“Business?” asks Sam Ferrazzno, owner of Essex Shoe Repair & Luggage, 519 Bloomfield Ave., “Business is steady.” That’s not something you hear too often from Baristaville business owners these days. When asked why his business has survived for 24 years, while so many others have folded, Sam replies, rather matter-of-factly, “I guess it’s cheaper to fix them, than buy new ones.”
And Ferrazzno’s right, footwear could be an expensive habit, especially when you need (not want), to continually replace them. So if your dog got a hold of your favorite shoe, or if you’ve broken the heel completely off, Essex Shoe Service or Montclair Shoe Repair, 213 Bellevue Ave., will restore your tattered soles to prêt-a-porter condition! The average cost of a shoe repair ranges between $9 and $14. Maybe not as good as the Old Navy One Day Wonder $1 Sale, but pretty darn good by Baristaville standards. Essex Shoe Repair & Luggage also specializes handbag, coat, briefcase and umbrella repairs.
Baristaville is also home to a few shops that offer restoration and repair services for other worn-down, but not completely worn-out home appliances. If your vacuum needs a complete resuscitation or just new bags or belts, visit B & H Vacuum, located at 334 Fullerton Ave, Montclair. At an average repair cost of $40, it hardly seems economical to go out and purchase a brand new machine.
If you’re an ink-stained wrench who eschews the wonders of computers, and your typewriter keys are sticking, visit A-1 Typewriters, at 217 Glenridge Ave., Montclair. A-1 will handle your repairs and they also carry various accessories to suit your nostalgic communication device. For an exhaustive list of typewriter repair shops, please visit,
look here.
In a world full of disposable razors, cameras and contacts, is it more practical and cost effective to repair than it is to replace?
