Community steps up to help Toronto cobbler when patching machine breaks down

A Toronto cobbler who has been repairing shoes for more than 20 years in Dufferin Mall says he thought he was going to lose business when his patching and stitching machine broke down last fall.

Alazar Beyene, owner of Moneysworth and Best Quality Shoe Repair, says replacing the machine would cost $10,000. The machine, which he bought second hand and is more than 60 years old, is used to repair zippers on boots, change buckles on sandals and stitch broken straps on handbags.

Beyene used to fix it himself, but the Montreal-based company that supplied parts and serviced the machine no longer does so. So, his only option was to replace it. To keep his business on its feet, he has decided to diversify by cutting keys and resizing and repairing watches.

"I feel bad because every time people, they bring me the shoes or their handbags to stitch or to patch, I tell them my machine is broke," Beyene said Wednesday. "The shoe repair business is like a dying art right now, so to invest that much money, I felt like it's not worth it."

Then, a long-time customer stepped in to help, setting up a GoFundMe page that has raised more $13,000, more than enough money to replace the machine.

Marsha Shandur, who has been coming to Beyene's shop for more than a decade, said she knew something had to be done.

When Shandur recently brought winter boots to Beyene to be reheeled, she asked if he could replace a zipper. He told her that he could mend the soles of the boots but could not fix the zipper because the machine is broken.

As she left the shop, she said she wished she had $10,000 to give him. Then she got a bright idea.

"When I came back in, I said: 'Why don't we run a fundraiser?'"

Shandur said Beyene asked if it was legal, she said yes, and then she set it up, sharing it on social media. "Then it just blew up," she said.

Hundreds of people pledged money, including those who might not even know where Dufferin Mall is. The GoFundMe page received donations from people all over the world, including Texas, California, Thailand and the United Kingdom.

Shandur said everybody likes to support a small business, "especially one that is right in this mall surrounded by multibillion dollar corporations."

"Everybody thinks I'm a hero, and I'm like, 'anybody could do this,'" she said. "It took me maybe 20 minutes to set it up."

For his part, Beyene said, "I am so impressed because I understand now how much my customers appreciate and value my service.