Luis A.
Yelp
Gary has brought over 10 years of Shoe Shine experience from LAX, and it certainly showed when I desperately needed him to do his magic while visiting from outta town around 4:30pm on a Sunday afternoon of memorial day weekend. My initial reaction was to head straight to Nordstrom's, as they usually have staff to shoe shine, but that day their normal shoe shine guy had the day off! I asked if there was another place nearby, and sure enough, I was redirected to Farmer's Market just a stroll down from the Grove Mall. Just beyond and around the corner of the Bath & Body Works shop, you'll find Gary working the shoe shine high chairs.
He doesn't do shoe repair, although after looking at the Farmer's Market Directory, I didn't realize that there also exists a shoe repair business by a similar name at the other end of the Farmer's Market. Guess I know where to head to when I need my clubbin' boots to get shined at... Farmer's Market!! Back to Gary though, his shine is the best shine my boots have ever received at a Nordstrom's and anywhere else for that matter. He conditions, dyes, shine, and paints the trim of the sole's edge like nobody's business. His secret technique involves applying everything by hand. No applicator necessary, as it doesn't quite do the job of getting into all the fine lines/crevasses of my boots according to Gary.
His prices are cheap and on par with Nordstrom's. Around $5 for shoes, $7 for boots. His job on me deserved a $10 as his last customer for the day, and a returning one for the foreseeable future at that!
Tell him "LOO-es" sent ya 'cuz I wanted to be his first reviewer on Yelp! and help spread the word. See you back on July 4th, Gary!