After decades, Barnard Castle’s Star Cobblers seeks a new owner as Adrian Andrews retires. A training period is offered.
Adrian will train the new owner. He bought the shop in 2003 and made it known internationally. The shop helps the community a lot.
He’s leasing the business after two decades as Adrian is retiring now at age fifty-six. Many customers want repairs done before he leaves.
It’s the only cobbler shop in town, fixing shoes, zips, and handbags. The shop also cuts keys and repairs knives and shears.
Adrian stresses that cobblers are sustainable, as repairing shoes is better for the planet. He wants to avoid buying new, unfixable shoes.
Star Cobblers has maintained an online shop for eighteen years. Adrian works with sellers in Italy and Germany, who send him regular work. Online sales help a lot.
People send shoe pictures easily and can chat with him beforehand. Star Cobblers must continue, he says.
He will teach the new owner and show them how to move forward. He hopes he won’t have to sell his cobbler tools.
Adrian wants another cobbler to take over, having thoroughly enjoyed his time there. He started at age 37, thirty years ago.
He loves his customers and will miss the community. Everyone there says hello, and he enjoys the banter with them.
He wants to retire at 57, a year early, as he and his wife have plans. She retired last year, and he intends to travel Europe on his bike. They also plan to buy a campervan.
People wished Adrian well online, with one person calling him a “classic cobbler”. Customers will miss him.