When Rocco and Maria DiFrancesco emigrated from Italy to America in the 1970s with their two young children, they were seeking a better life filled with opportunities. Through unwavering determination and hard work, they achieved their dream of owning their own business—Park Avenue Shoe Repair, which has since become a beloved local establishment.
“We came from Montazzoli, and we had relatives already living here,” says their daughter, Anna Fabiano, who was just 11 years old at the time. Her brother Joe was only 9. The family arrived with no knowledge of English, but their eagerness to adapt and build a life in America drove them to succeed.
Rocco, a skilled mason, continued working in his trade until an injury forced him to reconsider his career. One day, an acquaintance from their hometown in Italy offered a shoe repair business for sale. Although Rocco and Maria knew nothing about shoe repair or cobbling, they decided to take a leap of faith and purchase the business. “They needed to support their family,” says Anna. “It’s the resilience of immigrants - wanting a better life and being willing to work hard to achieve it.”
The family jumped right into learning the ropes of the new business. They hired a skilled employee to guide them at first, and the local customers helped them learn English. “They learned both the business and the language, and they ran the shop for over 30 years,” says Anna. “The business became the foundation for our family’s future.”
Over the years, Park Avenue Shoe Repair became known for its expertise in shoe and leather repairs, including everything from handbags to UGG boots and sneaker cleaning. While Rocco and Maria truly enjoyed running the business, especially interacting with their loyal customers, by 2007 they were ready for retirement.
Rocco, knowing how vital the shop had become to the community, asked Anna if she would be willing to take over. He didn’t want the shop to close, especially since there were so few shoe repair shops left in town. In the 1970s, Anna recalls, there were three such businesses in town. Now, Park Avenue Shoe Repair is the only one still standing. The trade has dwindled as fewer people are willing to take up the craft of cobbling.
“When my father asked me to take over, I was working full-time, and my husband was preparing for retirement,” says Anna. “But we decided to keep the business alive and carry on the legacy.”
The shop now serves a diverse customer base, ranging from the older generation who prefer to repair shoes for comfort, to younger professionals who want to protect their expensive footwear investment. “We see a lot of customers who buy resale items and want to give them new life,” she says. “They bring in shoes to be stretched, repaired, and/or cleaned.”
Despite the evolving needs of customers, the shop’s core equipment and atmosphere have remained almost unchanged. “Kids come in and are amazed by the machines,” says Anna. “They’ve never seen a shoe repair shop before.”
The shop’s nostalgic charm is a big part of its appeal. “My dad even fixed the floor using old soles from shoes, and it’s still there today. The smell of the leather and the old-time fee - it’s something people love.”
Park Avenue Shoe Repair is a symbol of resilience and community, and Anna and her husband Nick have hopes for it to continue in the family. Their son, Marc, a physical education teacher and wrestling coach at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, has expressed an interest in keeping the business alive. “We’re hoping our children will be the next generation to take over and keep it going,” she says.
The sense of pride and satisfaction the family feels is reflected in their customers. “When they come in and say, ‘These shoes look brand new,’ it’s such a good feeling,” says Anna, smiling. “They always walk out happy, and that’s what matters most.”
Park Avenue Shoe Repair is more than just a business - it’s a legacy of hard work, perseverance, and love for the community that has supported it for so many years. With the next generation eager to carry it forward, the future of this cherished institution looks as bright as ever.
NJShoeRepair.com
“The business became the foundation for our family’s future.”