Corrective Shoe Repair Dupont Circle Washington, DC I am so sad Corrective shoe repair has closed shop in Dupont Circle after almost 70 years in DC. SAM Samuel Augustus Jennings read more

Corrective Shoe Repair - Sam & The Shoe Crew - Shoe Repair Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I have been a long time customer of Corrective Shoe Repair. There is no one I trust with alterations on leather boots or luggage. Preparing purses, and resewing alligator crocodile cowboy boots. read more

Excellent craftsmanship and Nelson is as nice and accommodating as he can be! ( I guess that's why I've been a customer for over 40 years)

My family has been coming to Mr. Ramos for over 20 years. The quality of work here is outstanding and the team will do everything possible to keep your shoes in great shape. Very reasonable prices and quick turn around times. Mr. Ramos has done shoe repair for every sitting president except our current one (for all the right reasons!) read more

I had worn my Gucci loafer sole down to the mesh -- I honestly thought they were gone and I'd have to throw them out. After going to Gucci and hearing that it would wind up costing me at least $200, I decided to come to this cobbler. And holy hell -- I wish I had brought other shoes sooner (I drag my feet and tend to break soles). He recommended a non-wood sole for me, and honestly my shoes have never looked better. And for $70 they came back looking BRAND NEW!!! Thank you so much!!! read more

Excellent work; I have been bringing my shoes to Nelson Ramos and to his dad before him for nearly 40 years and have consistently been happy with both the work and the prices. One small gripe -- turnaround times are very long; but my experience is that a long-time customer can ask for special dispensation on that. Note that the hours listed here are incorrect. Current hours are Monday 8 AM to 7 PM, Tuesday to Friday 8 to 5:30, Saturday 8 to 3 read more

These guys are the best. There are very few truly family run businesses left in DC these days and the ones that are left are often quite expensive. Nelson and his team though are friendly, knowledgeable, a good value, and most important of all, do whatever they can to fix your problem. These guys can fix seemingly anything including various shoe issues, zippers, suitcases, smaller handbags, and a ton of other things I can't even recall. They even have a key cutter if you need some spare keys made. Personally I've had Nelson's team help me with stretching out new shoes that were too tight on one foot, replacing heels, and removing scuff marks from my dress belt. Each time they've done great work and are always a pleasure to visit. read more

Don't take your items here for repair if you have expensive items and don't want your things completely ruined. I took a new Celine bag here for the place to patch a minor abrasion to the calfskin leather after dropping my bag on concrete. The bag is completely ruined and looks very aged from the color treatment. I'm in tears now every time I look at my bag and regret not leaving the abrasion as it was. They don't speak English in the shop, only the owner does, which is a huge problem. Be aware that the place is dim lit in order to keep you from seeing defects with your items. The first pic is of what was supposed to be fixed, very minor, and hardly noticeable. The other pics are of my ruined bag. STAY AWAY ... I had even told the owner it was in new Celine bag, but they still didn't take special care. read more

See all

Don't take anything valuable for repair here. The quality of their work is sloppy and both my purses were ruined. I asked them to redo it and they said they couldn't do a better job. I took it to another craftsman and he said the work was terrible. I will let the pictures speak for themselves read more

See all

They do a great job sell, but it's super pricey. I repaired the tips of two pairs of heels & he strengthened the bottom of the front tips so they wouldn't scuff. For that? $83. I could have bought two pairs of new shoes at DSW for that price. Worth going here if your shoes are pricey or very special to you, but just be aware that you will pay a hefty sum. read more

I brought a pair of mid range leather bottom Florsheim shoes here to get resoled, reheeled, and polished. $57 seemed a bit steep but they looked great when they were done. The soles started to fall apart after a few months and the heels started to separate from the soles as well. Talked to someone else and they said the heels weren't secured to the soles properly. This isn't normal wear and tear. The places where the heels and soles were glued started to come apart and the heel would have completely fallen off if I hadn't had them fixed somewhere else. read more

