There are some nice new stores on West 25th, and no one could be more pleased than I am that they are there selling pretty things. So when I say that there are only a few of the new stores that I would miss if they left, it’s not a criticism of their high-quality merchandise or their fine service. It’s just a distinction between needs and wants.
I miss the drug store. I miss Ohio City Hardware. And although it had grave faults, I even miss Family Dollar. These were the stores that were really useful to me. They provided, like Dave’s, for needs.
Whenever I’ve been in a discussion about the type of retail I’ve felt was lacking from my neighborhood, one of the first things I’ve come up with is a shoe repair shop. So I was as delighted as I was surprised when alert reader Mary Ellen Eickman-Fiala pointed out that there is such a store conveniently located near the corner of West 65th and Lorain. Never noticed it? Look closer.
Wlady’s (pronounced “Waldy’s”) is located in a trailer wedged between the post office and the used car lot. You can’t really call Mr. Wlady, and I won’t even give you his exact hours, because then you’d be expecting him to stick to them. But if you have a favorite pair of shoes, leather coat, briefcase, purse, or practically anything else with buckles, laces, or straps, and it needs a little something to keep it useful, you stop by and see Mr. Wlady some Tuesday, Friday or Saturday when you’re out running errands.
This is what I did recently when I had a computer bag with a busted clasp. Mr. Wlady fixed it up like new in a couple of days, and charged me less than a tenth of the cost of a new bag.
Probably he should charge a lot more. But it’s pretty clear he’s not really in it for the money. Here’s a guy doing what he likes to do for more than 40 years, his own boss, dealing with customers who share his belief that we should fix rather than discard whenever possible.
If only he had a stand in Market 25.