Cobble – Est. 1997
We offer an extensive range of repairs, from resoling and reheeling to stitching and glue jobs.
We also do key cutting and engraving.
Stop by and see us, we look forward to dealing with you.
We offer a wide range of shoe repairs including:
Mens and Womens rubber soles and heels, full rubber soles, rubber ½ half soles, rubber heels, rubber toe pieces, rubber stiletto heels, height adjustments and gluing.
We do various stitching and leatherwork including:
Velcro, elastic, back lining, reinforcing, patching, insoles, stretching, hole punching as well as shortening of belts and straps.
We can cut various house keys, car keys (non chipped), coloured keys, PO Box keys, abloy keys, mortice keys and have a range of precut keys also.
We also stock and engrave a range of Anodised and Brass Pet Tags as well as Gold and Silver Plated aluminium plates & medals and can make Player Of The Day trophies & name badges too.
In September 1997, our founder Ryk Hattingh bought the business run from the wee kiosk known at that time as Milan’s Shoe Repairs, next to Lumsden and Kerr pharmacy on the condition that the owner teach him the trade over the next 3 months. On 1st December 1997, Ryk took ownership and renamed the business Cobble (from the verb to cobble, which in essence is what cobblers do, we cobble things together).
In April 1999, Ryk was looking to hire an apprentice as he and his wife were expecting their third child later that year. Dan’s father Will had asked about buying the business and learning the trade and Ryk had said ‘you’re too old for me to train, do you know anyone else?’. Will said ‘my son needs a job’ and with that Ryk agreed to meet Dan and try to teach him the necessary skills for the trade.
On the 1st May 1999 Dan started to work for Ryk and although very slow initially he gradually learnt all aspects of the business starting from key cutting and engraving through to shoe repairs.
When Ryk passed away in October of 2017, just shy of the 20th anniversary of his shop it was decided that Dan would take over the business he and Ryk had built up over the years.
In March 2018 the kiosk was upgraded to a new wooden one and moved up against the Victor apartment site while the original worn out aluminium kiosk was demolished to make space for both chemist signage and to tidy up the surrounding area.
On St. Patrick’s weekend Dan and an amazing crew of helpers moved all the equipment from the old shop into the new one (after trading hours). What a busy weekend that was!
On the 1st April 2018, Dan Fordyce took ownership and the kiosk was later rebranded with the modern look of our distinctive shoe and key ring logo with the yellow colour an ode to the cartoon panels Ryk had installed on his kiosk many years ago as well as the Est. 1997 also being a legacy to our founder.
We are proud to have been serving the community all these years and still offer the same quality craftsmanship and service that you have come to expect from us.
We have extended our range over the years to include not only shoe care accessories and pet tags but also key accessories, belts, padlocks and more.
Stop by and see us, we look forward to dealing with you soon, thanks
Original Cobble from a distance - June 2015
Original Cobble up close - June 2015
Ryk Hattingh
Community notes of condolescence on Cobble's kiosk following Ryk's passing - October 2017
Original Cobble shop with new kiosk in the distance - March 2018
New Cobble shop just after it opened (before windows and side face change) - March 2018
Dan Fordyce
New Cobble shop in current position with upgraded logo and signage - Aug 2018
Cobble's light display for our co-winning BBBA Christmas Shop Dressing competition entry - Dec 2021
Dan outside Cobble after co-winning the BBBA Christmas Shop Dressing competition - Dec 2021
Dear customers, We will be closed on Mondays until further notice while we are catching up on our busy workload. Thanks Cobble Team #winterrush #cobbler #shoerepairnz #shoerepair #busyworkload #leadtime #closedonmonday …
Get that Shoe Shop Shine with our Tarrago Shoe Polish Solvent based formula containing beeswax, carnauba wax and mineral waxes. Ideal for school shoes, easy to apply, brilliant results! @tarragoleathercare …
