The art of shoemaking is alive in Tulsa

Fortunately, such craftsmanship is still alive and well at Tulsa Shoe Rebuilders, a highly respected 93year-old local business that since 2004 has been in the careful and capable hands of Chuck Adamson.

A lifelong Tulsan, Adamson didn’t start off as a professional cobbler. His first career was in the corporate world, working with spreadsheets and computers instead of with leather and his own two hands.

“I knew it would be a big change,” he recalled, “but I realized I needed to do something where I would get more personal satisfaction. Now the creativity is in my hands, and I enjoy working directly with my customers.”

For the first decade or so, Adamson focused on repairing footwear of all kinds, such as cowboy boots, men’s dress shoes, or ladies’ high heels. Business, always steady, picked up substantially during the great recession of 2008.

“That’s when people started repairing more because money was tight,” Adamson told La Semana. “And I think there was an article I read that year that projected shoes and footwear in general would increase in price 15% that following year because of the higher cost of production.”

A few years later, Adamson decided to try his hand at designing and making shoes, and he found he had a real talent for it. Customers began ordering standard sizes of his creations as well as requesting custom fits and designs. These vary in price depending on whether they are true custom works and on the type of leather used. Tulsa Shoe Rebuilders offers many exotic leathers that can’t be found in most department stores.

“We have ostrich leather, shark skin, and alligator,” the cobbler explained, showing off some of his more exclusive materials. Sometimes Adamson will hold onto a skin for years, waiting for just the right pair of shoes or boots for that special customer who will treasure his creation for a lifetime.

And Adamson has a lot of special customers who value his skills, with orders for repairing beloved familiar boots and shoes or designing stunning new creations coming in regularly from all over the United States and even from other countries.

More and more Hispanics have been discovering Tulsa Shoe Rebuilders, and Adamson is happy to have the business of customers who appreciate the value of what he does.

“Come see us,” he urges with a smile. “We’ll take care of your footwear and we’ll make sure you leave happy.”

Tulsa Shoe Rebuilders is located at 5455-C South Mingo in East Tulsa. Hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9 am until 5 pm, and Friday from 7 am until 4 pm. Weekends and Mondays are by appointment only. Call 918-584-6062. (La Semana)