Jairo Cardenas owner the Alpha Shoe Repair Corp., works on a boot repair, Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, …

Jairo Cardenas owner the Alpha Shoe Repair Corp., works on a boot repair, Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, ...

Jairo Cardenas owner the Alpha Shoe Repair Corp., works on a boot repair, Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, in New York. Business at the shop, which he’s run for 33 years, is down 75% compared with prior to the pandemic. Shoe repairs typically bring in more money than shines. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)