After Thirty Years, Bron Yakov Shoe Repair Closes Its Doors On DeGraw Street

Cobbler Yakov Bron

(photo credit: Alex B. via Yelp)

Several Carroll Gardeners have reached out to us in the past few days to say that Bron Yakov Shoe Repair at 298 DeGraw Street is closing its doors.  Though the business only occupies a tiny little hole in the wall at the corner of Court Street since 1987, it will be missed by many.
PMFA reader Mary-Jean has been going to Yakov for the past twenty years and calls him "one of the last 'real deals' in the area."
Another reader, Kassie wrote of that the Odessa-born shopkeeper is "not the most talkative man in our ‘hood but he alway got the job done. I’ll be sorry to see him go."
According to reader Fred,  Made 4 Me, which sells special occasion dresses, will also be closing. "The woman in the dress shop next door who owns the building said he was in this location for 20 years. She’s been in business for 48 years and she’s closing later this year."
We hear that the shoe repair shop is now only open so that people can pick up their shoes. It was, however, closed closed yesterday at 11:45, when I walked by to take the photos above.

Michael's Shoe and Watch repair store on Smith Street between President and Union Streets is still
in business, though it did almost close in 2012 due to a rent increase.
Let us make sure to support Michael's before we lose the last cobbler in the neighborhood.