BELOVED SHOE REPAIR SHOP LOSING LEASE FEELS TRAGIC
There is a great deal in San Diego, the country and the world to be concerned, upset and outraged about. The list is endless: economic inequality, violence, sexism, racism, war, chaos, arrogance, political paralysis, suffering. The divisiveness is so widespread that unless it directly affects us (although everything affects everything else in the end), we become desensitized to it. It’s also true that so many people are trying to make things better, including volunteers, philanthropists, nonprofit staffers and many others — but their contributions are often overlooked. I witnessed something involving such a person that just broke my heart.
There is a shoe and leather repair shop called Leather Magic that’s been owned by Mr. Hugo Arellano since 2001. It’s located at 3639-D Midway Drive. I met Hugo about three years ago as a customer who needed my hospital shoes steam cleaned. I am a registered nurse with 45 years experience. When I met Hugo, I recall being touched by his kindness, gentleness and overall humble humanness.
On Sept. 19, I took in seven pairs of my shoes. His is a one-person shop. I said, “Hi, Hugo, well, we’re getting older, but at least we are still making a living.” He looked up at me and said, “I guess so.” I said, “What do you mean?” He replied, “The owners are terminating my lease early and I have 30 days to get out.” “What are you talking about? When does your lease expire?” He said, “In May.” I said, “They can’t do that.” But it looks like they can. Hugo told me a clause in the lease allows the landlord to end the lease as long as the tenant gets 30 days notice. The whole thing just seems unfair.
Hugo’s had his shop here for more than
20 years. He took it over when the last owner, whom he worked for, retired. According to Hugo, he was able to raise his family with his leather repair shop. Work was mostly stable. He even survived through the pandemic.
While I was there, another customer
walked in. She came in with some shoes and mentioned she drove all the way from Rancho Bernardo, adding that Hugo is the only person she will let fix her shoes. On my way back home I could not stop thinking about Hugo’s situation. I was literally tearing up.
When I got home, I went on the patio, poured a glass of wine and just sat there. I realized that I could not stay silent. I decided to reach out to local media to try to help him. I called Hugo first to be sure he was OK with it. He said yes and thanked me. He said at this time he is not thinking clearly and is still in shock.
There are times in life when you run across someone and you just know that they are kind, honest, ethical, a good citizen — someone who is making a positive contribution to society and to the community. I know for me, I feel like I am a better person for having been in his presence.
Hugo is a profound resource to this community, an essential worker (he repairs shoes), and — in the broadest sense — a gift to San Diego and the world. I think about other longtime customers like me who have known Hugo and appreciate him. Perhaps one other person who has the ability to help will be as upset and moved as I am and can offer him affordable available space. The letter states Hugo has until Oct. 31 to vacate, which does not give him too much time.
I’d like to close with a few quotes that bear directly on how I feel because of this situation. The first one is my own: “Do the right thing. Just because it’s legal does not mean you have to do it.”
The second one is by the Dalai Lama: “We are put on this Earth to help others. If you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.”
And when I think of Hugo and the San Diego community at large, I think of one from Julian Barnes, a wonderful French writer: “When you put two things together that have never been put together before — the world changes.”