Benny Strojny
Benny Strojny, originally from Poland, started learning the cobbler’s trade when he was 7. He came to the United States after being freed by American troops from a labor camp during World War II. Ten years ago, Strojny stopped by the shop to ask Serrazina, as one cobbler to another, how much he charged for soles and heels. Serrazina offered him a job (Daily Hampshire Gazette, November 4, 2003).
“I bought the business 23 years ago and immediately moved it to 271 Pleasant Street. I moved to this location in 2004. These days being a cobbler is tough. You don’t have much good work because of the way shoes are made today. There is always work to do, but if you don’t like it, you will never make a living. There is no future in shoe repairs. There will always be shoes to fix, but there will no longer be qualified people to repair them. Then people will miss cobblers.” – Jose Serrazina
Shu-Fix was started by Joseph N. Grise in 1903 and remains in business today.
