From reviving well-loved boots to repairing designer handbags, a skilled cobbler can work wonders. Finding the right one is key to preserving your favourite footwear and leather goods. We’ve looked into Calgary’s top-rated specialists to bring you this list of 13 of the best shoe repair shops across the city. Whether you need a simple heel replacement or a complex restoration, this guide highlights the professionals known for their exceptional craftsmanship and service.
Our Selection Process
To create this guide, we carefully analysed customer feedback and online data for numerous shoe repair shops in Calgary. Our goal was to identify businesses that consistently deliver high-quality results and exceptional service. The following criteria formed the basis of our selection process, ensuring each featured business has a proven track record of customer satisfaction.
🏆 Workmanship Quality — Assessing the skill and durability of repairs, from simple sole replacements to complex leatherwork.
💬 Customer Service — Evaluating the friendliness, professionalism, and communication of the staff.
⏱️ Turnaround Time — Considering how efficiently services are completed in relation to the quoted timeframe.
💰 Pricing Transparency — Looking for fair, upfront pricing without unexpected costs.
⭐ Customer Reputation — Analysing online reviews and long-term customer loyalty to gauge overall satisfaction.
Top 13 Best Shoe Repair in Calgary
All ratings and review counts are accurate as of Google Maps data collection.
| # | Business Name | Rating | Reviews | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Step Ahead Footwear & Shoe Repair | 5.0 | 186 | Mahogany |
| 2 | Deerfoot Shoe Repair & Alterations | 4.7 | 105 | Country Hills |
| 3 | Westbrook Shoe Repair | 4.7 | 87 | Westbrook |
| 4 | Step Ahead Footwear and Shoe Repair | 4.6 | 152 | North Hill Centre |
| 5 | Canyon Meadows Shoe Repair By Fishmans | 4.6 | 131 | Canyon Meadows |
| 6 | Gubans Shoe Clinic | 4.5 | 99 | Midnapore |
| 7 | Ace Shoe Care & Alterations | 4.5 | 72 | 17 Ave SW |
| 8 | ShoeMasters Shoe Repair | 4.4 | 103 | Macleod Trail |
| 9 | Alpine Shoe Service | 4.4 | 70 | Kensington |
| 10 | Fantasy Leather | 4.4 | 68 | Beddington |
| 11 | Marlborough Shoe Repair | 4.3 | 250 | Marlborough Mall |
| 12 | Toma’s Shoe Repair | 4.3 | 148 | Crowfoot |
| 13 | Varsity Shoe Repair & Alterations | 4.3 | 76 | Varsity |
#1 Step Ahead Footwear & Shoe Repair
Achieving a perfect rating, this Mahogany establishment is a gem for both shoe shopping and repairs. While known for its excellent selection of footwear, especially for wider fittings, its in-house repair service is equally praised. Customers appreciate the family-owned atmosphere, easy parking, and the high-quality craftsmanship on jobs like re-heeling tall boots.
Services & Specialisms
This location offers a range of repair services, including professional boot re-heeling and zipper repair. As a premier shoe store, they also specialise in fitting customers with comfortable and stylish footwear from top brands, with a particularly strong inventory for those requiring wider sizes.
“They have such an amazing selection of shoes, great styles and brands!”
#2 Deerfoot Shoe Repair & Alterations
A highly trusted and versatile shop in the city’s northwest, Deerfoot Shoe Repair & Alterations is praised for its fantastic, affordable, and friendly service. It has built a loyal customer base by consistently delivering great results on both shoe repairs and clothing alterations, making it a convenient one-stop shop for various fixes.
Services & Specialisms
The team is proficient in a wide array of services, from heel and boot repairs to complex leather work. They are known for tackling difficult jobs, such as repairing the inner lining of Timberland boots, that other shops might turn away. Their additional expertise in clothing alterations is a significant advantage for customers.
“Really a great place for shoe repairs and alterations and clothing fixes.”
#3 Westbrook Shoe Repair
A true Calgary institution, Westbrook Shoe Repair has been serving the community for decades. Run by the highly respected Joe, this shop is known for its honest prices and consistently great service. It’s a go-to spot for those who value traditional craftsmanship and reliable repairs on everything from shoes to work boots.
Services & Specialisms
Customers have relied on Joe for years for a variety of tasks, including boot repair, shoe stretching, and zipper replacements. The shop is particularly recognised for its excellent quality work at fair prices and its ability to handle unique jobs, such as fixing a broken belt for a sanding machine, quickly and affordably.
“Been taking boots here for years, great service and honest prices.”
#4 Step Ahead Footwear and Shoe Repair
Located in the North Hill Centre, this branch of Step Ahead has been a staple in the shoe business for over 35 years. It combines a retail shoe store with an in-house repair shop, offering both convenience and expertise. Customers praise the fast service and the knowledgeable staff who provide excellent shoe fittings.
Services & Specialisms
The on-site repair shop is capable of very quick turnarounds, with some customers reporting boot heel resoling completed in just an hour. On the retail side, staff member Deena is noted for her kindness and patience. The store specialises in footwear for wide feet, offering a variety of brands and styles in hard-to-find sizes like 6E.
“Excellent service and excellent variety of shoes to choose from.”
#5 Canyon Meadows Shoe Repair By Fishmans
This locally owned shop is highly regarded for its brilliant workmanship and friendly customer care. Canyon Meadows Shoe Repair consistently impresses customers with the quality of its work, whether on cowboy boots, riding boots, or custom projects. The owner is frequently praised for being professional and helpful, ensuring a positive experience.
