After five years of repairing shoes—not to mention crafting driftwood sculptures, horse saddles and custom leatherwork—in a crowded shop at the corner of Hudson Avenue and South Water Street, Earl Johnson has moved his business.
The Sole Man is now located at 745 South Street. Johnson left his former space, which lacked heat in the main workshop, Nov. 15.
"It was ruining me and ruining my materials," said the man of many talents, who also plays the keyboard and DJs.
Johnson, a Peekskill resident, took the space when he moved the business here from Beacon. He knew about the lack of heat then, but he wanted to be near the train and he loved the location.
But the new shop—which once served as an ice cream parlor and soda shop—is a good fit, too.
"Every time I walk in here, I get a better feeling," Johnson told Patch on a recent afternoon, pointing out the newly sanded floors and the intricate tin ceiling.
While Johnson was still unpacking much of the equipment in the main room, the place was already started to feel like home—his favorite big band music was playing in the background. His cobbling workshop was all set to go, too.
That's important, because Johnson works on about 30 pairs of shoes in a given day. He does everything from heel repairs to new soles to an old-fashioned shining, in a stand that resembles those found in Grand Central Terminal.
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Read more about Johnson here. The Sole Man is located at 745 South Street in Peekskill. Hours are from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
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