In My Little Town…A Small Repair Store Does Big Things!

I got these shoes in Paris.

My life isn’t that over the top, but when I’m sitting in the van waiting for kids to finish soccer practice, there are times when I say to myself, “I got shoes in Paris.” It sounds good, doesn’t it? Much more exciting than, “I picked up Cuties for the game and need to remember to plant the bulbs,” which is what I’m usually thinking.

A few years ago, my sister was celebrating a milestone birthday. She wanted to ‘go somewhere’ to celebrate. I thought she meant perhaps New York. She’s much more adventurous than I am. She meant Paris.

So off we went for a wonderful week in Paris. The fates smiled upon us, and we were able to get tickets to a Balanchine ballet (heavenly!) on New Year’s Eve. Apparently, no matter how comfy they are, one cannot wear one’s favorite ASICS to the Paris Opera House on New Year’s Eve, even under a long skirt. Hence the shoes.

Basic black heels, nothing fancy, but not like anything I’ve found at the mall. Back here, I really only wear heels for weddings or special events. Not to soccer games or Trader Joe’s (although maybe I should...just to keep life a little more exotic).

And I’ve been wearing these shoes a few times a year for multiple years, and I noticed that I was starting to make a clicking noise when I walked. I’d worn the heels down to the nail. So I stuck them in the closet and thought, dang, I’ll need to get new shoes. I know cobblers fix shoes, but really, the last time I heard of a cobbler in the area was when my daughter’s Brownie troop was telling the story of the helpful little Brownie elves.

And then, just last week, I happened to be reading the Patch, and up pops a little photo in the ‘Places’ section about . Ah ha! Cobblers exist outside of Girl Scouts!

As I was walking into Aram’s, out walks a friend. Pat was picking up a piece of luggage she’d had repaired, and assured me that yes, she’d been to Aram’s multiple times and was happy with the quality of work.

Well, that’s a good start. Inside Aram’s, I saw lots of different kinds of luggage, belts, shoes, and purses. Wow. Quite a variety. Owner Armen Gasparyan greeted me, and within 10 minutes, I had new shoes! Well, new heels. It feels like new shoes. So quickly and quite reasonably priced. I’m very happy.

Armen started working at Aram’s Luggage & Shoe Repair in 2003. In 2008, he bought the store and has been working hard ever since. Aram’s does a lot of luggage repair, especially for items under warranty and with airline damage claims.

The store is an authorized repair center for over a dozen luggage companies. I also noticed some instrument containers in for repair. There are shoe accessories and polishes, and shoe laces in basic colors and bright colors my kids would love.

Armen can even make lifts, in case one of your legs is longer than the other. Obviously, this will help you walk better and can decrease back and hip pain.

He can fix belts, change buckles, add notches and eyelets, and recondition leather. I saw two purses in for strap repair (now I know what to do with the black purse in the back of my closet!), and fix zippers. Armen said he can even dye shoes and purses. I’m telling you, this little store can do big things!

Thank you, Armen, for fixing my shoes so quickly and inexpensively. You’ve helped rekindle memories of a wonderful adventure and made it possible for me to anticipate many more. Who knows? Maybe one day these shoes will make it back to Paris. Until then, they will help me explore more of my little town, Cupertino.

Aram’s Luggage & Shoes Repair

19998 Homestead Road

Cupertino, CA 95014

408-255-0252

www.aramsluggage.com