Dominick Ferrara, owner of Rocco’s Shoe Repair in Suffern, works his magic. The narrow store on Lafayette Avenue has been in business some 65 years.

Rocco’s Shoe Repair has been on Lafayette Avenue, Suffern’s Main Street, since 1952. Owner Dominick Ferrara can be found most days in the narrow store surrounded by leather shoes, some repaired, others waiting their turn.

With the modern-day, disposable consumer culture, shoe repair is a dying art. But anyone who has a favorite pair of leather shoes or boots knows the particular value of a handy cobbler.

Dominick Ferrara was still a young boy when the Ferrara neon Shoe Repair sign went up 65 years ago in the store’s front window — at the time it would have been high tech advertising indeed.

A recent effort by the Village of Suffern to enforce sign size in windows and tamp down the proliferation of window signs along Lafayette created a social media buzz. Rocco’s was cited for a code violation because the old neon sign is much larger than the current code allows. The landmark sign was ordered to be taken down.

But a highly engaged February social media campaign caught the attention of Suffern officials. Suffern Mayor Edward Markunas stepped in and said that the incident was being taken care of, and then it was. Village offcials helped Dominick Ferrara fill out the necessary forms that allowed the store proper dispensation for its pride of place in the community.

Ferrara’s father Rocco started the shoe business in NYC before moving to Suffern.

As anyone who’s ever needed shoe advice or a minor repair knows, Rocco’s Shoe Repair is a throw-back to another time — and a much-needed local service. Kudos to the people who voiced concern about a business that provides local character and color to Suffern.

Suffern Forms New Downtown Committee

Suffern Mayor Ed Markunas recently announced that Suffern was forming a new Downtown Development Committee. From the Mayor’s office:

I’m delighted to report the Village has officially formed the Downtown Development Committee. The purpose of this committee is to make Suffern a vibrant destination, to enhance the commercial tax base, and to bring vital economic impact to the Village. The committee will work to attract new businesses, residents and visitors to reinvigorate the community! Suffern is the last suburban town before the mountains and it offers the best of both worlds… city and country.