About usPartner with usListen to our podcasts

Manuel Shoe Repair

Opening Hours
Today: 7:30am–6pm
Wed:
7:30am–7pm
Thurs:
7:30am–7pm
Fri:
7:30am–7pm
Sat:
8:30am–5pm
Sun:
Closed
Mon:
7:30am–7pm
Location
212 East 29th Street
Neighborhoods
Manuel Shoe Repair 1 Restoration and Repairs Nomad Kips Bay

This tiny shop tucked away in Kips Bay has been the go-to spot for any and all of one’s footwear-related troubles since it opened in 2014. Manuel Muicela, the owner, came to New York from Nicaragua in 1987 and quickly joined the trade of shoe repair, enduring grueling six-day workweeks. After gaining thirty years of experience in the field, he was finally able to open his own business. “I learned how to repair shoes, and now I work for me,” he remarked proudly. In this residential area, most of his regulars live in the neighborhood. On the loyalty of his customers, Manuel noted, “If you do a good job, people come back.”

A few things about Manuel’s shop set him apart from the rest. One of the first things that grabs the eye upon entering is the set of old-fashioned shoeshine chairs, where one can get a shoeshine for $5, cash only. He also has a unique machine in the back of the shop that stitches both the inside and the outside of the shoe. With a chuckle, Manuel warned our team, “You can stitch your finger if you’re not careful.” This machine is so rare that many other shoe repair shop owners throughout the city come to Manuel to use it.

Location
Loading
Sign up to Sidestreet Updates

More Restoration and Repairs nearby