cobbler assembly line

Not too long ago I went during lunch to get the heel fixed on my shoe. In these parts shoes get worn out very quickly by extended, intentional walking and getting your high heels caught on grid-like subway coverings.

In more rural parts of America (i.e. everywhere but here), you have to wait at least a week to get your shoes fixed. The normal process is that you take your shoes to the dry cleaner, who sends them off to somewhere in the sky, and then your shoes are returned. In NY, however, there is about one cobbler per block. And they are not called "cobblers" in other parts of the country to my knowledge. I don't know what they're called, but I think no one knows because no one ever has to get their shoes fixed!

Anyway, the other day I went to get by shoes cobbled. When I arrived, there were about 4 ladies in front of me all sitting around, stuffed in next to eachother, with either one or both shoes off of their feet. In a matter of minutes, one pair of shoes was fixed, the shoe-owner paid, and then left just as fast as a fresh supply of ladies filtered through the front door. I was impressed at the efficiency! If only other businesses in the service industry could learn from this example.