Twin Cobblers, Albert’s Shoe Repair, 2016.

Every time I walked into Albert’s Shoe Repair, I would be greeted by the familiar smiles of one or both twin brothers who’s talented hands saved many of my family’s shoes. Colombian immigrants, they ran the shop on 1016 Westchester Ave for more than 35 years in 2016 when I made this photo. They had raised families and seen me grow up too. Their shop was a time capsule overflowing with trinkets, posters, statues and shoes of every style and size. I remember that there were more than a few stickers placed on the glass case where they sold polish and brushes. Some were funny, some religious, and some wildly inappropriate for my young eyes. Almost all of them were in Spanish. It was chaos and I loved it; a place filled with magic for me, where the past and present intertwined and where I could practice speaking our shared language.

I remember when the building was a bustling hub of small businesses, each with its own unique charm. It was a place where I spent countless hours exploring, my childhood filled with the vibrant colors and sounds of the shops. But then, in 2018 the building was sold and torn down, a piece of my childhood lost forever.

A new 96,000 sq ft school stands in its place, a stark contrast to the original one-story building built in 1928. It’s a reminder of the changing times, but I still find myself longing for the familiar sign of Albert’s Shoe Repair. The twins may be gone and long retired, but their memory lives on for me in this image.