After the fire that smoked out John’s Shoe Repair shop from his former storefront next to Mr. Bell’s salon, which resulted in a lease termination with a 3-day order to vacate by the new owner, the cobbler moved out and into a new location of 152 Main Street #16.

This is a first floor studio in the apartment complex located behind Mountain Tops which is owned by Joe Donovan, who was the former landlord for John’s She Repair when the fire took place, and negotiated a lease for the cobbler when he was selling to the new owner, Fadil Mavraj, the developer of the 206-208 Main Street building across the street (formerly Pleasant Ridge Pizza before undergoing a total re-build, and now home to House of Max and Butterhead Lettus). Joe ended up helping the cobbler by placing the shop into one of the apartments in the complex.

According to the Highlands Current, “Joe Donovan paid to move and store the couple’s equipment after the fire; John and HwaJa used their retirement money to move the equipment into the new space.”

However, the space was too small to accommodate their largest machine, and they held a fundraiser to raise $12,000 to buy a smaller one. While they raised $2,300 so far, it has not been enough to purchase the machine. The fundraiser remains open should you wish to donate.

The fire took place under Joe’s ownership, but months later when the sale of the building closed with Fadil, the new owner terminated the cobbler’s lease, stating that the fire gave cause to terminate the lease. The new landlord gave John’s Shoe Repair shop 3 days to vacate (as posted in this note). Fadil’s business did renovate the space and combined storefronts with Mr. Bell’s former space, after Mr. Bell was forced into retirement after the fire because Joe terminated his lease after the fire and before the sale of the building.

After the new owner Fadil’s renovation was complete, a new beauty shop boutique moved in to the newly combined space.

John’s She Repair is still open on Main Street and serving customers. They have found it extremely difficult to get the word out to people that they are still in Beacon, and on Main Street. So gather your shoes and purses that need repair, and head on down! Tell your friends.