NOW

Javier Lopez never imagined that four decades after coming to America from Columbia, at age 23 speaking no English, that he would have his own shoe repair shop in the UES. Upon his arrival in New York, his uncle was able to secure him a job where he worked. After his first day, the owner tried to speak with him, but when he realized he did not know English, he immediately signed him up for a language class and incurred the cost. This kind gentleman then helped  him secure a green card. Javier stayed with this man for ten years, not only learning English, but also how to become one of the best shoe repair guys in the city. When the owner passed away, Javier decided it was time to move on. He worked in other shops on the west side, partnered with someone else for a short while, and then in 2005, Javier was able to make the American dream come true as he took over the space on East 77th Street. But this was not before he had been written up in Newsweek Magazine as the “best shoemaker working on the west side.” 

THEN

There are very few records for the four-story building at 351-353 East 77th Street. No new building permit information survives, which tells us the building was built prior to 1879 when the Buildings Department began keeping records. The two storefronts and fire escapes were not added until after the 1940s, when the window enframements and rounded central entrance were likely modified as well. Despite these changes, the building retains its sense of scale, original upper story window openings, and sheet metal cornice. In 1911 the property, described as “tenements in good demand,” was sold from Mrs. Lizzy Schoeffler to Mrs. Rachel Goodfried. It was noted at the time that it was the first transfer of the property since 1869.