Fontana's Shoes

My boyfriend walks all day on concrete and his feet have been hurting a lot. I did a lot of research and compiled a list of recommended shoes for him to try. Then I did some research into shoe stores within an hour's drive. Fontana's had the most variety so that was our first stop. Jayden was so helpful - he started pulling a couple of shoes to get an idea of what features were most appealing. From there, he brought out a lot more based on preference. He was so knowledgeable about brands, applications of features, and very very patient with us. He focused on us for an hour until we decided on 2 pairs and I'm happy to report that those shoes were a great choice :)

We visited Ithaca for our vacation when my husband’s shoes were very worn out and got soaked after hiking. We were looking for new shoes ASAP and ran into this store after lunch. They have a lot of selections for hiking and heavy duty shoes with good price. We ended up getting two pairs. The lady who was helping us and the other customer at the same time was extremely nice and efficient!

They were very helpful when I needed shoes for an event. I got some really nice shoes!

Great store with excellent selection. What made it great was the staff. The woman who helped me was so friendly and helpful without being pushy at all. I felt comfortable shopping there and an so happy with my purchase.

The store had the exact brand and shoe I was looking for. The service was exceptional—friendly and positive salesfolks made the whole process a breeze. I was in and out quickly after trying on the shoes to make sure I got the right size. I highly recommend Fontana's Shoes for their great selection and excellent customer service!

The store looks small from the outside but every single shoe they have is probably more than worth the money. Most comfortable (and good looking!) shoes I bought in years. They carefully measured my feet and took the time to understand my needs while also leaving me space to come to a decision. 10/10 would recommend going there while you are in Ithaca!

They were all very helpful. I still was not able to find hiking shoes or walking boots that were proper size. I bought some a size up 39 instead of 38. As soon as I walked out my door toward the car bound for airport, maybe 15 ft, I could tell they were too big, floppy. Bummer. I'll need to return after Oct 16th.

Great shoes and great staff. I accidentally forgot my backpack in the store and one of the staff members went out of her way to bring it next door to Chatty Cathy (I mentioned I was going there after). 10 stars!

Rude, snobby staff. My wife was returning in-soles that didn't work, for store credit. Clerk attempted to lie to her and say there was a 2 week return policy, even though the receipt did not indicate that. She said things like "You just couldn't find the time to get here sooner?". She eventually said shed would "make an exception". The woman we talked to when buying them was super nice and helpful. Maybe it was the person that happened to be there or maybe they are only nice when taking your money.

I came here to buy running shoes, and the woman working was very helpful and friendly. They had several great options, and the woman was very knowledgeable and helpful when I was making my decision. Would definitely recommend this place!

I've been here several times to have shoes shined and repaired. Very nice staff, always finish items on time, and knowledgeable.

The owner stayed 10 minutes over closing time to make sure we got our shoes! Such a nice guy and truly cares about his business!

Sort of okay... It's expensive so I'm not really a fan. I'd rather order something online for cheaper (at equal quality). However, when they have their sidewalk sales, you can sometimes find some good deals.

They have a decent selection of shoes, nothing too impressive. Never really seen a pair of shoes I've wanted to buy here, especially given their prices. However, they do have a lot of Ithaca-appropriate footwear for walking/hiking and trudging in the snow. Worth it if you can't make your way to closer shoe stores in Ithaca.

Best shoe store in Ithaca. Friendly staff and family run. They always have an amazing selection for any occasion.

Worst shoe repair experience I have ever had. Had my shoe re-soled then the sole peeled off after a day of use, had it re-done then the heel portion of the sole peeled off after a few days, then after bringing it in for the third time, the whole heel broke off. If you need a good quality shoe repair this is definitely not it and you will probably leave with a worse problem than you came in with. In response to the response below. The fact that the sole put on my shoe peeled off- not once but twice - should tell any person that the cobbler obviously is not very skilled at re-soling and/or did not have the proper tools to do a good job. The final falling off of my heel was on the specific portion of the shoe that had been worked on last. What are the chances that the specific portion of the shoe that was worked on fell off- and no other part fell off- but somehow it has nothing to do with the fact that it was worked on? Or how it was worked on? The prior times the soles fell off already tell me that my shoes were not being handled correctly. All I can vouch for is the fact that my boots were sturdy and had only been used for a year. This was the first time they had been re-soled, but after bringing them to this business it is now broken and I'm waiting for a chance to take them to NYC and have it put back together.

