Sewickley Shoe Repair to be featured in documentary
In the Sewickley Shoe Repair on Beaver St., Mario Ulizzi toils among rows of worn shoes and boots.
The cobbler meticulously works various leathers, sometimes for hours, doing the work by hand. Ulizzi can replace a sole, bring back the shine, put on a new heel, make scuff marks disappear and add fresh laces.
Skilled in the art of shoe repair, he will be featured in an upcoming documentary called “Beneath The Sole,” directed by Ryan Rust of Venture Road Pictures.
“It has been fun to see Mario’s personality and to watch him interact with customers,” said Rust, of Moon. “It is magical to see these connections. The connections he has made and the passion and craftsmanship he has with every shoe he repairs is what I want to bring out in this film. I hope that viewers connect with Mario and find that local shop so they too can make their own connection to a local cobbler.”
The idea for the documentary came when Rust and his wife Caitlin were walking through Sewickley earlier this year and she noticed the quaint shop.
“We love walking through Sewickley,” Rust said. “It has such a great vibe.”
Rust reached out to Ulizzi via an Instagram message and set up a meeting. He said there was an immediate interest in showcasing the shop and the bigger story about the profession where people like Ulizzi invest their heart and soul into every sole.
“This film is like a pinch-me moment,” said Ulizzi, of Robinson. “It is an opportunity for people to learn about this business. I love what I do.”
Filming began on July 7. Venture Road Pictures spent the day inside Sewickley Shoe Repair with Ulizzi and his wife, Carla Ulizzi. There are plans for another visit in September to get more action as well as capture some drone footage of Sewickley itself to showcase the town in the film.
Rust said he would love to have the documentary screened at the Lindsay Theater and Cultural Center in Sewickley sometime next year so everyone in town is able to see it on the big screen.
”It’s such a wonderful theater and I had the pleasure of premiering my first short documentary in 2024 called ‘HIVE’ about a local beekeeper, which went on to win best documentary short at the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival and the Arizona International Film Festival,” Rust said.
The documentaries are self-funded, but Rust said he is always looking for investors to partner with for future documentary projects. He said they are aiming for a 10-minute short film at the moment but will determine the length after the editing phase. He uses the editing tool DaVinci Resolve and will connect with a local composer who will professionally mix the film for theaters at Red Caiman Studios in Ross.
This is a passion project for Rust, who has a full-time job with Brunner marketing agency, where he is a director and editor working on various commercials and branded content.
Sewickley Valley Chamber of Commerce executive director Erica Parr said the shop is an asset to the community and that Ulizzi helps customers preserve their footwear and not toss something that can be repaired.
Parr said there is a beauty about these shoe repair shops where they transport you back in time a little bit, in a good way, she said.
“Mario’s attention to detail is amazing and his craftsmanship is wonderful,” Parr said. “His work is incredible. What he does is an art form.”
For Ulizzi, the profession has a family connection. He learned the trade from his father-in-law Mario Gigliotti Sr. at his and his son Mario Gigliotti Jr.’s shop, Squirrel Hill Shoe Repair. Ross LoCastro Sr., who owns Mt. Lebanon Shoe Repair, is Mario Gigliotti Sr.’s nephew.
Ulizzi, 50, opened his Sewickley shop in 1999.
“People in Sewickley have big hearts and look out for each other,” Ulizzi said. “I’ve gotten to know so many people. I have customers who just stop in at times to say hello. And I have some customers who have moved out of the area who still send their shoes and boots to me. That is what’s special about Sewickley.”
Sewickley Mayor George Shannon said Ulizzi is a guy who smiles when someone walks through the door. He is energetic and makes everyone feel welcome.
“We are so fortunate to have a cobbler in town,” Shannon said. “Every town would love to have a cobbler. A story like his makes Sewickley the special place it is. The local business owners make this town. I am happy for him.”
Rust said he is hopeful people will watch it and have a moment where they want to help continue the tradition and bring their shoes in to be repaired.
“It’s an inspiring story and I am excited to tell Mario’s story,” Ryan Rust said.
Ulizzi said he loves what he does because each pair of shoes or boots is an opportunity to not only make something look new again but to engage with people. He said the 2020 pandemic was challenging when people weren’t leaving their homes often and not wearing dress shoes. With some people continuing to work from home and hybrid schedules, shoes don’t wear out as fast, but recently it seems that things are coming back, Ulizzi said.
“You learn this trade by years of doing it,” Ulizzi said. “It’s not a cookie-cutter business, because every leather is different. It is tough on your body. There are long days and it’s hard work. I am grateful to Ryan for seeing something in me that he thought was a worthwhile story. I hope people with watch the documentary and appreciate the craftsmanship of their local cobbler and be appreciative for them being there.”
Follow the journey at beneaththesole.com.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.