Shoe Savers

Twice a year I go through my closet and bring every shoe that needs repair. When I pick them up a week later, they look like brand new. You pay for the quality, but it is so worth it with what we have invested in shoes these days....I once brought a pair of sky high mules that I just couldn't wear for more than an hour, and they cut approximately an inch off the heel. You'd never know it; they still look amazing, and I can wear them now! Shoe Savers has cut and tightened the elastic on my favorite slingback straps which always slip off of my feet. I was nervous with the first pair I left, but I can't even see the alteration. Finally, since I bring in 5-6 pairs at a time a couple of times a year, they were able to see the pattern of how I wear my shoes and suggested that I bring them in new so that a toe guard could be placed on the tip of my pointed toe shoes. They have also suggested pads for slingbacks that has saved me from having to shorten the elastic on a couple of pairs. So, yes, you pay for the quality, but they are happy to point out less expensive alternatives when available. more

I think these people have gotten a bad rap recently. While a bit gruff and non-conversational, they were certainly polite and the work is amazing!! After being sent away from Houston Shoe Hospital with a recommendation for Shoe Savers, I took in a pair of Cole Haan boots (orig cost $450+) with a broken heel and badly worn soles. I was a bit worried when the ""master craftsman"" took out a shiny black plastic heel form to match to the original CH one. When I picked up my boots two weeks later he had replicated the ""stacked"" look and texture of the original heels; I wouldn't be surprised if he ordered in originals these looked so good!. In addition, the worn sole was replaced with a leather half sole instead of the typical black plastic ones you get everywhere else. Pros: Exceptional quality work! Cons: Payment terms-only cash or check more

I was referred to this store by an employee of a luxury retailer in town. I took in a pair of $500 shoes with a broken heel. When she saw my shoe, the woman behind the counter called the ""master craftsman"" out to take a look. He thought he could fix them and pulled out a flip book of replacement heels. She told me that such work would cost approximately $85. Before I decided to spend more money on these shoes, I wanted to ask a couple of questions--what the steps were to replace the heel and what I could expect in terms of color matching on the leather that covered the heel. The responses were ""He knows what he is doing"" and ""We match as close as we can"". When I tried to get more information, the ""craftsman"" and counter employee walked away and told me ""I can't hear you"". There is no way I will ever step foot in this store again or refer anyone there. Cons: Arrogant, rude, non-communicative more

I was new to Houston and read the reviews on this site while in search of a good shoe repair place. I took 5 very good pairs of work shoes to this store and paid over $150 in cash (they only accept cash) in advance for minor repairs on these shoes. The person behind the counter was extremely rude and told me it would take several weeks for the shoes to be fixed. I was surprised by how long it was going to take, but by this time I had paid and just wanted to get out of there. Several weeks later, while on vacation in California, I received a call from the shoe place. A VERY rude women said I had to pick up my shoes by 4 pm that day or she was throwing them in the garbage. I was so shocked I thought she was kidding. She said it is their policy to discard shoes after they have been there for 30 days. It turns out this policy is written in very small print on the back of the claim ticket. I told her I had no idea that was their policy and that I would come to pick them up as soon as I was back in the state. She said she really didn?t care if I didn?t know about their policy or that I was out of the state, she was throwing them out that day. I asked her to make an exception as it was impossible for me to get there, and the shoes were worth over $1,000. She said no and hung up on me! I have never been so shocked in my life. I am in awe that this level of customer abuse can exist in today?s market. Buyer beware! This is the worst customer experience I have ever had. Pros: nothing good about this place Cons: worst customer service possible more

Earlier, I raved about this store and their craftsmanship, but since my last interaction with them, things have changed... Pros: Craftsmanship Cons: service more

I am amazed at the quality of work done by the family at Shoe Savers. I had a horrible experience at the Houston Shoe Hospital which left me in tears, bootless in mid winter, and out 120+ dollars for what I consider very destructive work! My beautiful Isaac boots have been saved thanks to the wonderful people at Shoe Savers. It was my experience that the shoe hospital had damaged the leather in several places in the process of putting on a new leather half sole, which was so thick it pulled away from the leather (without me even wearing them!) In addition they convinced me that the heels were in terrible shape and when I got them back, I cried because they looked like someone had colored them with a magic marker. I was shocked when I picked them up and was told that this was the best looking half sole they had ever done! They also refused to refund my money. I took the boots to Shoe Savers and got them back looking as good as new! I am so impressed with their work I highly recommend Shoe Savers to anyone who loves their shoes and considers them to be an investment. They did beautiful work on my Cole Haan boots as well. I also took in two pairs of sandals that I thought I would never be able to wear again and got them back looking so great I'll have to make up new excuses to go shoe shopping this spring! I have never seen shoe repair quality like this in my life. I drive all the way across town now to take any shoes needing loving care to Shoe Savers!!! They are also able to accommodate my husband's needs for new shoe soles in a size 15! Contrary to many things I have read on this site, the people were extremely friendly to me and offered wonderful customer service. If you love your shoes, you shouldn't trust anyone else with their care. Pros: Wonderful finished product, friendly customer service, great value-you get what you pay for! Cons: NONE! more

