NORTH DELTA — The business of fixing shoes has changed plenty in the 35 years Lorenzo Romano has operated his shop in a mall on 84th Avenue, off 112th Street.
Back in the late 1970s, there were dozens of cobblers in the area that includes Newton and North Delta, according to Romano. Today, probably four or five are in business, he said.
"That's just the way it a-goes, with so many cheaper shoes a-coming into the country," Romano said in his thick Italian accent.
The cheaper the shoe, the more likely people will throw out a pair rather than have them repaired.
Over the years, Romano realized that in order to stay in business, he had to diversify beyond shoes, so he fixes bags, purses, baseball gloves, hockey goalie pads and other merchandise brought into Antonio Lorenzo Shoe Service, where he also sharpens skates.
"I've managed to do a pretty good business and stayed busy all the time," Romano said with a wide smile.
At the end of April, Romano is retiring, leaving behind a profession that has kept him busy since the late 1960s, when he started working at The Bay in Vancouver. Later, he operated a shop at Lougheed Town Centre in Burnaby for eight years before moving house and business to North Delta.
"I had a partner at the time - Tony Zumpano. We wanted to be at the top of the phone book, so we put his name (Antonio) first.... Not many people use my real name, and they think it's Antonio. Sometimes I correct them if they call me that, but after a while, I just don't."
Zumpano retired from the business in 1991 (and died three years later), leaving Romano as sole proprietor of the shop.
"I've dealt with thousands and thousands of people over the years," Romano said, "so I'm going to miss them. It's a long time. Everybody says to me, 'You can't close, where am I going to go?' But you come to a point where you have to move on to the next chapter in life. You can't work forever."
Faithful, longtime customers like Donna Gilchrist aren't sure where to turn for their shoe-fixing needs.
"I've loved taking my Italian shoes to him, and I think he liked working on them," Gilchrist told the Now. "The shoes will get to the point where he'll say to me, 'Donna, now the tops are going on them, I've done the bottoms three times now and there's nothing left there, so it's time to buy new ones,' so then the next pair comes around. He's so gracious and fair - I really don't know how he made a living, certainly in terms of what he charged me for new soles and heels. He'll be missed, that's for sure."
When asked, Romano directs customers to Kennedy Kobbler, located on 120th Street near 88th Avenue.
At Antonio Lorenzo, a sign in the window says new business will be accepted until April 17 at the shop, well cluttered with tools of the trade and customers' belongings.
"After that, I'll clean up all the work for the customers and wait for them to pick it up, and then I'll be gone," Romano said.
"I'm still hoping that someone will come along and buy it," he added. "Once it's all done at the end of the month, if nobody buys the shop then I'll just close the door - that's it, away I go."
An avid motorcyclist, Romano will spend more time riding with his wife, Colleen. They have two daughters and a son, along with four grandchildren. Romano is also planning a big trip back to his native Italy.
"I must have done something right if I've stuck around for 35 years here," he said. "I've loved every minute of it, especially all the people who come in here. It's been great for me."