A craftsman's hands polishing a red sole with a cream cloth on a dark walnut workbench.
A tailor's workbench with brass scissors, crimson thread, and charcoal wool fabric.
The actual workshop bench at A Plus — yellow Landis machines lined up across the back wall, garment bags on the front table.

Forty Years on the Bench  ·  Est. 1986

Shoe repair
& alterations,
by hand.

Forty years of women's high-heel repair — top-lifts, heel tips, stiletto reheeling, and Christian Louboutin red-sole restoration. Plus full resoling, leather, and alterations. Now at Springfield Mall, Virginia.


Chapter I  ·  The Services

What we do, done by hand.

Forty years at the same bench. Shoe repair is the craft — women's high heels are the daily bread. We treat a twelve-hundred-dollar pump the way we treat a forty-dollar loafer: carefully, and only with what it needs.

  1. I

    Women's High Heels — Top-Lifts & Heel Tips

    The most-asked job at our bench. Worn-down top-lifts replaced, stiletto tips re-tipped, scuffed heel covers re-wrapped. Most pairs in fifteen minutes while you shop the mall — pumps, stilettos, kitten heels, block heels, boots.

    Specialty
  2. II

    Christian Louboutin Red-Sole Restoration

    Factory-matched lacquer on the iconic red sole, buffed by hand and sealed to last. Pumps, slingbacks, booties — your reds leave looking new.

  3. III

    Resoling & Reheeling

    Full soles and half soles in rubber or leather. Heel rebuilds for women's pumps and men's dress shoes. Boot heels, lifts, taps — done in-house.

  4. IV

    Leather Repair, Recoloring & Stretching

    Scuffs, scratches, faded uppers. Custom stretching for width or length, orthopedic adjustments. We return color and suppleness to leather that still has miles left.

  5. V

    Handbags, Luggage & Jackets

    Handle and strap replacement, lining and zipper repair, leather-jacket restoration. If we can't fix it, we'll tell you honestly.

  6. VI

    Alterations, Keys & Shine — New in Virginia

    Hems, waist and sleeve adjustments, zipper replacement, tuxedos and occasion dresses. Keys cut while you wait, hand shines, laces, cleaning.

The Houses  ·  By Hand

Brands we know on sight.

Forty years on the bench means most of what comes through the door we have worked on before. The list below is by no means exhaustive — if it is leather and well‑made, we know how to bring it back.

Women's designer footwear

Pumps, stilettos, slingbacks, mules, booties — including Christian Louboutin, Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, Stuart Weitzman, Salvatore Ferragamo, Sergio Rossi, Roger Vivier, Tod's, Tory Burch, Aquazzura, and Gianvito Rossi.

Men's dress shoes

Oxfords, derbies, monk straps, loafers — Allen Edmonds, Alden, Cole Haan, Johnston & Murphy, and the English benchmade houses: Edward Green, Church's, Crockett & Jones, and John Lobb.

Boots & western

Work, western, riding, and fashion — Frye, Red Wing, Wolverine, Lucchese, Tony Lama, Ariat, Justin, Dr. Martens, Timberland, and Sorel.

Handbags, luggage & leather goods

Coach, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, Bottega Veneta, Marc Jacobs — plus Tumi and Briggs & Riley luggage, and leather jackets of every cut. Handle and strap rebuilds, lining and zipper repair, full re‑conditioning.

Don't see your house? Call the shop — if it can be repaired, we have likely repaired one.


Chapter II  ·  The House — Since 1986

Forty years
at the bench,
one shoe at a time.

For forty years — first at Cherry Hill Mall in New Jersey, now at Springfield Mall in Virginia — we have done one thing: repair shoes by hand. Mostly women's heels — top-lifts, tips, full reheeling on pumps and stilettos and the Louboutins that come in for their reds. Plus resoling, leather, alterations. Designer houses repair shoes once; we have done it tens of thousands of times.

“Forty years on the bench.
Same hands, new address.”

— The House, est. 1986

The bench is the same. The Landis stitchers and Sutton finishers we have used for four decades came with us. Drop something off on your way past Nordstrom Rack. Pick it up looking new.



Chapter IV  ·  The Workshop

Forty years at this bench.

The same Landis stitchers and Sutton finishers we have used since 1986 — moved to Springfield with us, set up for alterations, polishing, and repair.