I MOVED HERE FROM NEW YORK A WHILE BACK AND WAS REFERERED TO SHOE SAVERS BY EVERYONE I SPOKE WITH. I SEE WHY. I THOUGHT WE HAD CRAFTSMAN IN NY BUT I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING QUITE LIKE THIS BEFORE. I WEAR MOSTLY MANOLOS AND MY HUSBAND WEARS ONLY FERROGAMOS AND CHURCHES. I TOOK A BAGFUL OF THEM IN TO BE REPAIRED. THE OWNER SPOKE WITH ME AND EXPLAINED EVERYTHING THAT COULD AND COULD NOT BE DONE TO OUR SHOES. I PICKED THEM UP TODAY AND I COULDN'T BELEIVE MY EYES. EACH PAIR OF BOTH MINE AND MY HUSBAND'S LOOKED AS THOUGH THEY WERE JUST PURCHASED.EACH PAIR WAS EXACTLY AS THEY WERE PROMISED.THIS IS SHOE REPAIR AT IT'S BEST. I MIGHT ADD THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE EXTREMELY PROFESSIONABLE AND ARE PROBABLY THE MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE I HAVE EVER DEALT WITH. I CAN SEE WHY THEY HAVE RECEIVED ALL THE AWARDS THAT DECORATE THE WALLS AND WHY EVERYONE RECOMENDS THEM.IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR HONESTY AND SUPER QUALITY THIS IS THE PLACE TO GO! Pros: GREAT SERVICE SUPER QUALITY FRIENDLY STAFF more

The owners of this business were extremely rude and apparently I'm not the only one who thinks so. Read the other reviews and you will see that my opinion holds some water. Only 60% say they would recommend it and those reviews were based on their craftsmanship and not their service. One of the reviews that ""highly recommended"" them actually admitted that one might misconstrue the owners as being rude. Believe me I am not misconstruing the FACT that they are rude and absolutely unprofessional in their dealings with clients. The fact that they are impolite and ill-mannered will keep me from ever going back. I am also in the service business and a saying we have is that ""you might have 100 people that like you but it only takes 1 to hurt your reputation"". It is my endeavor to let my friends and family, all of who grew up and live in the area, know that these people are unbecoming of the friendly reputation this part of Houston has come to deserve. Cons: TONS more

Wow! What a great family! I would highly recommend taking any of your shoe or handbag repairs to Barry at shoe savors! Super nice people! Always wanting and willing to help! I truly think he is the best shoe (handbag) repair guy in the city! He takes pride in his work! YOU WILL NOT be dissapointed! His wife is the absolute sweetest! Hopefully you will be able to go one day and get a glimps at the whole family! Very kind people! I've taken my shoes to him and the work he does is so perfect, you would not even know that anything was wrong in the first place. Wheather it be a broken heel, damaged heel from those darn holes in the ground or a broken strap on a handbag......... he's the one for the job. If you think what you need is too complicated.......... WAIT please go see Barry before you take the shoe somewhere else and they screw it up! YOU WILL BE SATISFIED! He also sells great sprays and supplies for the shoes. Take it from me, BARRY IS THE ONE TO SEE! Pros: Easy to find! Easy to park! Fast service more

I've never posted before on this site but WOW! I just had an old pair of Manolos brought back from the dead! I have had these shoes resoled before for less money and less than stellar results in the Houston area. I've dealt with Shoe Savers twice and will take my shoes there exclusively going forward. My first time was to do some preventive work on a new pair which makes it harder to judge their abilities, but I decided to have a consult on the Manolos because I didn't really want to buy a new pair of basic black pumps just yet. After checking their condition, I received a very fair estimate of what could and could'nt be done. The results were beyond my expectations. I just wish I'd found them sooner instead of wasting money with the other popular shoes repair shops. Service was very cordial and I never had to wait but a minute while they finished with another customer. Again, Shoes Savers is the best I've ever used in Houston (or Dallas for that matter)! Pros: Easy access, parking Cons: cash or checks only more

