Cancel

Search

Model Shoe Renew

4.3 (745 reviews)
Closed 10:00 am - 7:00 pm

Get a quote

Response time

1 day

Response rate

100%

Services - Model Shoe Renew

Shoe cleaning

Shoe dying

Shoe repair

3 More Services

Shoe resoling

Shoe shining

Shoe stretching

Model Shoe Renew Photos

Recommended Reviews - Model Shoe Renew

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Store front view at night, since they're open until 7P Mon-Sat
Jeremy D.

I was in need of a great, dependable cobbler and had been in and out of research to find one for over a year. I acquired a vintage Balenciaga bag, but the cross body strap was too long. I needed a simple refinement of my bag strap and they were able to help. You will see the name Judy appear in many reviews for this cobbler. I was assisted by her team of guys when I dropped my strap off on a Sunday. The strap was ready by Tuesday, and the repair/revision was seamless. At time of pick-up, I seen a lady, and asked, "Are you Judy? You're famous in the reviews for this place." She was warm and funny, and shared that she did the repair "all by herself". I'm looking forward to having other items cleaned and restored by Judy, and can give a strong recommendation. One thing about this location, parking can be tricky but it's not impossible. Also, know what you want and be clear on your asks, especially with measurements and requested adjustments. This helps you get the result you want. Sustainability is so key in this day and age, if you have items that need a little refresh or shoes that need more support- bring them in. Try with one item, and go from there.

Gabita H.

It honestly hurts me to leave a bad review for a local business. I genuinely try to support small specialty shops because they're rare and important. But Model Shoe is the perfect example of a business that survives only because there are so few options left in town. They essentially hold the monopoly in this niche -- and unfortunately, they act like it. I called ahead needing a specific leather dye to finish restoring a pair of leather boots. I explained exactly what I had been using, and the staff assured me -- twice -- that the product they were giving me was the same thing, just different packaging. I believed them, even though the price was almost 300% above market value. I'm happy to pay more for convenience and to support a local store, so the price wasn't the problem. The problem is that the product they sold me ruined my boots. When I called to let them know what happened, they told me to come in so they could help. What followed was one of the most frustrating experiences I've had with a business. The woman in the back tried to "fix" my boots by blasting them with an old electric fan, applying heat directly to the leather -- something anyone with even basic knowledge knows can cause further damage. When I politely asked if there was another option, she abruptly said she was "done" and handed me off to the owner. The owner came out immediately defensive. He grabbed two random scraps of leather (nothing like the leather of my boots), applied the dye to them, and insisted the product was fine. He blamed me, claiming I must have waterproofed or conditioned only half of one boot -- an accusation that makes no sense and is simply untrue. At no point did he take responsibility for giving me the wrong information. He refused to acknowledge the issue, and even suggested that if I had a problem, I should "go sue the billion-dollar company" that makes the dye. When I asked how I could repair the damage, he told me to find a leather shop because they "aren't one," despite the fact that they sell leather dyes and advise people on how to use them. No refunds were given or offered. The whole interaction showed zero accountability, zero professionalism, and zero customer care. I walked in hoping for help and guidance. I walked out feeling blamed, dismissed, and with damaged boots. I truly wish I could support a local business like this, but based on my experience, I cannot recommend this place to anyone.

The same exact placement of dangling threads as when I brought it in to begin with.

I asked the shop to sew the wristlet on a clutch. The stitching on half an inch of leather had come undone. The first time I used the purse after getting it fixed it came undone. AND you could see that no one had stitched it. All they did was glue it together (I could have done that). I emailed them photos, as I was no longer in California, asking for a refund. No one responded. I called and the owner got on the phone and yelled at me and hung up. It was all a little wild. The charged me $20 for it, too. Same exact placement of dangling threads as when I brought it in for them to fix

Walked into this store last Thursday after being referred by another shoemaker who said, "They do good work, but they're expensive." That turned out to be accurate, except the "good work" part never happened. I brought in a bag with a ripped handle and even supplied my own hardware to make the repair easier and cheaper. At first, I was quoted $90, more than the value of the bag itself. After asking for a simple repair instead of the unnecessary extras the owner was pushing, he agreed to do it for $25, gave me a green ticket, and told me to come back Saturday. I couldn't make it Saturday, so I returned Monday instead. When I walked in, I stood there for several minutes before anyone even acknowledged me. Then they took my ticket and spent a long time trying to find my bag. During all of this, the owner, Peter, started yelling at one employee in the back so aggressively it nearly brought her to tears. Then came the real issue, absolutely no work had been done on the bag at all. Instead of speaking to me professionally, Peter stayed in the back yelling at employees and then yelling toward me across the store. When I asked how long it would take since the agreed deadline had already passed, he became confrontational and accused me of recording him simply because I was holding my phone. I was not recording video, I was typing notes. Rather than taking responsibility for missing the deadline and failing to complete the work, he blamed his employees, raised his voice repeatedly, and created an uncomfortable scene in front of customers and staff. He eventually refused the repair altogether, demanded the green ticket back, and threw my refund at me. This place is overpriced, disorganized, and run by someone with zero professionalism or accountability. Watching the way he treated his employees was honestly worse than the wasted time. No customer should have to deal with that kind of behavior, and no employee should have to work under it. Avoid this place if you value professionalism, communication, or basic respect.