The actual bench at A Plus — yellow Landis stitchers and finishers lined up across the back wall, garment bags on the front table.
Plate VIII The bench — lined up, ready for the day.
A vintage POWER finishing press with HEEL WHEEL fixture, lit by a warm tungsten lamp from the side.
Plate IX The press — same one we have always used.
A pair of brown leather monk-strap shoes mounted on the yellow stretching machine under warm sconce light.
Plate X Stretching brown monk straps to fit, by hand.
A wooden 'CLOTHING ALTERATION' sign above sewing machines lit by a warm tungsten lamp.
Plate XI Alterations — new in Virginia.

Chapter V  ·  Visit

Springfield Mall,
Suite 13006.

6660 Springfield Mall, Suite 13006
Springfield, Virginia 22150
Monday — Saturday
10 — 9
Sunday
11 — 6

Easy from Springfield, Alexandria, Arlington, Annandale, Burke, Fairfax, Lake Ridge, and the broader Northern Virginia & Washington, DC metro — right off I‑95 at the Franconia–Springfield exit, inside Springfield Town Center.


Chapter VI  ·  Frequently Asked

Questions, answered.

How long does shoe repair take at A Plus?

Most heel tips and top-lifts are done in fifteen minutes while you shop the mall. Full resoling, alterations, and complex restoration take three to five business days.

Do you restore Christian Louboutin red soles?

Yes. We use factory-matched red lacquer, hand-buffed and sealed. We have been doing Louboutin restoration since the brand became popular in the late 1990s.

Do I need an appointment, or can I walk in?

No appointment needed. Walk-ins are welcome during all open hours — Monday through Saturday, 10 AM to 9 PM, and Sunday 11 AM to 6 PM.

What kinds of alterations do you do?

Hems, waist and sleeve adjustments, zipper replacement, suit and tuxedo fittings, and wedding or occasion dress alterations. The alterations service is new at our Springfield Mall location.

Where are you located in Springfield Mall?

Suite 13006 at 6660 Springfield Mall, Springfield, Virginia 22150. We are inside Springfield Town Center, near Nordstrom Rack.

What payment methods do you accept?

Cash and all major credit and debit cards, plus Apple Pay and Google Pay.

How long has A Plus been in business?

Forty years. The shop opened in 1986 at Cherry Hill Mall in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and recently relocated to Springfield Mall in Virginia. The same family, equipment, and standards moved with it.

Do you repair handbags and leather jackets?

Yes — handle and strap replacement, lining and zipper repair, and leather-jacket restoration. If we cannot fix something, we will tell you honestly.

What designer brands do you work with?

Most of them. Christian Louboutin, Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, and Stuart Weitzman are the women's brands we see most often. For men, Allen Edmonds and Alden are the regulars. We also restore handbags from Coach, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, and others — and full leather jackets. See the houses section above for the full list.

Do you repair men's dress shoes too?

Yes. Half soles, full resoles, heel rebuilds, leather conditioning, and recoloring on oxfords, derbies, loafers, and monk straps. Most of our designer-resole work is for women, but men's dress repair has been part of the bench since 1986.

Can you stretch shoes that are too tight?

Yes — custom stretching for width, length, or specific pressure points (bunions, hammertoes, high arches). We use the same stretching machines we have used for forty years. Most stretches take one to two days; complex orthopedic adjustments may take longer.

Do you repair work boots and cowboy boots?

Yes. Heel rebuilds, full resoling, lifts, taps, leather conditioning, and zipper replacement. We work on Frye, Red Wing, Wolverine, Lucchese, Ariat, Dr. Martens, Timberland — and most other boot makers.

Can I drop off my shoes while I shop the mall?

Absolutely — that is how most customers use the shop. We are inside Springfield Town Center near Nordstrom Rack. Drop off, get your ticket, and pick up before you head out. Quick repairs (heel tips, top-lifts, shines) are often done while you walk the mall.

How can I make my high heels last longer?

Three things: come in early — replace heel tips before the metal hits the floor and damages the heel itself; rotate pairs so leather can rest between wears; and keep designer red soles protected with a thin protective overlay before the lacquer wears through. We can apply protective soles in about thirty minutes.

Call the shop (703) 217‑1162