Woman cobbler buys shop in St. Joseph

Some people love a new challenge. Casandra Lopez of St. Joseph is one of them.

She’s been a bike mechanic and worked in home repair, jobs requiring physical labor for the past 20 years.

So learning how to fix shoes and buying a shoe repair shop was just another challenge for her.

She learned the business from Michael Gagliardo, a fourth-generation shoe cobbler, who taught her the skills she needed. His family name is on the business Lopez purchased.

And Lopez says she’s looking forward to carrying on the family traditions the Gagliardos were known for — buying the best materials for shoes and the art they used in crafting their repairs. Gagliardo is retiring from the business.

Lopez also met with Cornerstone Alliance staff to come up with a checklist of what needed to be done when purchasing a business. The staff also assisted with Lopez’ business planning.

And they cheered her on when the purchase was completed. “It is not very often that you find a woman cobbler,” says Cornerstone Resource Development Coordinator Reyna Price.

Lopez also completely remodeled the interior of the store at 810 Highland Ave.

Lopez says the store offers shoe shines, heel and sole repairs, as well as repairs on belts, purses, and other leather goods.  

Customer service will be critical to maintaining and growing the business, she says.

Gagliardo Shoe Repair is open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and Lopez can be reached at 269-983-7010.

Writer: Kathy Jennings, Second Wave
Source: Cassandra Lopez, Gagliardo Shoe Repair