Saving Soles, One Pair of Shoes at a Time

NEW YORK, N.Y.—Eduard Shimunov, 43, said he knew what he was getting himself into when he started his shoe repair and shine business three decades ago. He didn’t expect to make a lot of money rescuing old soles. Rather, it was about paying the bills, providing quality service to his customers, and making a decent living in the Big Apple, which has a population of 8.3 million and is growing. For 30 years, Mr. Shimunov ran Cobbler Express on Wall Street and in New York City’s downtown until the government shut shoeshine businesses down in March 2020 over COVID-19 fears. It was just one more nail in the worn-out heels of the shoeshine trade, which had been in decline long before COVID-19 struck....