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Great Shoe Shine Stands across the nation

WineGuy

A-List Customer
Messages
363
Location
Las Vegas. (Formerly Metro New York)
I was in Nordstrom's in the Paramus Park Mall(NJ) the other day to pick up some replacement laces and noticed for the first time that there was a professional shoe shine stand tucked away behind the shoe department. A gentleman named Mario was shining the shoes of a dapper older man and so I decided to treat myself to a shine as well. What a pleasure. What a shine. I can't believe I've been missing out on this great service and ritual all these years. Now I want to map out the best shiners around and help steer business to them to preserve this dying art and service. Please post your favorite shoe shine stand locations along with the hours. Mario is there Monday thru Saturday from 10-6.

(apologies if there is a similar thread, I did search for several hours on the Lounge to see if one existed and came up empty handed)
 

skyvue

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,221
Location
New York City
I rarely pass up the chance to get a professional shoe shine. It's a rare treat and almost always very affordably priced.

And I've met very few shoe shine guys who weren't personable and friendly.
 

WineGuy

A-List Customer
Messages
363
Location
Las Vegas. (Formerly Metro New York)
I agree with you Skyvue and I'm going to make an effort to seek out other shoe shiners in my area. Amazingly, Mario charged only $2.50 for the shine that took him almost 15 minutes. I gave him $6 and felt guilty that I should have given him more.
 

handlebar bart

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,623
Location
at work
Had my first professional shoe shine at the Nashville airport on the way home from the FL Monteagle get together. My boots have never looked so good for just $6.50
 
Messages
10,560
Location
My mother's basement
While there are undoubtedly tricks of the trade that contribute to the kind of shine you get rarely from anyone other than a professional, I still clearly recall what a shine man told me many years ago, when I asked him how he managed to get my shoes shinier than I had ever gotten them by doing it myself. He said it was mostly because he was shining the shoes while they were on my feet, and that if our roles were reversed, and with a bit of practice, I could produce a similar result.

I found his candor and humility quite refreshing. And charming.
 

Javelina

New in Town
Messages
42
Location
New York,NY
The best shoe shine place I've been to is in Manhattan, on 44th between 3rd and Lex. It's on the south side, closest to 3rd. Very close to Grand Central so if you're visiting it's easy to find. It's a shoe repair place that has a shine set up in the front. I used to go there all the time until my office moved. Amazing mirror shines that last.
 

WineGuy

A-List Customer
Messages
363
Location
Las Vegas. (Formerly Metro New York)
Newark Airport great shoe shine

I just got a great shine today at the continental terminal at Newark airport. This stand is near the Presidents Lounge and I had the pleasure of getting a shine from a young African American woman(I forgot to get her name, but you can't miss her she has a Rasta hair do). I honestly did not expect much but she really new her trade and gave my Bally Oxfords a great work over. Posted price was $5 but I gave her $10 because I think a lot of men skipped her because she was young and female.
 

Bugsy

One Too Many
Messages
1,126
Location
Sacramento/San Francisco Bay Area
WineGuy said:
I was in Nordstrom's in the Paramus Park Mall(NJ) the other day to pick up some replacement laces and noticed for the first time that there was a professional shoe shine stand tucked away behind the shoe department. A gentleman named Mario was shining the shoes of a dapper older man and so I decided to treat myself to a shine as well. What a pleasure. What a shine. I can't believe I've been missing out on this great service and ritual all these years. Now I want to map out the best shiners around and help steer business to them to preserve this dying art and service. Please post your favorite shoe shine stand locations along with the hours. Mario is there Monday thru Saturday from 10-6.

(apologies if there is a similar thread, I did search for several hours on the Lounge to see if one existed and came up empty handed)

The first thing I do when I get to San Francisco, is go the Nordstrom on Market Street to get my shoes shined. It's the best deal in the city, and my shoes just gleam.
 

WineGuy

A-List Customer
Messages
363
Location
Las Vegas. (Formerly Metro New York)
Bruce Wayne said:
I just heard from a friend that their is a really good one in Millennium Station at Randolph in Chicago where the South Shore terminates. I will let you guys know more when I come back on Tuesday.


Get the hours, exact location, rate, and if possible the shiners name.
(might even be fun to take a cameraphone pic and post it.)
 
Messages
11,579
Location
Covina, Califonia 91722
Las Vegas

Here in LA I don't recall seeing a shoe shine stand in a long time.

But when I go to Las Vegas most of the major Hotel Casinos have one usually near the Casino convenience store and the men's room. Depending on the casino, you may not see the shiner during the week much but the stand is usually manned on the weekends.
 

Big_e

Practically Family
Messages
654
Location
Dallas, Tx
I never gave shoeshine stands much thought until I went to the car dealership where I bought my car. As I waited for my car oil change and preventive maintainance, I noted a complimentary shoeshine stand. As I sipped on my coffee, the shoeshine guy asked to shine my shoes. The shine is free but he says he does it for a ministry so you donate what you want.
He puts on a saddle soap first with a rag then brushes it off. Then after brushing it off, applies the polish and my shoes come out shining. I shamelessly came back the next weekend for a cup of coffee and a shine (hey, I had to ask for their price on tires!). Freeman Honda on Wheatland Rd by I-20 has great service.
Ernest
 

HoundstoothLuke

Familiar Face
Messages
96
Location
London
There's a really good one in Burlington Arcade in London, pretty good price too, £3.50 for a top-quality shine.


He told me off though as apparently I'd been polishing those shoes incorrectly..
 

Silver Dollar

Practically Family
Messages
613
Location
Louisville, Kentucky
I've had to learn to do this myself. Being in the military sort of makes that mandatory. I can polish a black combat boot until it shines like the top of the Chrysler building. On second thought, that would be like the top of the Chrysler building in a bad fog. :(
 

fluteplayer07

One Too Many
Messages
1,844
Location
Michigan
Any great ones in MI? I only am aware of two, but then again, I really haven't been looking. A couple kiosks in Cobo Hall in Detroit. And (I think) Nordstroms at Partridge Creek Mall. I haven't tried either of them.

flute
 

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