Marie C. Baca/Daily Journal Harout Salatian, of Mario’s Shoe Repair on San Mateo’s 25th Avenue, repairs a shoe for a customer.

The financial sector may be in shambles, but the owner of Mario’s Shoe Repair is far more concerned about the state of a certain brown pump.

“Made in China, of course,” said Harout Salatian, inspecting the heel. “What do you expect when you pay twenty dollars for a pair of shoes? Of course it’s going to need repair.”

He isn’t complaining. Economic downturn has forced several San Mateo shopkeepers to close their doors, but cobblers like Salatian have proven to be largely immune to the slowdown thus far. Of the 10 shoe repair businesses located in the city, seven reported no change in profits or customer volume over the past three months, while one reported a decrease. Two were unavailable for comment.

Shoe repair has long been considered one of the few businesses that can survive — and in certain cases, thrive — in a sluggish economy. In theory, customers who might typically discard their shoes at the first sign of wear are more likely to bring them in for repair when money is tight. But in a climate where even “recession-proof” markets like luxury goods are struggling to attract consumers, the cobblers’ status quo is one of the few success stories among San Mateo merchants.

Still, the signs of economic turmoil are visible within these shops, particularly when looking at the shoes themselves. Gone are the $300 Italian designs prevalent a few years ago, replaced with inexpensive knock-offs from Payless and Shoe Pavilion. “Now people bring in these shoes where sometimes it’s not even worth it to fix them,” said Sarkis Panossian, owner of Victor’s Shoe Repair. “They are reluctant to invest in quality.”

Such spending habits may begin to explain why business isn’t booming as a result of the downturn.

“People here shop with the mentality that footwear isn’t repairable,” said Charles Paradise, the owner of Birkenstock by Footloose Store. “They’ll come in and ask me if I can fix something, and they’re surprised when I say yes. They’ve forgotten that shoes aren’t meant to be thrown away for a long time.”

Laura Snideman, the city’s economic development manager, believes that the cobblers are seeing little change in business due to the relative financial stability of San Mateo’s residents. She notes that the city has experienced fewer job losses and home foreclosures compared to other areas, implying that the local economy may not be ripe for a cobbling boom.

“If people here want to buy a pair of shoes, they’re going to buy a pair of shoes,” said Snideman. “They’re not at the point yet where they’re rushing off to get old ones repaired.”

Though residents may not be flocking to the shops for shoe repair, many cobblers have noted a marked increase in requests for handbag repairs. Salatian points to a dilapidated leather satchel that one of his customers is asking him to restore. Torn and encrusted with an unidentifiable white residue, the bag appears to be a prime candidate for the trash can.

“They leave these things in their garage for months, but now they want them cleaned,” he said.

Salatian, like most cobblers, also sells accessories like shoelaces and polish to supplement the fees from repair projects.

When asked if he is concerned about what will happen to his business if the economy continues to decline, Salatian dismisses the question with a wave of his hand.

“My clients are very loyal. We provide excellent service,” he said. “We are not worried. We will always be here.”