About Us
The Cobbler was established in 1952 with one mission: to bring a reliable, high quality Shoe Repair Shop to the San Mateo area but has moved to downtown San Bruno in August 2024. In time, Alterations and Suede/Leather Dry cleaning were added due to the increase demand of these services. Leather goods, handbags, and luggage repair are also done. Jay and Dana Calara took the reins of the shop in August 2019. Their passion for excellence is what inspired them to have the shop, and continues to drive them to this day. All repairs are completed with meticulous detail, resulting in a product that is as good as new and presented them as "beauty". The Cobbler, Jay, has more than 18 years of experience and the youngest Filipino cobbler in San Francisco Bay Area. Hand in hand with his wife, Dana, doing alterations, purse cleaning and restoring, stitching works, giving excellent customer service, helping customers keep and use their favorite items time and again.
Recent Business feature by Adam's Point of View
(photographer- adamspointofview.com)
Meet Jay and Dana of The Cobbler San Bruno. A Filipino family running a shop built on craft, patience, and pride. Their two boys get to grow up around all of this, seeing their parents build something real with their hands, learning what hard work, community, and taking care of people looks like. For them, family and business are tied together, and being parents through it all is everything.
When I asked Dana what makes them feel most proud, she said:
“There’s something special about doing a full resole on a pair of shoes or restoring a purse that has been everywhere with its owner. You can give the shoes a new foundation, and with a purse you can clean it, recondition it, repair it, not to make it new, but to make it itself again. Seeing these pieces refreshed and their owners genuinely happy reminds us why this work matters.”
That right there is art. That is heart. That is community.
If you have a pair of shoes or a bag that deserves a second life, go visit them and support a hardworking local family.
The Cobbler San Bruno
440 San Mateo Ave Suite N3 San Bruno CA
@thecobblersb
#SupportLocal #FilipinoOwned #SanBruno #BayAreaSmallBusiness #Craftsmanship #FamilyBusinessLove