to clean them and stated soap and water, if I would have known that I wouldn't have left them with him. I thought he was going to use some type if leather solution and charged me $25 which he gave me $10 back but the shoes are ruin. I'm gonna have to take them somewhere else to get them restored or tinted to the original color. read more

He did top-notch work repairing/replacing the heels on my boots -- I was really impressed! Reasonably priced too. Also polished them for no extra charge. They look fantastic! I will definitely be going back. The shop does close at 4pm but is open on Saturdays. read more

He is an amazing cobbler and very timely!!! I give him a 100%. Excellent service and very courteous

Excellent services and repairs. Under friendly hours and a convenient location. I'm happy with their work.

I like 'em because they took care of my need at a fair price and time for both of us. Their work helped me not have to buy a new bike commuter bag (they replaced its zippers) read more

I have taken my shoes since I moved to Chicago 4 years ago. His prices are reasonable. Turnaround time is pretty quick and my shoes always look great and it's a good location based on where I live. read more

I love this shoe repair place. They've been doing a great job for me for over 25 years now. I buy quality shoes and they keep them looking new. read more

A disappearing skilled service. We used Cornell Shoe Repair since the Nixon Administration and the store was around the corner on Cornell. The previous long time owner-operator was a stalwart part of the neighborhood and community. When I came to pick up a pair of shoes my late mother had dropped off just before she passed away, he cried with me for a while. The current owner bought the store and operation back in the 1990s, and the original owner used to visit just after the New Year every year, but she said she hasn't seen him in years now. Of the five shoe repair places in Hyde Park when I was growing up, this is the last one left, I don't know of any others anywhere else on the South Side. The prices haven't changed in years, I just had heel taps put into a pair of boots (while I waited, didn't even have time to finish this review) for only $5. Since there's only one shoe repair place in all of the Milwaukee area, when I return for other business to the Chicago South Side, I bring some shoe repair work with me. If you've never made use of a shoe repair expert, here's my observation. You're not really saving money in the longterm buying the cheapest shoes, they wear out quickly and they can't be repaired. Spending more money to get intermediate priced shoes (not designer, but well made shoes like Allen Edmonds made in America), since the shoes last much longer there's actually a net savings over constantly replacing cheaper shoes. This strategy works best for classic men's dress shoes which really don't change much over time. But parts wear out, so you need to know that you can bring those better but worn out shoes to places like this for heel or sole replacement. read more

Cornell Shoe Service - That's an autographed thank you from President Obama. - Shoe Repair Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Friendly. Great service. Convenient location. I've been going there for years and I've always been satisfied.

This place may look a bit chaotic on first glance, but the service is good for the price, and the turnaround is astonishingly quick. You can get a boot zipper replaced for $35 in less than 24 hours. Terrific in a pinch! I believe it's cash only. read more

They saved my favorite pair of shoes!! The leather tore a bit due to design so the cobbler installed what I can bed describe as a panel to hold the torn places back together on that as a base. They also polished the leather so they looked almost new again! Yay! read more

I really like this spot. He's quick and does good work. Very dependable.

This place use to be my favorite shoe repair shop but over the last year the service and quality of work has really declined. So sad because I've been coming here for many, many years and this skill is a lost art. read more

This place fixed up my husband's slippers really nicely. They've been doing just fine for over a year. I plan to take some of my shoes in really soon to get fixed up. I love that it's very convenient for most Hyde Park residents. The lady even let me bring my little doggy in when I was walking him and needed to pick something up. They, of course, only take cash. Also, the store is a bit dingy and run down. The dirtiness tempts me to get my broom, vacuum, and Lysol and give it a good once over. Well, whatever, as long as they fix my shoes and don't mess anything up, I'll keep going back because it's so close to me. read more

Go down the street to Mr. T's Shoe Service instead. I went here to get my leather bag fixed, and before the lady here had glanced at my bag for more than 2 seconds, she decided that she couldn't fix my bag, that I was out of luck. I was unconvinced (to me, it looked like not that difficult of a fix if you knew how to work with leather and had the right clasp part), and so was persistent. In response to my persistence, she shrugged and said, "well, we don't have the part." When I asked her if she could order it (seems pretty simple to me...), she kind of rolled her eyes at me and told me to come back the next Wednesday, maybe they could order it then. I didn't come back - instead, I had my bag in good-as-new shape by that Wednesday from Mr. T's Shoe Service. read more

