Apprentice reopens beloved St. George shoe repair shop after mentor's unexpected death |
Adams Boot Repair has reopened as Coyote Ridge Cobblers under the new ownership |
When longtime cobbler Craig Adams unexpectedly died earlier this year, the future of his St. George shoe repair shop was uncertain. Hundreds of customer repairs sat unfinished, and a craft that had served the community for decades suddenly faced an uncertain future.
Today, the shop has a new name and a familiar face behind the workbench.
Formerly Adams Boot Repair, the business has reopened as Coyote Ridge Cobblers under the ownership of Adams' former apprentice, Megan Larsen, who spent five years learning the trade from him before taking over the business with her parents, Chris and Raquel Larsen.
Following Adams' death, legal proceedings temporarily forced the shop to close, leaving hundreds of customer repairs unfinished, Larsen said.
When the business officially reopened about a month ago under its new name, she said there were more than 300 repair projects waiting to be completed. The team continues working through the backlog while accepting new repair orders.
While the name has changed, the mission remains the same: giving well-loved footwear and leather goods a second life instead of sending them to the landfill.
Although boots remain a large part of the business, Larsen said much of their work focuses on women's footwear. From repairing high heels and reattaching broken sandal straps to replacing worn-out elastic on sandals and wedges, the shop sees a steady stream of repairs that can extend the life of well-loved shoes.
Common repairs include sewing or gluing broken straps back into place and replacing worn elastic on dress shoes and sandals.
The shop also specializes in restoring Birkenstock sandals, replacing worn soles and deteriorated cork while preserving the original leather uppers. Larsen said repairs are often more affordable than purchasing a new pair, especially for shoes that have already molded to the owner's feet.
Beyond footwear, Coyote Ridge Cobblers repairs leather purses, shortens purse straps and belts, adds holes to belts and restores other leather goods.
For customers hoping to avoid the discomfort of breaking in new shoes or boots, the shop also offers stretching services. Specialized equipment can stretch footwear in the toe box, length and width, widen boots around the calf and even stretch the instep to make boots easier to put on.
The shop repairs everything from cowboy boots and dress boots to motorcycle boots. It also offers boot consignment, allowing customers to sell used boots through the store. Cowboy hats are available for purchase, and some leather work is also offered.
Coyote Ridge Cobblers is located at 511 E. St. George Blvd., Suite D, in St. George. For more information, follow the shop on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. |
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