The closest shoe repair place to me is closed for a while, so I ventured to the north side of Madison. When I got to this place (in a little strip mall, parking wasn't an issue) there was a sign that they were opening at noon instead of 9am that day. Luckily I got there at noon, not 9am.
I dropped off my shoes (red leather maryjanes with some busted elastic) with the older gentleman in charge of what seems to be a one-man show. He was polite enough. Not friendly, not brusque. He said to come back in a week, told me how much it would be, and gave me my numbered ticket.
I returned in a week, got my lovely shoes (perfectly repaired, he re-did the elastic on the other shoe so they'd match), paid him, and was back in my car (parked right in front of the shop) in no time. I'd be happy to take any other leather goods to this shop for fixing up.