I am NOT a fan. I took a pair of boots here because of the good Yelp reviews. Things were fine until I went to pick up my boots (the day after they were supposed to be ready) and they weren't ready yet. I was a little annoyed, but agreed to come back the next day. Well, surprise, when I returned the next day, there was a sign on the door saying that the shop would be closed for a week. I saw someone inside, so I tried knocking/ringing the bell, but he didn't come to the door. When I finally came in a week later and was able to rescue my boots, I noticed some stains on the leather and a very worn spot towards the toe. The boots were in very good condition and all I had asked for was a light cleaning and conditioning. When I asked the guy helping me what had happened he told me that the boots were already stained when I brought them in. I told him that they were not and asked him to please have someone try to remove the stains. He seemed incredibly annoyed, dragged the boots to the back and then returned them to me ... still stained. I will NEVER go back here. I can't believe I had to pay FIFTEEN dollars to have a pair of boots ruined. read more

I came in to have a pair of Italian oxfords cleaned and polished. Nothing major. When I got the shoes back I noticed they didn't even bother to take the laces off the shoes. They used WAY too much polish--to the point where you can see the caked-on polish contrast with the actual leather of the shoe when you remove the laces. I didn't bother saying anything because I needed the shoes that evening. read more

To give my great look a finishing touch, the shoes have to look great. This is were I go to keep my "Shoemelda" status in check: to have very clean, shiny, and well maintained foot wear, since these puppies are not cheap. Nelson here really knows his stuff and this place has been open for years. Give them a try to have shoes that gleam and remember, people do judge you by the appearance of your footwear! 4.0 stars:-)!! read more

First time I come to this place to fix my shoes heel, I wasn't really satisfied with the results, but the second time I bring my shoes, I was pretty happy! So since then,I bring all my shoes that need to be repair to this place. What also cool about this place is so close and convenient for me. Last night, I pick up beautiful knee high my boots, and see that they were doing a good job to fix the heels! Cool! And one other cool thing that I want to mention about this place, the owner always playing a good music whenever I went there! Good taste with all that Jazz! read more

I have gone here several times. Last year I got some Kennith Cole low boots repaired, heals put on, which were as I recall like $48.oo dollars. I was a bit surprised and said, I almost could have bought new for that, and the guy said, "well, do you want them?" this year I brought a jacket to them and had the double headed zipper replaced, just the head, and it was $38 dollars. The next day the zipper broke. He stated the whole zipper needed to be done over, used that as a deposit. I picked it up today and he charged me an additional $ 46.00 dollars, grand total? $83.00 dollars to have a zipper replaced. this place is way over priced. By the way the heal of the shoe creeks now and they never repaired the inside of the boot as I had asked. I will never go back there again. read more

This place is GREAT! They fixed a zipper on a backpack for me. Quick service and the backpack looks brand new. Prices were discussed before I left my bag so I knew what to expect going in and it was reasonable. They have one or two late nights a week so you can run after work if need be. I would recommend their work to anyone! read more

I used to come here about once a week for shoe shine and also utilized this shop when I worked around the corner. Nelson and his crew are great. They never turned me down for a shoe and their prices are reasonable. The turnaround time for a resole was also pretty good. I highly recommend this shop. read more

The shop name is a little bit of a misnomer, because they pretty much fix everything: handbags, shoes, luggage, keys that need cutting, hell, even saddles. They have a saddle hanging up in the shop and it turns out they actually have a contract with the US Park Police to repair saddles. So when I say they fix everything, I mean everything. Repaired both a handbag and shoes, and the work is always well done and done when they say it will be. Two thumbs up! read more

Corrective Shoe Repair has not clossed down. I found out that they are now operating with their online division called Shoe Repair Resole Center. Same owners and employees. Nelson's website is www.shoerepairresolecenter.com their telephone number is the same 202-232-9749. I just shipped them shoes to repair for me and they just arrived looking great. read more