If you are a SJP and love your Choo's & Manolo's this is the only place in Houston to go. Infact along with Brooks in Chicago this is the only place in the USA to go. I even bring my shoes from Europe to have them repaired here. - its worth the plane ride. Its expensive, and they only take cash/check but if you spend a $500 on a pair of shoes and a $1000 on a pair of boots - do you really want to skimp on the repair? Makes shoes look like brand new - can perform magic on manolos. Pros: parking, craftmanship, individual care and attention Cons: cash only, quite expensive more

I have been reading some of the reviews about Shoe Savers, and I would like to share my experience. I wear a size 5 shoe. I like expensive shoes; and when I find them in my size, they are literally irreplaceable. Barry is the ONLY person in the City of Houston that does what he does and who has been able to fix shoes I thought I had ruined, to perfection. He is not a shoe repair man; he is an artist. Some people may not find him a warm and fuzzy person; but he is focused, never makes a promise he can't keep, and is a master craftsman. His son is also quite skilled. I am a very thin-skinned person, but I have learned that people are under stress and are different on different days. I find the entire family quite pleasant. Barry is usually in the back doing what he does best and lets his son, who seems to have an easier time talking with the customers, do what he does best. I have concluded over many visits, and many different types of encounters at Shoe Savers, that they are kind people. Most importantly to me, they do what they do PERFECTLY. Even if you misconstrue Barry's demeanor as rude and have a bad first impression of him, you will never have a bad first impression of his work. Over time, you will grow to understand and appreciate the person he is as well. His work is worth it; he is worth it; his entire family is worth it. I wish there were more places like Shoe Savers where I can trust I will get more than I pay for, every time. Pros: Easy parking; shoes always ready when promised more

I have lived in houston for 40 plus years and can state unequivically that Barry and Ellen's shoe saver repair store is one of the finest stores of ANY KIND in this city. The work is superb and the repair results are almost magical. My family has used them for a myriad of repairs over a number of years and they have always exceeded our high expectations in their work on belts , purses, shoes and boots.! These people really care about their customers and the repair product they carefully and painstakingly produce. At a time when we are besieged by cheap products made in third world countries and stores that only care about making a profit it is heartwarming to know that true craftsmen still exist and to enjoy the product of their years of experience and talents. As many times as I have been there it is inconceivable that anyone could be disappointed with this great store! You get what you pay for and although the prices are not inexpensive their work, to me, is worth every dime. Go there and see for yourself Pros: I see no drawbacks to this great shop. I don't believe you could find another repair shop of this kind with Barry's skills (possibly not in the country). more

They resurrected my ancient custom made Lucchese cowboy boots when I thought they ware surely goners. Ladies couture shoes are returned on time looking like new. Ellen and Barry are absolutely the most helpful, courteous and skillful shoe professionals we have ever had the pleasure of doing business with. We are devoted customers and can recommend their work without any reservations whatsoever. Their service is above reproach. Pros: You can rely on an excellent job at a fair price and be treated courteously more

I wouldn't take my shoes anyother place...in the past I have used a ""less-expensive"" shoe repair shop(s) that did a very ""cheap"" job...Shoe Savers repairs all of my shoes with the highest of quality goods--they are timely and will give you an honest and fair price for the work they agree to do...I think they are the best shoe repair business in Houston. Pros: Conveniently located; plenty of parking Cons: They do not accept credit cards more

Poor attitude on the telephone, refused to give information on pricing other stores were willing to give. Quite rude--will go somewhere else for any work on shoes. more

Shoe Savers on Bissonnet is absolutely the best.... I wear Allen Edmonds and they have re-soled or virtually rebuilt shoes for me for years... I get them back and the workmanship is as if the just came from the store brand new.... everyone is always so helpful and courteous..... if you like very professional work Shoe Savers is the place for you..... Pros: workmanship is the best Cons: there are no cons................. more

A true shame to Houston. These ppl have the most smug, uneblievably rude attitude. They definitely need a lesson in basic politeness and decency towards their customers. I had the great misfortune of encountering this atrocious attitude firsthand. They have the notion that because they happen to do work for upscale department stores in the Houston area, they can treat their customers horribly. They act like they are above you and your shoes because of this. Also, they are incredibly overpriced and expensive. Search on the internet and you will see other bad reviews and stories. Would NOT recommend. more