When your soles are in need of repair, there are two souls that can handle the job: Liborio "Buddy" Butera and George Vicchiotti. You will find these experienced craftsmen practicing their skills at Reineberg's on Haines Road in York. They not only save soles-they repair heels, stitch uppers, add wedges, apply cleats, create build-ups, fill orthopedic prescriptions and complete any other project brought to their capable hands.

Buddy began working with soles when he was fourteen years old at the Reliable Shoe Repair Shop on South George Street. In 1946 he went to work with his older cousin at Butera and Concino Shoe Repair, located at the corner of George Street and Mason Avenue. In the early 1960's Buddy again joined his cousin who had opened Butera's Shoe Repair on East Market Street. He perfected his trade there until the business closed in 1990, when Buddy brought his expertise to Reineberg's.

From an early age George also spent most of his life healing soles. He was just a kid during World War II when he started shining shoes for his "Pop" at Ideal Shoe Repair. George continued his apprenticeship at Stillman's Department Store, the 5 & 10, the Bon Ton and at his own shop in Dover, Vic's Shoe Repair. In 1961 he returned to Ideal Shoe Repair as his father's right hand man until the closing of the shop thirty years later. At Bob Reineberg's invitation, he came to assist Buddy at Reineberg's.

"Everything I know Bud taught me - well maybe not everything. Bud really knows what he's doing. He's about the best in York County. No, he is the best. He gets my seal of approval," George says, giving a thumbs-up.

Buddy shared his insights on shoe repair as a dying trade: "Shoe repair is not being taken up today. There are not many people doing orthopedic work any more. This is a trade in itself. Eventually the prosthetic area will have to do the build-ups, etc. Not many people want to do craftsman's type of work - it is too time-consuming. Most of the shoes made today aren't made to be fixed, just like many other things. It is becoming a disposable society. If you invest in good shoes, it is definitely worthwhile repairing them. I use only prime materials. About 50% of the shoes bought today are not good quality. They are constructed of man-made materials. Some of the man-made soles are repairable with the cements we have today, but they may not be worth the repair costs."

Years of family tradition and know-how shape the work of these craftsmen at Reineberg's Shoe Repair. A customer bringing shoes to Buddy and George entrusts his soles to careful, competent souls.

Submitted by Carol Clark Williams and Bonnie Reineberg