Latest news with #shoeRepair
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Forget about tomorrow': Ralph Rotella's advice as he celebrates his 50th anniversary in business
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — Before he touches a single shoe, Ralph Rotella really shines as a backroom barista. He often treats regulars to espresso made in his old-school stove-top kettle from Italy. Rotella was only 16 years old when he moved from Calabria, Italy to Syracuse. At 20, he followed in his uncle's footsteps and opened Discount Shoe Repair with a partner in 1975. 50 years later, the store sits in the same block. 'When you enjoy something you like,' Rotella said in his broken English, 'the time go by so fast.' Old than Ralph is the shop's equipment. When he opened Discount Shoe Repair, Ralph bought the collection from another Italian cobbler retiring from Buffalo. The machines run the same, but a lot has changed over the years. Ralph has seen the City of Syracuse through his window. 'When we set up,' he remembers, 'It was beautiful. After few years, got worse, come back again.' The industry has evolved too. 'Shoes are a like a car,' Ralph said, 'every few years, they change style.' He sees more plastic and vinyl than leather nowadays. A form of super glue he calls his savior. Some overly-worn shoes, he'll suggest are junk. Ralph doesn't know how many pairs of shoes he's handled in his career. 'It's gotta be a million,' he guesses. 'Figure… few hundred a week… for 50 years.' He's more diligent at counting donations to his annual shoe drive, collecting for the Rescue Mission. When asked his thoughts on retiring, Ralph said: 'Not yet. If I retire, what am I going to do home? People who retire… they get so bored. I'm only 71. Maybe five more years.' Five more years of his customer service and coffee. 'Take a little break. Life is too short. Enjoy today, forget about tomorrow,' said Ralph. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Wythenshawe cobbler retiring after 39 years thanks community
A cobbler retiring after 39 years has said his community's kindness has been "overwhelming".Gary Walker, from Benchill, Wythenshawe, is laying down his tools after nearly four decades running the Walker's Shoe Repair in Wythenshawe Civic shopping 66-year-old, who has been repairing shoes and cutting keys since 1986, has been referred to as a "local legend" by announcing his retirement, he has been inundated by messages of support and said it was "nice to be recognised as someone who has worked in the community all these years". "To get that response just because I am retiring is a bit overwhelming," he said."It sounds weird, local legend, I'm just somebody who has worked for a living on the centre."But I am proud to be from Benchill, I am." Mr Walker said the shoe side of the business was once the biggest part."In 1995 it was a lot busier on the shoe repairing side, that's all you did," he said."Then, the keys were in the background but shoe repairing would just take you going all day, everyday."The father-of-three said the business had to evolve over the years as shoes fell foul of a "throw away world", which is why key cutting became more important."It is probably cheaper to buy a new pair of shoes than it is to repair them," he said."Shoes are just cheap imports mostly these days." But the cobbler said the best part of his job had been "being local" and serving people he knows."You chat everyday with different people, you get to know all the faces, your regular customers over the years," he Walker said many people had asked what his retirement plans were and he intended to spend more time with his family and looking after his daughter who is autistic and has additional needs. Local carpet shop owner Ben Corrie said Mr Walker would be missed a great deal."I've used him for years, it's going to be a huge loss to the precinct," he said."But I wish him all the best in his retirement."Carina Bradbury, who has been shopping at the precinct for more than 20 years, said Mr Walker was a "lovely guy"."He is always there for anyone who needs keys cutting, repairs, anything like that, and he's really quick at what he does so we are all a bit gutted that he's going." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
