Drago Shoe Repair

I walked in with a broken shoe and was helped on the spot with amazing service. If I lived nearby these would definitely be my go to shop for shoe repair. Highly recommended!

First-​class workmanship with a no-​nonsense approach.
If you’re looking for white-​glove customer service, keep on walking through Port Authority and hop on a bus to Short Hills Mall in New Jersey because this ain’t the place to find hand-​holding or pleasantries.
What you will find instead is top-​notch shoe repair services and quite possible the best shoeshine available on the island of Manhattan — or pretty much anywhere.
Most recently, I took my beat-​up, 15-​year-​old pair of Bruno Magli shoes to be resoled, and the results were stunning. I’ve had them repaired before with good results in the past, but there was exquisite attention to detail in the contour of the replacement soles; you’d hardly know that they weren’t original, unless you know your Bruno Magli! The shoeshine was deep and long-​lasting; two weeks after almost-​daily use and commuting, there was still almost a mirror-​like finish on them. Impressive.
The décor and branding wouldn’t win any awards, and you don’t come here to chat (or to save a few bucks), but the quality of the work could hardly be better.

This place is way overpriced and the quality of the work is not that good. I honestly cannot recommend it.

Everyone knows that traveling through the Port Authority is about as fun as a colonoscopy without sedation. What everyone doesn’t know is how a great shoe shine can completely change your outlook on the day.
Most kids grew up being told that no matter what you do in life, make sure you always have clean underwear on. (Which is excellent advice.) Bullet number two on that list should be to always have on freshly-​shined shoes. You could roll out of a Dumpster, filthy dirty, and stinking to the high heavens. As long as you have on a pair of shiny black or brown shoes, no one will ever notice.
People who take the time to get a shoe shine are in the same class of people who give that extra wipe in the bathroom to make sure their butt is super-​clean. They’re the people who smile produly at everyone they pass by on the streets because they know how awesome their shiny shoes look on their feet. If you don’t believe me, try it one day. Go get a shoe shine and watch how your entire life transforms in front of your face.
And no one does a shoe shine better than the guys at Drago. For less than $ 10 with tip, they will take the ugliest, dirtiest, nastiest shoes you own, and in just a few minutes they will transform them into something that looks better than the day you bought them. They are the best.
Trust me when I say there is magic happening in this little pocket of the Port Authority. You just have to discover it in order to believe it.

Since all of their signs say «shoe repair» but knowing that many shoe repair companies also repair leather bags, I walked up to the counter. This is how the conversation went:
Me: «Do you repair leather bags?»
Man at counter: «Sometimes» *walks away*
It probably goes without saying that I did not give them my business. So I can’t comment on quality, but I can tell you if you appreciate customer service, go elsewhere.

I’m sorry but the prices are ridiculous. The guy was smug as he quoted me 60 bucks to repair something that cost me 20 in Soho. They are crooks and they’re scamming and getting away with it because it’s located in port authority. There are better places for far more reasonable prices. This location just happens to be convenient.

I brought one pair of boots to NY when the polar vortex descended. and the zip broke on my boots. As we were staying close by I took my boots to Drago. The workmanship was excellent. Made my boots look like new.

When your feet are your primary mode of transportation, your shoes frequently need a tune-​up. The hubs takes both of our shoes here for repairs and I’ve been consistently pleased with the results. I have a favorite pair of boots that I wear constantly during the colder months, and they’ve replaced both zippers, resoled them, replaced taps, repaired heels, patched one toe, rebuilt the other toe, replaced insoles, and shined them up over the last few years. It’s not always cheap, but I feel it’s commensurate with the workmanship.

Great man, good work. He’s on the other side of Soho and a bit of a journey for me, but definitely knows how to clean up your shoes good as new. From taps to resoling and fixing up your winter boots, he does a good job at a good price. Last time I looked, he’s cash only.

They have quote on their table, they may not be God, but they do save soles. As I was heading to Boston from Penn, I needed to resole my loafers, they did it on the spot. Soles from Italy for the heel, and the vibram for the feet. Then they hand shined the shoes up — looked better than new. And the cool thing, everyone at Boston kept commenting on my shoes. So either the shine or Drago truly added soul to my soles.

Outstanding service. Loved it. Fun, too!

Ruined my $ 500 Lamb Bag!
I brought one of my favorite bags to Drago Shoe Repair to get the handles fixed. They told me they were not salvageable and that I would need to get both handles replaced at a cost of $ 50. At first I was reluctant, but knowing it was one of my favorite and most expensive bags, I needed to get it fixed if I wanted to keep carrying it. When I came back to pick it up, he had shortened the straps by at least 2 inches leaving it impossible to carry on my shoulder, much less get into and out of it. The guy at the counter looked at it and agreed that it looked to short, apologized and said to leave it and they would fix it. Frustrated I left having to again 3 days later. When I go back, nothing has been done. The same guy said that he got yelled at by the owner and that he had refused to fix it. Claimed they were the same length and said If I wanted longer straps I would have to pay another $ 50. Are you kidding me?! So first you shorten my handles making the bag completely unusable and then tell me that if I want it fixed I have to pay again?!
I will make it a point to tell everyone I know not to go to this place starting with Unilocal!As a customer who likes to find those places you can trust and keep going back for good reliable service I WILL NEVER GO BACK TO DRAGO SHOW REPAIR!
If you want your things that you’ve paid good hard earned money for repaired DON’T BRING IT HERE! ARROGANT OWNER! HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE! BAG RUINED!

I have had shoes SAVED by Drago on numerous occassions. I have met the owner many times and he, and his VERY experienced staff, have gone out of their way to do complicated repairs quickly, and for a decent price. They can turn something around very fast if you let them know that it’s due in a hurry. Showgirl’s got a broken heel? Drago can fix it before curtain time. The best in the neighborhood, and that includes the one on 51^st Street which shall not be named… A great place for repairs and upkeep on your favorite pair!!! New Yorkers, do NOT walk around these sidewalks with leather soles. Drago can put on a sole-​saver that will lengthen the life of the shoes by years.

The owner is pompous and unhelpful. He told me I would have to wait 30 minutes for a 5 minute repair when no one else was there. Use the other shoe repair around the corner by the LIRR terminal.

I pass through Port Authority Bus Terminal almost daily, both on the weekdays and many weekends. Drago Shoe Repair is one of the most convenient places for me to go and get my shoes shined on the way to work. The guys area always friendly, quick and they do a great shine. There are a couple places I have gone near Grand Central that finish up a shine and it seems to get messed up almost the same day. When I go to Drago, the manage to do it right!
Drago isn’t just about shines though. They fix shoes, ties and more. They sell all this *stuff* that i honestly wouldn’t know where else to go for without doing research. Need shoe laces? Collar stays? «Invisible» tie holds? Shoe covers? The list just goes on and on and on. I really love the diversity of product available here, and from the constant flow of people I see bringing in shoes for repair, they must do the job right.
I know I’ll have to get the heels fixed on of my pairs of shoes in the next 6 months or so, and I’ll be bringing them here. :)