Services & Specialisms
The shop excels at a variety of repairs, including replacing soles and heels, intricate zipper repairs on riding boots, and fixing torn pull tabs. They are also known for taking on unique challenges, successfully completing custom jobs like adding flags to a backpack when other shops were unable to help.
“Brilliant service, workmanship and price.”
#6 Gubans Shoe Clinic
With some customers having used its services for over two decades, Gubans Shoe Clinic has a strong reputation for reliability and quality. The shop is noted for its friendly, family-welcoming service and a tendency to go the extra mile, often returning items in better condition than the customer expected.
Services & Specialisms
Gubans specialises in boot and leather repairs, shoe stretching, and belt repairs. Customers are often delighted to find that beyond the requested fix, such as a heel repair, their shoes have also had buckles mended, soles re-secured, and suede cleaned, demonstrating a thorough attention to detail.
“Been using this location for shoes and boots repaired for two decades.”
#7 Ace Shoe Care & Alterations
Located on 17th Avenue, Ace Shoe Care & Alterations is a highly recommended spot for its fast, high-quality service and fair prices. It’s a versatile shop offering not only shoe and leather good repairs but also quick and reliable key cutting. Customers praise the great attention to detail and professional results.
Services & Specialisms
This cobbler does an amazing job on a variety of challenging repairs, including resoling platform Doc Martens, patching tall boots, and restoring heavily damaged leather jackets. They also offer sneaker cleaning, shoe polishing, and same-day service for repairs on items like suede purse handles.
“The prices are fair and the work is done with great attention to detail.”
#8 ShoeMasters Shoe Repair
ShoeMasters has earned the loyalty of customers for over eight years with its top-notch craftsmanship and friendly service. The team consistently delivers excellent work at a fair price, making shoes look brand new again. They are particularly well-regarded for their work on high-quality Goodyear welted footwear, restoring them to a high standard.
Services & Specialisms
The shop is skilled in a range of services, including fixing worn soles, repairing zippers, and restoring leather. Long-term customers trust them with all types of footwear, from casual shoes to structured boots, praising the consistently high quality of the craftsmanship and attention to detail shown in every repair.
“Excellent work at a fair price with super friendly service.”
#9 Alpine Shoe Service
A traditional Ma & Pa shop in the heart of Kensington, Alpine Shoe Service is cherished for its exceptional workmanship and long-standing presence in the community. For over 30 years, they have been the trusted choice for specialised and routine repairs on shoes, belts, and leather bags, delivering consistently high-quality work.
Services & Specialisms
Alpine has a long history of exceptional work, particularly in specialised modifications like adding a one-inch lift to boots, a service they have perfected over three decades. They are also highly capable in general boot repairs and were formerly recognised as a top service for resoling climbing shoes.
“Best place in town to get your shoes repaired and such lovely people.”
#10 Fantasy Leather
Fantasy Leather stands out for its incredible craftsmanship and kind, helpful staff. The team, including the highly praised Olivia, is known for taking on challenging repairs that other shops deem impossible. They offer amazing service at reasonable prices, breathing new life into damaged leather goods and clothing.
Services & Specialisms
This shop specialises in complex leather repairs, successfully restoring items like puppy-chewed shoes and ski gloves that were considered unrepairable. They also handle alterations, such as replacing velcro on a winter coat with button snaps, and perform excellent zipper repairs, all with meticulous skill.
“Amazing service, kind staff, and incredible craftsmanship.”
#11 Marlborough Shoe Repair
Conveniently located in Marlborough Mall, this shop is praised for its super friendly staff and high-quality work. With one of the highest review counts in the city, they have a proven track record of satisfying customers. The team, including Danny and Sam, is known for great service and excellent results.
Services & Specialisms
The team excels at leather work, replacing heels, and repairing designer belts. A standout service mentioned by customers is their attention to detail with zipper pulls, where staff member Danny went the extra mile to source custom Harley Davidson pulls for a pair of boots, showcasing their commitment to quality.
“Fantastic turnaround time Great price A1 service Top tier quality work”
#12 Toma’s Shoe Repair
Toma’s Shoe Repair provides amazing, personable service that keeps customers coming back. Now under new ownership, the shop continues to deliver excellent craftsmanship with quality materials. Tomas and his family are commended for being kind and helpful, ensuring handbags and shoes are returned looking brand new.
Services & Specialisms
The shop is adept at a wide range of repairs, including purse and sandal repairs, shoe polishing, and replacing heels. They have particular expertise in restoring heavily used work boots, with one arborist noting their boots felt “good as new” after being repaired with high-quality, handcrafted work.
“My purse looks brand new and was done on time at the price quoted”
#13 Varsity Shoe Repair & Alterations
This versatile shop offers excellent workmanship at reasonable prices, handling more than just footwear. Known for getting jobs done on time, Varsity Shoe Repair is a reliable choice for everything from routine maintenance to more significant restorations. The owner, Dan, is praised for his skill and helpful advice.
Services & Specialisms
In addition to standard shoe repair services like resoling and heel replacements, this shop also offers suitcase repair and professional knife sharpening. Customers are particularly happy with the results of suede boot cleaning, where the owner’s expert recommendation to change the heels made the boots look as good as new.
“Great service, excellent workmanship.”
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re looking to extend the life of your favourite boots, repair a damaged leather bag, or simply replace a worn-out heel, Calgary offers a fantastic selection of skilled cobblers. The 13 shops listed here have been chosen based on their proven record of quality workmanship, fair pricing, and positive customer feedback. We recommend contacting a few of these specialists to find the perfect fit for your repair needs and keep your cherished items in top condition for years to come.