The lady who works here has absolutely *no clue* what she's doing. We went in to get a pair of shoes stretched and she literally just put it on the stretching machine without doing anything else. Any good cobbler could tell you that there's a lot of other stuff you have to do to prepare the shoe/relax leather for stretching. So, as you can imagine the shoe did not stretch *at all* and we had to pay for her doing nothing. I would definitely not bring anything you are attached to here unless you know the person doing the work is experienced that's for sure. 3 stars because I believe we should protect our traditional businesses like shoe repair but honestly from what I saw it looks like the people there now are not the originals who I'm sure would have been very knowledgeable in their trade. read more

The shop is conveniently located in High Park, and as a visitor, I was excited to get a shoe shine at this location. After a 15-20 minute wait, my shoes were given to me and didn't look any different. The clerk (Asian Woman) states after I ask about the shine quality, "We don't do spit-shines here." Why wasn't I told that? "You didn't ask." She replied. Rude and poor customer service. read more

I'm lucky that I don't have to leave Hyde Park for a cobbler. I've come here at least six times. Once the woman fixed my Frye's for free simply because it took her a couple of minutes to do it even though I was willing to pay. Even if the shoes are difficult to repair, she always takes on the challenge, and the results in each case were clean and professional. The business is low tech and only accepts cash but it's just a shoe repair run by a woman that clearly cares about her end product-- it's not a corporation. read more

I found Cornell Shoe Service via Yelp, and after reading the many reviews by previous visitors I must say for those whose experience was nothing but great ... they were so right! I went in with two pair of leather bootie-boots that required toe repair and I must say the work was great! So, from this day fourth this is my place to go for repairs! read more

OMG noooo, better to choose another cobbler option than to deal with/encounter this man's moods & insults even. Despite other reviewers' warnings, I thought I'd patronize this establishment anyway; it's enroute to work. On the first counter, the elderly cobbler was welcoming and able to fix a couple of my items (add belt holes, glue sole of a sandal, little things). The few items he could not fix on this visit, he said were unfixable; This was untrue as I had received quotes from two other cobblers the prior week. In addition, I've been to shoe construction school & know that just about every shoe issue is repairable, just depends on cost. Funny, he stood his ground, like a "know it all" when he mentioned my other items were unrepairable. I left him with the items he seemed repairable & took my other items elsewhere. Pick-up & prices were fine. The 2nd visit, I was in a bind & needed a heel buckle replaced ASAP, cobbler came through very nicely in a pinch, $5 job. The 3rd visit would be my final visit. With recent weight loss, I brought several belts and a vinyl handbag to be repaired. Some belts needed to be shortened while others simply needed additional holes put in. This man severely insulted a number of my belts insisting they were not leather, he was also very short with me. I asked him what the problem was as I didn't understand this attitude I was being given. He mentioned he's busy back there and has a lot of work to do. I thought, "well, no sh!+ Sherlock, I'm a customer too WTF". He had hurridly written me a ticket for my handbag but I told him I also had all these belts laying on his counter. He begins to shift through and tell me they are not leather. I tell you, all but one belt was not genuine leather. He insulted my Versace belt that I bought from the Versace store; I simply needed it shortened. He was so rude and I didn't understand. He finally says to me, very harshly, "so, just the bag?" Perplexed with this encounter, I look him up and down in disgust, grab my items and say "no, I will leave nothing". Hopefully that was the last day/time I will ever encounter this man . Try Artistic Shoe & Leather Repair, Pedro's awesome over there ‍ read more

I needed a pair of my favorite heels repair like ASAP and I Google a shoe shop near me and Cornell's came up. So I reed the reviews and figured we'll let me give them a try. Once I got their I was graciously greeted with a sweet humble smile and so I told them that I wanted both heels repair, then she asked when did I need them back. And so I said as soon as possible, and she said how about today and I ask what time but then she said can you wait for them now and I said sure. Now mind you I walked into the shop at 9:15 I walked out 15 minutes later with a smile on my face and my heels in my hand. GREAT JOB CORNELL SHOE REPAIR!!! PS. THE ARE VERY VERY VERY REASONABLE!!!!! read more

Used this place for the first time and won't be going back. Dropped off a nude pair of heels to get the scuffs on tips and heels fixed and an all over polish. Just picked them up and scuffs are still there, the marks they came in with are still there. Nothing is different. He said, I don't have the color to fix the scuffs. I said well you should have told me that when I dropped them off! Don't waste your time! read more