As someone who worked in the footwear industry for over a decade, I have gotten used to lowering my expectations regarding quality service. However, Fontana's provides not only a good selection of products, but also offers excellent service. The sales staff worked hard to ensure they were meeting our needs by checking the fit, offering style alternatives and knowledgeable info on each model, and grabbing style after style and size after size, all while displaying a happy-to-help attitude without any pressure to buy. They even stretched out a tight spot on a pair of boots my wife got to improve the fit! Their friendly, knowledgeable service made all the difference. This is a good example of a local business providing a great service to the community. Thanks Fontana's!

My wife has wanted to buy Dansko for like 4 years. We looked online, but Fontanas was having a sale and cheaper then online. Bought a pair $103 (online $120) and was happy. Till 4 hours later when the color of the leather in the toes rubbed off with just normal use. Brought them back and the dansko rep was there and seemed appalled that this happened. Her and Fontanas immediately ordered a replacement and actually shipped it right to our house! Very good customer service.

When the zipper on my bookbag got busted, Fontana's was the closest repair shop that got it fixed. Now my bookbag has a better zipper that glides more smoothly than the original one, and I know where I want to buy new shoes. They stock up on some really decent shoes with awesome prices. The service could be a little more friendly, but it's nothing serious. Overall, they get the job done and they know what they're doing.

Fontana's: kind of expensive, totally worth it. They stock lots of comfortable, fashionable shoes with a focus on quality. I bought a pair of Merrell winter boots here and couldn't be happier. It's an old Ithaca business with staff who know their stuff -- if you're looking for a great shoe that will get you through snow, hills, and gorges, or if you want a pair of heels that won't kill your feet, go to Fontana's and find your match!

Do not use Fontana's shoe repair service. They charge an arm and a leg and then do shoddy work. They 'fixed' a pair of flats with broken heels for me by bending and ruining the entire sole. A lost pair of shoes and $20. Cobbler's Cottage is much better.

my shoes are great but were a bit overpriced :(

Great shoe store with very nice quality shoes. It's not a bargain hunter's place so if you want "cheap" shoes, I wouldn't recommend it but I will say that the shoes are a good value compared to something you'd typically find in a department store. Anything I've bought there has held up well. They have a wide range of styles from more utilitarian to more dressy. They always have an especially great selection of boots in the fall and sandals in the spring. We are lucky to have a store like this in Ithaca! Very helpful staff.

My review could easily have gone in the opposite direction if it weren't for their outstanding customer service. I brought in a pair of 1 year old Melissa Button Frye boots to get some salt stains cleaned up and have them re-soled, talked to a staff member about exactly what I wanted and felt good about leaving them in their hands. That weekend I received a call from the cobbler (who they outsource to) who explained to me that he had repaired my boots but wanted to give me a heads up that he had put on a thick, chunky vibram sole but he was sure I would be happy with it (based on what I don't know). I knew right away that I would not because I wanted to maintain the elegant profile of the boots. Indeed when I picked them up they had soles like Timberland boots which entirely ruined the look of them - though Fontana's did an AMAZING job of getting rid of the salt stains. When I went back to talk to the same staff member I originally spoke with she completely understood that this was an unacceptable mistake and guaranteed that they would be redone exactly as I wanted them in the first place at no additional charge. Ultimately I got exactly what I wanted. Even though there was a bit of a headache I blame the cobbler not Fontana's. He should not assume he knows what clients want and just accept the order as is. Fontana's really handled the problem as gracefully as possible. Also FYI boot cleaning and weather treating is only $10 - an excellent deal!.

I visited Fontana's for the first time yesterday and the experience was great. I was specifically looking for comfortable walking shoes for an upcoming trip to Italy and I have CHALLENGING feet. Comfort and quality were the most important things for me, and so I was not surprised by the prices (were consistent with what I had found online). But what I was not expecting and was pleasantly surprised by was the SERVICE. My salesperson, Haley, was very patient with me and and SO knowledgeable about the various brands and styles. She helped me find 2 pairs of shoes that I believe will be perfect for the trip. And, if they need any tweaks (for my bunions and toes), they have the capability of doing that to make them personalized for my unique needs. Thanks so much, Fontana's! You've got a new customer for life!

Not too happy with customer service. Purchased a pair of OOfo's and ordered and paid for a pair of Teva's today. I have shopped at this store off and on for years...spent LOTS of money. So, I asked about the OOfo slides, and they had some coming in soon and said they would call me. When I got home there was a call that the one pair in my size had just come in. I called them right back and asked if I could come and try them on when I would be in town on Monday morning (it is Thursday). I don't live in Ithaca. Well, they said NO, because they will only hold shoes for 2 days without a deposit. I didn't want to buy them because I wanted to try them on, but after a short discussion I was told no exceptions to the two day rule. I hung up, AMAZED!! What I thought of as a classy, awesome store just changed to a place I won't be going to again. They lost a very good customer over a few hours difference in time.