Downer Square Shoe & Luggage

I have been coming here for years and continue to be amazed by how patient and helpful the owner is. He has fixed more shoes of mine than I can count and his workmanship is impeccable. Today I went in to try to get a pair of suede boots cleaned and after looking at them he suggested I buy my own cleaner and do it myself in order to save me money, whereas most other owners would just take the shoes and the profit. I have lived in San Francisco for almost 3 of the past 5 years and I continue to come back to him when I am in the area because he truly is the best!

The man working at the store does have a thick accent which was a huge language barrier for me to understand what he was saying to me most of the time.

My sandal was repaired perfectly, They used very high quality glue, therefore i believe it will last longer. Owner is super friendly and doing the best skills.

My feet are tiny and very hard to find shoes that fit well. I have been coming to this shop for years to get all my heel straps adjusted. They always do a wonderful job. And the price is reasonable too.

Successfully stitched up a strap falling off a leather purse, fastened a new closure on another purse, and polished up some old boots. He first asked what color the boots were, as they were an odd greenish color when I gave them to him. Now they are back to their true black. Cheaper than buying new boots:).

The guy was helpful n wanted to just teach me how to do the repair myself, but the wife stopped him short of it (speaking to him in Korean)
N so he walked away n she acted dumb about it, as if I don’t pick up on their language
I think she was insistent on charging
I don’t mind but I didn’t like the attitude
Wasn’t able to get much repairs done here except for a small stitch.
I read the reviews and had hoped it would have been one of those «crafty» repair shop.
He did crack the middle part of my bag because he handled it roughly.
It’s a name brand bag so my heart just sank.
Did not get mad but u know u don’t want to get new damage on it before they made the repair on something else that you initially went there for in the first place

If you want to experience old-​world craftsmanship, by someone who really cares about his craft, come to this establishment.
My wife had two pairs of shoes in need of small repairs that could be accomplished with a bit of glue (the cost of labor would have exceeded the value of the shoes).
The proprietor patiently examined the shoes and explained what type of glue was needed for the job. He also patiently explained how to do the repairs. When we were buying the small bottle of glue, he went to the back of his own initiative, to retrieve a piece of sandpaper, which he threw in at no additional charge.
With pride, he showed us a pair of shoes that he had repaired using the glue we were buying.
It was obvious to us that he really cares about his craft and about his customers. It is not often around here these days to witness this level of craftsmanship and customer service.

I wanted to give this place more stars because the worker/​owner (?) was a friendly guy with nice advice and because they were able to fix my mom’s shoe the way she wanted BUT I was given a ticket telling me to come back Wednesday and when I came that day it was not ready. He had started working on the shoe but didn’t finish and asked me to wait a little bit longer. I however couldn’t wait longer because I had to get going to work so I had no option but to come back the next day. I wish he would have specified to me to come at a certain time rather than tell me Wednesday. I wish they would have called me to let me know so I could have saved myself the trip.

This is another rare to find place nowadays in US. I had been debating whether to buy a new luggage or fix the one with broken leg. In the spirit of conservation, I had my luggage repaired at this shop. I was impressed with the workmanship and the nice and kind owner couple. The charge is quite reasonable also.
I wish they can be around forever to serve people who need it. Thank you very much.

I have been going here for years for my shoes (never had luggage done here). Their prices can be a little pricey but this place always gets the job done with whatever shoe needs. They are honest when telling you that certain shoes can’t be fixed or telling you the cost of the repairs of the shoes might me more that the cost of the shoes. I do appreciated honesty. They are good for replacing the heals, polishing leather, repainting your shoes, just about anything!

Really nice couple! Also really nice work as well as the price. Came in for a little repair on my favorite boots and came out like brand new. Differently recommended and recommending family and friends here.

Yet another excellent experience that didn’t hurt my wallet too much.
To my dismay, the strap on my Micheal Kors purse broke at the base where it looked almost impossible to repair. It ripped where the ring holds the strap in place and didn’t look like enough leather was there to fix. When I picked it up it looked almost new again!
I think the owner must have heated & stretched the leather. That’s the only think I can think of as to how he repaired it. With a name like «Michael Kors», I thought my purse would last a lifetime but I suppose expensive things break down every once in a while — sort of like cars.
For ten dollars, I have my favorite purse back in my arms again!

So I took my Carlos Santa shoe in, the guy did an excellent job! I asked for same day service but I didn’t make it back before he closed. I was satisfied & will sport my heels this wknd! :)
I decided since he did a great job I should give him my other shoes I’ve been lugging in my trunk, he wanted to charge $ 20 plus but said I could fix them on my own with glue. So I bought the glue, now my shoes & the glue are both downstairs! Will I fix them probably not.

This is a cut-​throat place. The guy just want to charge you an arm and a leg because anyone who is willing to fix their shoes must really love the shoes enough to repair them rather than buy another one. The owner knows it so he quotes something absolutely outrageous. I was desperate enough to pay anyway because my shoes had sentimental value to me. Long story short, the shoes scratched a couple of days later and he refuse to give it a touch up (despite me paying big $$$ two days ago for it). His response was essentially that I can go buy some shoes spray-​paint and do it myself!!! This guy disgusts me.

