NOTE TO READER: if you know of a relatively unknown, but hard-working businesses (like this one) who deserves to be recognized, comment on this post and let us know…we’d love to review them!

There’s something to be said, I think, about small(ish)/Mom-n-Pop type operations.

What exactly needs to be said, I have no idea, but I do know that some of these little gems for businesses are deserving of a shout out!

So, in the immortal words of Tony Montana: Say hello to my little friend! (minus the machine gun fire):

Bentall Centre Shoe Renew (at 595 Burrard Street).  No website. No email. No twitter. No care…it’s old school time.

For those of you who have absolutely no idea where this place is, I’m not surprised. Bentall Centre Shoe Renew is tucked away in the lower level of the Bentall Centre Mall (near the Burrard Skytrain Station) and is run by a very nice, and very efficient, Francis Lee.

Each and every time I’ve been in to see Francis at Bentall Centre Shoe Renew, I’ve been:

1) attended to promptly
2) impressed with the Yoda like wisdom I get imprinted with during both drop-offs and pick-ups of my shoes that have been in need of work (read: re-sole’ing, cleaning, whatever else they do with those big, scary machines)
3) provided with excellent recommendations on shoelace length (because you know you need it)
4) given good pricing for the services rendered

I’m no cobbler (and like Frances told you in Toronto, some are much worse than others), but I am someone who likes shoes and not paying a lot of money/spending a lot of time to maintain them. 

And that’s exactly what I got and what I continue to get from Bentall Centre Shoe Renew.

Score one for the little guy!

darren