Step & Stitch Brings Shoes Repair Back to Peterborough
/By Scott Arnold
A business built on craftsmanship, community and keeping well-loved items out of the landfill has officially opened its doors inside Peterborough Square.
peterborough mayor jeff leal was on hand for the ribbon cutton ceremony with manager Arash asalami (left) and owner Parastoo rasae (right) for the grand opening of step & stitch (photo by scott arnold)
Step & Stitch celebrated its grand opening Wednesday at its new location at the bottom of the escalators inside Peterborough Square, bringing shoe repair services back to downtown Peterborough.
For manager Arash Asalami, the opening marks the beginning of something he believes has been missing in the community for years.
"We know a long time this town don't have any shoe repair," he said. "I like this town because I see good people. I get a good vibe from this place."
step & stitch is bringing shoe repair back to peterborough (photo by scott arnold)
The shop offers a wide range of services, including shoe and boot repair, leather restoration, shoe cleaning, key cutting, watch services and custom orthotic insoles. Asalami said he has also invested in specialized equipment to clean and restore shoes, purses and other leather goods.
town ward councillors Alex bierk and Joy Lachica were on hand along with mayor jeff leal for the grand opening of step & stitch (photo by scott arnold)
He also says emergency workers including firefighters, police officers and paramedics will receive a 10 percent discount on boot repair services as a way of supporting those who rely heavily on their footwear during long shifts.
From shoe repair and leather care to jacket and zipper repairs, luggage restoration, watch batteries and key cutting, Step & Stitch offers a wide range of repair services (photo by scott arnold)
The business is built around a trade he has been learning since childhood.
Asalami said he began helping his uncle, a shoemaker, when he was six years old. Over the years, he learned how to make and repair shoes, bags and luggage, while also training as a watchmaker and jeweller. Before moving to Peterborough, he operated a highly rated shoe repair business in Toronto and completed work for luxury brands including Louis Vuitton and Chanel.
Now, he's bringing that experience to Peterborough with a workshop filled with specialized equipment, including several vintage Italian repair machines that he has restored and maintained himself.
step & stitch uses several italian and vintage machines for their repair and cleaning work (photo by scott arnold)
Mayor Jeff Leal was among those attending Wednesday's ribbon cutting ceremony and said the return of professional shoe repair services fills a gap in the community.
"Shoe repair really now is a lost art," said Leal. "You hear many people that have various things in their closet at home they want to get repaired, but there was nobody in Peterborough that provided this very important service."
Leal noted many people have quality footwear they would rather repair than replace, adding he believes there is strong demand for the service.
owner parastoo rasae (left) and Manager Arash asalami (right) share a laugh with peterborough mayor jeff leal during the grand opening of step & stitch (photo by scott arnold)
Beyond repairs, Asalami hopes the business can also support the community. He plans to place a donation box outside the store where people can drop off used shoes and leather items that can be repaired and passed along to those in need rather than thrown away.
"I hope people help us," he said.
The business, which is owned by Parastoo Rasaie, also received support from Community Futures Peterborough, which helped provide financing and hands-on assistance leading up to the opening.
Braden Clark of Community Futures said the organization worked closely with Arash and his family throughout the process, helping everything from securing financing to setting up the storefront.
"We were happy to work with Arash and Parastoo and get them set up financially in order to realize their business dreams," said Clark. "But it was more than just that. We were on the ground here helping them unbox merchandise, move fixtures around, put up signage, whatever it took really to help this day happen."
vintage machines used to repair items such as shoes, jackets and purses at step & stitch (photo by scott arnold)