Repaired my laptop bag here 4 times. Poor design and construction of my bag kept causing the handles to separate from the body of the bag. Downer Square repaired it each time. First repair was around $ 15 for a 4 inch stitch (in a very complicated and tight area). Second repair for another handle was $ 5. Third repair was another $ 5. Last and final repair was $ 15.
Turn around time is quick, it can be ready same day if you ask nicely, but I gave the man some time and pick it up at the end of the week. The stitches themselves are tight and strong. None of his handiwork has come loose. Each stitch section is sealed to prevent unraveling.
Apparently, this shop also copies keys and is some sort of reseller of sorts. Do not be alarmed when you walk in and see the PILES of shoes on the floor and hung on the wall. They do accept credit card, always a plus!
Word of caution, any repair will alter the original look of your piece. DO NOT EXPECT REPAIRS TO BE INVISIBLE, especially if they were noticeable in the first place. Get real with yourself. Do not send your Louboutins here, nor should you drop off any designer purse or luggage – they were expensive initially for a reason.

I went here by the suggestion of my dad. I had a big interview for grad school and my go-​to pumps were in need of some TLC. They’re black leather all over and I was told by the woman who works there that the leather from the heel would be removed and would be «shiny» and black. She showed me an example with another shoe and I figured that was acceptable. It was either shell out $ 50 for a new pair or pay the $ 23 for a small repair. I got them back less than a week later and they looked good. The next day I wore them to work and by the end of the day, before I even went on the interview there were scratches on the heel that showed the white plastic underneath the paint/​polish.
I went back today (exactly a week later) when I had time to show them what happened and the response I got was a bit unexpected. He basically said it was my fault– that I «touch too much». I assured him that I did not «touch too much» since I sit at a desk all day.
In my head I’m thinking: What are my shoes touching? And why is your handiwork even that fragile? When I asked if he could do them over he said sure I’ll use this polish next time and pointed to something he had on the wall. I asked if he planned on charging me again he said yes and that’s when I left. You should have used what you thought would work the first time. I can expect some wear and tear showing up again after more than a few wears but ONE DAY?! Oh no. So now I’ve eaten the cost of the first repair of $ 23 and I refuse to pay him again when there’s a high possibility he’ll fail again. Fool me once… you know the rest. There won’t be a second time. I wanted to like this place but there doesn’t seem to be much interest in customer satisfaction.

I Discovered this place during an online search because I was disappointed in the usual place I go to for shoe repair (Andy’s Shoe Repair). I live in Evergreen and have been going to Andy’s for years, but was very unhappy with the workmanship he did on my very expensive pair of boots and charged me $ 80! Needless to say, my $ 80 shoe repair didn’t last long at all.
I am getting ready to head to NY within the week and the weather forecast calls for rain/​snow. I not only needed my boots repaired, but I also required a hook on a garment back replaced as well.
I found Downer Square Shoe & Luggage Repair on Unilocal this morning and was very pleased with all the positive responses. I went in and the store owner was extremely friendly and helpful. I was able to get the proper hook replaced for my garment bag and my boots will be ready for pick-​up on Friday! He was even kind enough to buff my new Gucci booties for free! Total for my garment back hook and boots to be re-​soled was $ 37.00! I have found a new home for my shoes and luggage repair!

this place has been around forever. it is a place respected by the locals because the owner just is too nice and friendly. I think he cares more about you then the business itself… now that’s rare to say about a business owner. But maybe that’s why people still come to him.
Bridal’s comment is as shallow as her 3 star review on boiling crab while more than 1,500 people has given 4 – 5 stars on this joint. Of course I knew I couldn’t trust that review. I found out the true story. The owner warned her that he could not dye that type of shoes beforehand but she insisted anyways. Now, don’t you think shoe repair owner would know what type of dye works on certain type of shoes? That’s his whole business! Do you really think any business owner would try to ruin your wedding shoe?
What makes this so ridiculous is that he refunded all the money which she didn’t write on her review. Look at the 13 reviews she wrote and see how credible they are. No wonder why she has no friends on Unilocal.
Seriously, I’m putting 3 years of Unilocal elite on the line for this joint. He adjusted my aching foot that has been bothering me for years by giving me a shoe sole that actually works. Go there and you won’t be disappointed.

It’s hard to find both professional and friendly service at same time, but Mr Hwang provides it. Prompt friendly service with value pricing!
Hwang took my call and gave me an estimate over the phone. It was apparent immediately that he knows his stuff. I met with him later in the afternoon. As with everyone else, he was prompt, friendly, and extremely professional. He took the time to explain my options to me in detail. He has great depth of knowledge of what parts are available, which ones are of the best quality, and which ones get the job done at a reasonable price. His prices are a great value and the quality of his work is top notch. I will definitely call Downer Square Shoe repair again for any shoe & luggage work I need in the future and give him my highest recommendation.