Thursday, December 6, 2007

Cobbler, Cobbler, Mend My Shoe

So goes the first line of an old Mother Goose rhyme (here's the rest of it). Gus of Hyde Park Shoe Rebuilders, is a genuine cobbler and I met him today at his shop. Here he is amidst his cobbling machinery and stacks of shoes awaiting his attention. Gus is originally from Greece.
Posted by

18 comments:

  1. • Eliane •December 6, 2007 at 10:10 PM

    Aww... I love this picture! And I love the bric-à-brac of Gus' store. If he was in my neighborhood, I would bring him my shoes, I'd even make a detour.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousDecember 7, 2007 at 9:48 AM

    Thank you Eliane! Gus' shop has an entire lifetime of work and love crammed onto the walls and shelves...I wanted to take more photos, but he and I were both a little shy...

    ReplyDelete
  3. JillyDecember 7, 2007 at 10:14 AM

    What a wonderful photo of this man's life - and his cobbler's shop. Like Eliane, I love all the mementos of his life. There seems a calmness to him.

    I agree with you, b.c. it's sometimes difficult to take a photo, isn't it? People are shy. Just depends. Some love to be photographed and some don't.

    You did so well.

    ReplyDelete
  4. b.c.December 7, 2007 at 5:33 PM

    Thank you, Jilly

    ReplyDelete
  5. Clueless in BostonDecember 8, 2007 at 10:14 AM

    Great slice of life photo. It is getting harder and harder finding cobblers. I think it is a dying craft. I always bring my shoes and have them re-soled. It is so practical and much cheaper than buying new; and the shoes are already broken in and so comfortable. What's more comfortable than an old shoe?

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousDecember 8, 2007 at 10:25 PM

    I completely agree with you, Clueless, re comfy old shoes...

    ReplyDelete
  7. Fabrizio ZanelliDecember 9, 2007 at 5:46 PM

    Unfortunately here cobblers are quite disappeared. That's a pity and doesn't mean we're more rich but that we are more fool.

    ReplyDelete
  8. NevaDecember 9, 2007 at 7:40 PM

    the guy we use is also from that part of the world...he is in Barrington...you got a really great shot of him and his work....I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  9. samDecember 10, 2007 at 6:47 AM

    wow, now that is something you don't see every day, in this world of 'flavour of the month' fashions and disposable lifestyle. I agree with Fabrizio! It's a shame that skills which were passed from generation to generation are dying out.

    ReplyDelete
  10. NorthBayPhotoDecember 10, 2007 at 9:36 AM

    Great shot. I think cobblers are great. I have had a pair of dress shoes resoled a couple of times since I really like them.

    Thanks for visiting my NorthBayPhoto blog.

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousDecember 10, 2007 at 8:59 PM

    Thank you, Fabrizio, Neva, Sam and Northbay--yes, a cobbler is antithetical to the throw-away culture that permeates our modern lives...and it's especially nice when you can find him nearby!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Web-OJDecember 11, 2007 at 2:10 AM

    Superb pic. Everything in the store looks so interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousDecember 14, 2007 at 9:42 AM

    Thanks, Web-Oj.

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousFebruary 14, 2008 at 2:00 PM

    What is the address of this cobbler?
    I need to find one in Hyde Park!

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousFebruary 14, 2008 at 4:44 PM

    hi anonymous, don't know their exact address but it is on 57th street across from ogara and wilson bookstore and caffe florian

    ReplyDelete
  16. electricwaveMarch 5, 2012 at 2:30 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  17. electricwaveMarch 7, 2012 at 6:26 AM

    wonderful picture..town's tales..the cobbler..

    ReplyDelete
  18. b.c.March 8, 2012 at 8:20 PM

    hi electricwave, thanks!, i haven't been back but i still pass by his shop...

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)