Before

Model Shoe Renew did an amazing job restoring and matching the color to my leather jacket that I thought was permanently ruined. I'll definitely return for future work and highly recommend them. Thanks so much for your great craftsmanship!

Repair (bottom of photo), vs. another pair (same model), un-repaired.
Stephen Y.

Not recommended for high end work-sloppy, poor materials and inattention to detail. Do not take your Goodyear welted shoes here. Took a pair of Crockett and Jones Harvard loafers here-they are Goodyear welted, unlined and made of shell cordovan. It's a well made shoe so I was a little uneasy about taking it anywhere, but I had some previous experience with a good repair on pair of CXL Wolverines 1000 miles here as well as a pair of suede chukkas with gum soles, so I took the chance rather than wait 2.5 months to send back to C&J's Northhampton repair facility-this was a mistake. Upon receipt of my shoes, there were a number of issues that were clearly lacking: 1. The outsole stitch was unusually large for a dress shoe and lacked the density of the manufacturer. The stitches looked to be about 1cm vs. the manufacturer's 3 stitches per cm. This is a big deal as far as durability goes, as larger and fewer stitches will become frayed more easily and start separate from the welt. 2. The stitch channels were also uneven and looked clumsy. 3. The outsole looked to be of poor quality and had a rough and unfinished quality to them. 4. Perhaps worst of all, the lining had visible stitches (lazy) thru the insole. A Goodyear welted shoe should not be stitched thru the insole! This can damage the integrity of the shoe and make it harder to resole! Goodyear welted shoes have a rib that allows for this stitch. Additionally, this is an unlined shoe, so this is almost as egregious as the shoddy outsole work. 5. There was dried glue all over the shoe as if there was no quality inspection of the work. Do not take your Goodyear welted shoes here. I don't think they know how to properly repair them. It would be better for everyone if they just said upfront that they either don't have the equipment or skill to do the work.

The guts of the old leather
Ana F.

A few months so, I was lucky to find an authentic CHANEL bag at a thrift shop. The inside leather was so damaged, many of my local shops were unable to fix it. I reached out to Peter and he was honest about the dry leather, and recommended I come in person so he could give a better judgement. It took about 2 months to repair, and it was worth the wait!! It looks brand new and he was able to restitch the double C. I have luxury taste but not luxury money, and Peter saved this beautiful bag. I would recommend him for any leather repair, I live 30 mins away and it's worth it to save things you love.

Old, ugly stitches
AJ G.

I guess I'll start by saying they did a great job on the re-welt of my friend's Red Wings. However, the most recent full resole for my boots was not very good. Firstly, I left a typed list of requests including removing old welt stitches. When I dropped them off, the lady at the counter ensured me that they would be removed as well. However, as you can see they were left in and stitched over. This is flat out lazy cobbling and very disappointing since I specifically asked for this. They also added a double midsole which I did not request or want. This will just add additional stiffness and weight. There was also a chunk of glue and sanding abrasion on the heel counter. Unfortunately, I will not be taking any more shoes here for this type of work, especially ones that have an appearance that I care more about.

Practically Pristine after!!!
S A.

My latest success story?? Brand new fendi boots scuffed on the first wear. The team RESSURECTED my boots! See before and after. Love this place, skills, pricing. Service!

Fixed the end of my zipper bag
Angelina T.

Service: 5/5 Punctuality: 5/5 Communication: 5/5 I had a purse that needed a small fix and came across Model Shoe Renew on Yelp. I DM'd them on Instagram and received a quick response that they'd be able to help, so I brought it in. Everyone was so helpful and the process was seamless. I let them know I was on a short timeline and they were able to fix it the same day within a few hours. I haven't worn this purse in so long but after getting it fixed, it's going to be one of my everyday bags again. Definitely recommend this place! They are quick, responsive, and have the best people to assist. I'll definitely be coming back if I have any repairs for my bags/shoes. Thanks again!

Rachel G.

Amazing experience start to finish. Judy did an excellent job stretching the calves of my knee high leather boots. I couldn't zip them up past the beginning of my calf when I brought them in but she did the impossible and made them fit perfectly - in a timely manner too. Can't recommend these folks enough! Thank you guys!!!