I'm not one to make a fuss or ask for special treatment, but in this case I needed my backpack strap fixed before a trip to the west coast. I stopped by on a Saturday afternoon and spoke to Mr. Ramos. I asked if he could have the sewing done by Wednesday. He said that his shop was very busy but that I could call Tuesday morning to check on the status. I figured I would make an in-person visit on Tuesday to check on the status and drop off some donuts as a small bribe to have it fixed by Wednesday. Imagine my surprise when I found that they already had the backpack fixed and ready to go. Granted, it was a minor sewing repair, but Mr. Ramos didn't have to move me up in the queue. It was much appreciated and I will be bringing my business back here next time I need a shoe/luggage repair. read more

Sticker shock on how expensive it was to re-sole and shine a couple pair of shoes however it was money well spent. Restored my dress shoes back to life and cheaper than buying a new pair. Will come back! read more

Excellent, expert service. I bring my hard cases here - and they deliver every time.

These guys are the absolute best! Nelson the owner is incredibly friendly and has saved 3 pairs of very expensive shoes from going to shoe heaven...1) Suede YSL boots 2) leather Gucci loafers 3) Gucci flip flops. His prices are more than reasonable - especially if you're getting repairs or cleanings on high-end shoes. read more

They service here is remarkably rude. I stood outside their office on a Monday morning at 8:30 (their sign says they open at 8) and knocked like an idiot for 20 minutes. There was someone on the other side of the door (I could see them!) and they didn't respond or even acknowledge I was there. Considering how much they charge, I was pretty taken aback. More so when two other customers joined me. Once I got in, they were curt and acted like I was wasting their time. read more

I brought in a pair of vintage boat shoes to be stretched by Corrective Shoe Repair. I was really worried about them because they were old and needed to be stretched quite a bit. They did a fantastic job! They were done on time, and done perfectly, not to mention that it was only $7. Can't beat that! I have another pair of shoes that I dropped off today to be resoled and reheeled, so I'll post another update. So far so good! read more

I take it all back! I will not go back there. I wore the shoes with the new heel the other day and the new heel simply fell off. Needless to say I had to wear them all day and ruined the entire heel. Will NOT go back there. read more

Corrective Shoes may not be the not the cheapest shoe repair outlet -except for a walk-in shine, which is a steal at $3.50 - but they are by far the best value I've found. In my experience (at least 3 re-soles plus numerous shines) they do good work, and stand behind it, willing to re-do something at no extra charge. Turn-around time seems competitive. Nelson, the manager, is knowledgeable, friendly, and always happy to discuss options and pricing. Try finding a local dry cleaner (which sends out its shoe-repair work to who-knows-where) that will do any of that! One note: as of Spring 2008, they've cut back their hours. Monday is now the only day they're open until 7pm (Tues - Sat until 3pm). read more

I traveled from Takoma Park to Dupont after reading the recommendations from some of the reviewers on Yelp. Big mistake! I took in a patent leather computer bag (that still isn't ready) and my favorite patent leather oxfords to be resoled and heeled. The job was poorly done (not even the usual complimentary cleanup) and way overpriced. Customer service is mediocre at best - but then again, I couldn't get a courtesy call to let me know my repair would not be ready on the expected date. Never again! read more

Disappointed in this place. Had a pair of shoes resoled; in addition to the $60+ rate and the shoes being late (with sincere disgust when I asked what kind of discount he would give me for that), the new sole doesn't meet the heel. Instead, there's a small gap. ... really not the quality service I expected. read more

Make sure you ask for a ticket before you leave. It will take a month before you can get your shoes back and it felt like I was asking the owner for his first born. read more

I brought in a pair of italian black leather boots to be reheeled and the right boot zipper replaced. They did a fabulous job and looks as good as *almost* new. It's a little pricey but you pay for what you get. $62.43 for everything. So worth it for the resurrection of my favorite boots. read more

