Do you have a jacket with a zipper that doesn’t work quite right? A pair of walking shoes with the sole starting to wear out? I have a solution to these repair problems: visit Jim the Shoe Doctor in Eugene.
The Shoe Doctor store has been in business since 1903, located on East 11th Avenue by Ferry Street. Mike Summers owns the store and has worked in shoe repair for over 40 years. The store has extensive services, from sole patching, complete sole replacement, zipper repair, orthopedic shoe modifications, a wide variety of socks, and more.
In an age where we throw out over 300 million pairs of shoes a year, Mike continues his valuable work to extend the life of our footwear. I’ll be visiting the shop very soon, so I won’t be throwing away my running shoes any longer.
I recently interviewed Mike, the store owner and the sixth honorary “Jim the Shoe Doctor,” to ask a few questions.
Q: How did you get started in the shoe business?
“My best friend’s dad owned a shoe repair shop in the 80s. I was in high school, and he offered us work doing odd jobs and cleaning. In the 1980s, there were 25-plus shoe repair shops in the Valley.
“I worked at Sheldon Shoe Repair off Coburg Road in Sheldon Plaza and became the manager, and then the owner sold me the shop at 19 years old. I sold that business and then became manager of the Atrium Shoe repair store in downtown Eugene.
“After working at the Sole Saver in Valley River Center, I heard that Jim, the owner of the Shoe Doctor, was not doing well. He offered to sell me the business, and we moved by the Kiva in 2002. We’ve been in our current location for 15 years.”
Q: What is the most typical item you repair? What do typical repairs cost?
“We do a lot of heel work: ladies’ shoes, men’s dress shoes, and running shoes. Quite a lot of orthopedic work. A heel plug to repair a hole in a shoe sole runs $25. To re-sole a leather shoe is $85, and to re-sole a running shoe is $70. A protective sole for leather shoes is $45 for men and $35 for women.
Q: Any suggestions for how people can extend the life of their shoes?
“Keep them conditioned so that the leather doesn’t crack. Spray suede shoes with a protective spray to make them easier to clean and remove dirt.”
Q: Do you have any home repair tips?
“Shoe Goo can be used to glue soles back on but be careful as it’s messy and very permanent. Another repair product the shop sells is Tuff Toes, which is incredibly strong and a powerful repair option. Contact cement can also be used to repair small holes in soles.”
Q: We heard you might be looking for a successor to the business, is that true?
“Yes, I have a new employee who might take over for me in the future. My real passion is BMX bikes and racing. There are no BMX bike repair shops in Eugene. The closest shops are in Medford and Salem. I would like to open a BMX repair shop in our area.”
Q: Do you have a funny or interesting repair story to share?
“I have repaired shoes for the Ducks mascot, for the Ems Mascot, and I have made some very fancy nice boots for Santa Claus.”
Q: Any other things you’d like people to know?
“We repair a variety of items you might not expect, basically anything with stitching. This includes luggage, golf bags, jackets, purse repair, and a lot more.”
Waste Wise Lane County wants to extend a big “thank you” to Mike for talking with us and letting us walk a mile in his shoes. Find more repair resources at Fix-It Lane County.
— Tamara Andreas, Lane County Waste Reduction Assistant
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