SASKATOON — A few days before the end of the month, the “Open” neon sign at Ambros Shoe Repair will be turned off, and the shop will shut its doors for good, ending over a decade of service to the community. The shop has been a fixture at the corner of Avenue E North and 33rd Street West.
Andrew Morden, who’s been repairing broken or worn-out shoes since 1983, said retirement isn't in the cards, since he will be busy setting up his equipment at home, where he will move his operations into his living room. The shop on 33rd Street will close at the end of July.
He said that moving the machinery and tools of the technical trade he’s practiced for over four decades into his bungalow, where he would continue serving customers by appointment, is the logical step to reduce overhead costs.
"I'm putting it in my living room, actually. Hey, I like doing what I'm doing, and I don't want to stop doing it," Morden, who turned 65, said with a laugh, explaining that his basement suite wasn't practical because the heavy equipment couldn't be moved down the stairs. The decision also comes at a crossroads familiar to many small business owners.
His journey as a cobbler, a person whose trade is mending or patching footwear and other leather goods, began in 1983, when he repaired his first shoe at Al's shop near the former Greyhound bus station on 23rd Street. He built a loyal customer base through skilled craftsmanship and dependable service.
While he has operated from his current location for the past 10 years, his reputation stretches well beyond Saskatoon. Some customers who now live in the east continue to ship their shoes to him, including one from Halifax, simply because they trust his skills and attention to detail.
Although business has remained relatively steady over the years, there are times of slowdowns, making things difficult for his daily operations. And unlike many retailers, he earns much of his income from repair work rather than product sales, making slow periods especially challenging. To help finance the transition, Morden’s daughter launched a GoFundMe campaign. The fundraising effort will help cover the cost of renting equipment needed to move his heavy machines into his home workshop. The campaign hopes to raise $6,000 to help cover expenses.
Without a traditional storefront, Morden will operate by appointment only and update his address online so customers can make arrangements. While he won't be able to offer retail merchandise, he believes people who need quality shoe repairs will continue to seek him out.
Despite the uncertainty that accompanies such a major change, Morden remains optimistic, knowing there will be logistical challenges as he transforms part of his home into a functioning workshop. Still, he believes the effort will pay off.
"Everything is going to work out. There's going to be a few challenges in figuring it out, but I believe it'll all work,” said Morden, who added that closing his shop is not the end of his career built over 42 years, but the beginning of a new chapter.
In a time when many traditional trades are disappearing, his decision shows the resilience and determination of independent business owners who adapt rather than walk away. Instead of retiring his tools, he is giving them a new home, ensuring that the craft learned in 1983 will continue.
