The Leather Patch is still going strong

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/11/2017 (2883 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Owners Merv Chyz and Nina Lund of The Leather Patch at 415 Academy Rd. are getting ready to celebrate 20 years of ownership.

The Leather Patch first opened in 1929 but Chyz and Lund bought it in 1997.

“When we came across it, it was a shoe repair shop and in need of some upgrading. My ex-wife and I had shoe repair places in malls, but wanted out,” Chyz said. “Our son went to daycare across the street and we lived in the area. We saw this place, came in and talked to the owner and he was ready to sell.

“It was perfect timing.”

Over the years, the shoe business has changed, Chyz said.

“One of the things that has evolved — a lot of young people are really into fixing things,” he said. “People are buying better quality footwear but coming in for better soles to handle the slippery Winnipeg winters.”

Having been around for so long, the business has seen customers come back year after year.

“About three weeks ago, an elderly woman who used to come to the store as a child almost ran in here. She hand a handbag, man-made material,” Lund said. “I told her it probably wasn’t worth fixing, (that there was) not a lot of life left in it.

“She looked at me and said ‘I don’t have a lot of life left in me. I’m 102!’”

Staying in business for any length of time takes a lot of hard work and dedication.

“We do really good, honest work,” Chyz said. “If it’s something not worth fixing, there’s no sense spending money that you’re gonna regret. We don’t do that here at all.”

For all of your leather and shoe repair needs or to learn how to take great care of your shoes, be sure to stop in and see Merv and Nina at 415 Academy Rd. They’re open Tuesdays through Saturdays.

Carolyne Braid is a community correspondent for Crescentwood. You can reach her at carolyne.braid@gmail.com