Resoled Louboutins

See all

21 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

17 days ago

Charles and Naj are such gentlemen, and the service is top notch. Cannot recommend this place enough!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

21 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

5 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Peter K.

Peter K.

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 2
Photo of Nao G.
0
17
2

6 days ago

Business owner information

Photo of Peter K.

Peter K.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 hours ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 day ago

They fixed my beloved platforms to near original state. Very nice guys. $60. Some difficult parking on Polk

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

24 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Peter K.

Peter K.

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 4
Photo of Ana F.
102
14
10

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

16 days ago

Business owner information

Photo of Peter K.

Peter K.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of AJ G.
1
6
44

9 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Peter K.

Peter K.

Helpful 3
Thanks 2
Love this 2
Oh no 2

6 months ago

Good quality work at a great price. Will be returning again in the future. Thanks for fixing my shoes

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of S A.
27
63
59

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of dani
0
3
0

8 days ago

did a great job on my vintage shoes for graduation! super happy. quick turn around too

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 6
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

All of the guys were so nice and helpful. Did my belt hole punching quickly and on the spot for free. Highly recommend!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Awesome service I am very happy with my boots. Quick turnaround and very friendly staff.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 2
Love this 2
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 5
Thanks 0
Love this 5
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

6 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Peter K.

Peter K.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

8 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Dani P.
795
17
18

2 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Super kind staff who did a great job on my Doc Martens! I got them off Ebay and wanted a simple cleaning, they look good as new!

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 19

Model Shoe Renew Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Model Shoe Renew

Do they do birkenstock repairs , like sole replacements and cleanings?

I'm not sure about Birk sole replacement, but they do cleaning and many other repairs. If they don't do it. I imagine you won't find another place that will. Of course that all depends on how bad your soles are. Just give them… Read more

Do they work on belts?

They punched holes in a purse strap for me and their holes were crooked. Def don't take a nice belt.

Have they done purse repair?

Yes they do all kinds of purse repairs, zippers, cleaning rips etc

View All 13 Questions

Review Highlights - Model Shoe Renew

I'm looking forward to having other items cleaned and restored by Judy, and can give a strong recommendation.

Mentioned in 56 reviews

Read more highlights

LaFoot Plus - My brother being evaluated by a certified kinesiologist.

LaFoot Plus

(145 reviews)

$$$

Elmwood

I cannot say enough good things about LaFoot in Berkeley…read more My brother manages a grocery store and is on his feet all day. Recently he started having significant foot pain. As a nurse who has dealt with bone spurs and plantar fasciitis myself, I immediately told him he needed to address it -- both by resting and by investing in proper shoes. I've been trying to convince him to upgrade his footwear for years! I found LaFoot while scrolling Yelp. The name caught my attention, and when I read that it's owned by a physical therapist and staffed with students/residents in orthopedics and foot care, I knew this wasn't just a regular shoe store -- this was going to be different. From the moment we walked in, we were impressed. Parking was easy (even on a busy day), and we were greeted by a tall, slender young man with glasses who introduced himself as a kinesiologist (I'm so sorry I didn't catch his name!). He was professional, attentive, and incredibly knowledgeable. He had my brother remove his shoes and socks, observed his gait by having him walk up and down the hallway, and even demonstrated how my brother's current shoes were too flexible by twisting them. Then he brought out a Brooks shoe and showed us the difference in structure -- it barely twisted at all. He explained why that stability matters. They measured his feet the old-school way with a sizing device to ensure a precise fit. They also noticed that my brother's feet turn slightly inward when he walks, which likely contributed to his pain. What I really appreciated was how they used a skeletal foot model with bands to visually demonstrate what was happening. For visual learners, this was incredibly helpful and made everything make sense. When my brother tried on the recommended shoes, he immediately said, "Oh my God, these make such a huge difference." That alone told me we were in the right place. The exact color he wanted wasn't in stock, but they ordered it and had it shipped to his home within a few days -- seamless process. Yes, the shoes were $154. But when you consider the amount of time he spends standing and walking, and the importance of preventing long-term foot issues, that is absolutely worth it. Your health and comfort are not the place to cut corners. The professionalism, the education, the attention to detail, and the way they truly listened -- both to my brother and to me -- really stood out. This isn't just a shoe store; it's an experience rooted in understanding foot health. We left feeling confident, informed, and genuinely impressed. Highly recommend.

I purchased my everyday shoes from the store. As someone with a foot condition, they understand…read moreyour requirements much better than what you can find on my own. They also have right stability shoes to try that are otherwise hard to find in stores.

Model Shoe Renew - shoerepair - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...