Shoe repair closes

After being a Birmingham institution for 46 years, Sebastian Deledda quietly closed the doors of Tiger Shoe Repair, 129 E. Maple Road, for the last time at the end of December. It’s a retirement he wasn’t exactly planning, but one he is embracing after he lost his lease. Deledda said the downtown Birmingham institution didn’t actually have a lease – and only discovered that after his former landlord, Bill Wetsman, sold the building to his new landlord, Ron Boji of Boji Group. “It turned out I didn’t have a lease, and only found that out when my old landlord sold the property. The new people have other plans for the property,” Deledda said. “My old landlord understood you can only generate so much fixing shoes. He was very good to me.” What the building, which also houses the former Panera, Bakehouse 46 and Boyd Beauty, will become, he doesn’t know, but he said, “I’ve had a great run here. A lot of my customers have become friends and now I service their grandchildren.” Deledda has no intention to reopen in a new location. “I’m going to try to enjoy retirement,” he laughed.

Business Matters for the Birmingham - Bloomfield area are reported by Lisa Brody. Send items for consideration to LisaBrody@downtownpublications.com. Items should be received three weeks prior to publication.