I love Cornell Shoe Service. For sure, they can be disorganized, but I do appreciate that they know what they can and cannot do. I have been taking all my shoes for a long time, and I appreciate the fact that they can add years of life to my expensive, if slightly orthopedic shoes! They even re-heeled my Naots, which seem to be harder to repair. I confess to knowing nothing about shoe repair, but I do know that when my shoes return with new life, and as comfortable as before, that is a good repair. read more

I'd like to start out by saying that if I could give this establishment negative stars... This would be too kind of a gesture compared to down right rude encounter I had with the woman who does the intake at the counter. I came in the repair shop to inquire about getting my husbands soles repaired on his shoes and she quoted me a price of $75. Therefore, I expressed my discomfort w/the quote and proceeded to call my husband to see if he was willing to pay that amount. When I was rudely told that she didn't want to hear why I thought theirs prices were exorbitant.... Needless to say, I hung up on my husband & gave her an earful (on how I've frequented there many times, how her rude comments were unappreciated, and how not only did she just lose my husband as a customer, she just lost me as well). As promised, I also told her that I would also spread the word about her nasty attitude and poor customer service.... Please patronize other businesses that truly want to service you. read more

I love them...the convenience and actual repairs are awesome. Twice I was Impressed. I used to live on 53rd and Cornell. I would walk them over in the morning and pick them up by two...I'm the type of consumer that care moreso for the skill N convenience S opposed to attitude. Customer service was always plain and straight forward... With a few smiles....! read more

Excellent, delicate repair of a leather purse for a reasonable price, as well as turning my daughter's very run-down boots with damaged heel beds back into a new-looking pair of boots. Really impressive craftsmanship. Yes, the store is crowded and only cash is accepted, but well worth any minor inconvenience for this purveyor of a lost art. read more

My mother and I have been coming here for years. The lady at the counter is the owner and the main person doing repairs. She works hard and does quality work. Like many people who have operated their own business for decades the shop has a niche and a system down that they don't deviate from. So to the reviewers that have an issue with what isn't offered, yes take your item to another place that has what you want. At least she won't tell you she can fix something she can't only to have you disappointed when you pick it up. And truthfully, if it were me I would have a problem with you standing in my face complaining about the cost of service. I've never gotten attitude. All in all it's a well established shop that produces exactly what's offered. You get what you pay for. read more

Cornell Shoe Service is a great old school shoe repair shop. The owner is always willing to meet my emergency timeline for repairs and enhancements. I just dropped off a shoulder strap from my suit carrier that has a frayed pad and I am leaving town tomorrow afternoon and she worked on fitting a color matched replacement cover immediately. She promised pick up early tomorrow. She noticed my shoes were dusty and shined them while I waited. This place is a Gem! TG read more

I had taken my very comfortable summer sandals to the cobbler on 57th Street to replace the insole. I was told that he couldn't provide a new insole but would do his best to fix. Upon returning for pick up, the shoes looked like they hadn't been touched, so he said he'd look at them again. When I returned for the second time, the insole was no better and there was dirt and glue all over the shoes. So I went to Cornell Shoe Service on 53rd Street. The proprietor after hearing my story promptly showed me a replacement insole that was perfect for the job. When I returned for the sandals I was overjoyed - they looked and felt brand new! I seldom need shoes repaired, but when I do Cornell Shoe Service will be the place for me. I highly recommend her work. read more

had new lifts put on boots. She also painted the heels which were faded and warn from winter wear. My boots look almost new read more

The three interactions that I had with the woman at Cornell Shoe Service were very pleasant. The heel tips and broken heel I had repaired look beautiful. Prices are average, but contrary to other reviewers the service and the location are fantastic. read more

The woman who runs the 'intake' at this service has driven me away forever. This was once the go-to shoe repair for many from all over the city. No longer for me - when I was told that I'd have to wait a week for a hole to be punched in a belt (common sense would have dictated doing this 10 second task while I waited) I swore off the place. I guess they no longer care - too bad for our community. read more

I needed Velcro repaired on two pairs of shoes, and I needed at least one pair right away. Cornell (unlike its competitors) had the Velcro in stock and did a great job while I waited. Even handed the shoes back well polished. read more

The place is a very convenient establishment to have in Hyde Park. I brought my leather bag to expand an inside pocket and the lady did a marvelous job with it. She was initially reluctant to perform the job since she wanted to make it clear that she had to open the whole section of the leather stitching. I agreed and she did such a great job with it that you don't even recognize where the stitching was done. The price seemed fair given the task and the market price. It saved me having to buy a new bag. read more