I have had a number of shoes repaired here over the years - they always do a good job. One time though the glue showed a little more than i would have liked, so i took a star off. I have also had several designer leather bags cleaned here - Prada, Mulberry etc. Each time they came back looking practically brand new - the cleaning is expensive, but very well done. I have also had some minor bag repairs done that have held up nicely - like fixing a torn strap, repairing a torn lining etc. Overall, i like the place and plan to use it in the future. Turnaround time is usually at least a week, so plan accordingly. read more

Do not take your designer sneakers here! Im going to Puerto Rico tomorrow for the Urban Fiesta and I wanted all my shoes to look new. I left 2 pairs of Guiseppe sneakers and 4 pairs of Gucci shoes last Thursday. When I returned today, my sneakers look like I cleaned them. I paid $140 for something I could have done at home. Never again will I take anything here. This place is a total let down! read more

I am editing my intiial review....at first I gave them one star but going back today they totally redeem themselves. They owner was kind & patient & said they will fix what the problem is & try to make the bag as it was in the first place. I am traveling so he agreed to mail it to me no extra charge. Therefore, I give them 4 stars. Once I return from my vacation, if the bag is looking good, then I will come back & give them 5 stars. It was a bumpy start but the results is what matters. Got the bag, it's fixed, but still damaged. 3stars for trying, but bot good results read more

I made a cardinal shopping mistake and bought a pair of Tory Burch mini stacked heels final sale--and they were morbidly uncomfortable. I refused to eat the purchase so I took them to Corrective Shoe Repair to have the backs softened and the front bridge stretched. The cost was $15, a bargain considering what it would have cost me if I could never wear the shoes. With a one week pick up time, I went back, tried the shoes and they were so much better. They even offered up another solution if the stretching still didn't work. The only reason I give four stars is because of their hours--Monday and Saturday are really the only days a professional can go. I have a few pairs of wedges that need stretching and boots that need repairing and I'll definitely take them here. read more

After reading reviews of about 10 different shoe repair shops in DC, I finally decided on Corrective Shoe Repair due to its proximity to my apartment. My beloved Frye boots were in desperate need of a heel resole - I had completely worn through the thin rubber, as well as about a 1/4" of the wooden section on both shoes. I was quoted $22 dollars for the fix, $10 up front and the remainder upon pick up. The shoes were ready when they said they'd be, the exchange was quick. The heels were redone with a harder, thicker rubber, and the wood had been filled in with filler. The wood was stained a slightly darker brown than before (to cover the fill), but the difference is not a problem. No polishing or other refurbishing was done, but polish would probably ruin the slightly vintage, worn-in look of the leather anyway. read more

I've been taking my leather goods to this shop for many years, and they've never let me down. They've resoled my shoes and boots, repaired purses and totes, shortened leather belts, restored my leather backpack, and mended (perfectly!) a hole on the sleeve of my one and only leather jacket. Their work is darn near perfect and (at least in my case) they make good on their promise to have something finished on a particular day. They are pricey, that's true. But I consider it a savings, because it's much less expensive to repair than to buy. I recommend this shop to all my friends. read more

I love this place! There are very few leather or related items he cannot fix. Very honest about whether something is worth the repair. I have been patronizing the place for over 25 years. Highly recommend it. read more

Definitely underwhelmed. As I'm sure many women know, walking in heels in a city on metal grates can lead to cuts in leather heels. So I had a pair of fairly expensive knee high boots that had heels with damaged leather that I wanted to have repaired. I'm new to DC and used Yelp to find a good shoe repair store. When I took in my leather boots, I intially asked to have the heels fully re-covered with leather and to have a new sole put on. The sales person said that he could just fill in the leather on the heel rather than having them totally recovered - so I agreed since I assumed he knew what he was doing. When I returned to pick up the boots, the heel was poorly filled in and the inner-side of the heel was not even corrected. Also, the sole they put on was too thick and changed the shape of the toe. I am incredibly unimpressed and, to make matters worse, the repair was expensive. If you're looking for simple corrective repairs, like new soles or heels, this place is probably ok. But if you are looking for quality craftsmanship for more challenging repairs, this is NOT the place to go. read more