Ralph Rotella has built a strong community in Syracuse after immigrating from Calabria, Italy. After 43 years of shoe repair work, Ralph knows his craft as well as he knows his customers.
Ralph Rotella, 63, looks for the boots of Faye Greene, 62, at the Discount Shoe Repair on Friday, October 12, 2018, in Syracuse, New York. Ralph had to look at each tag since Faye lost her ticket. (Photo/Whitley Carpenter, wcc53060@uga.edu)
Gloves and jars of polish sit above Ralph Rotella's workspace at Discount Shoe Repair on Friday, October 12, 2018, in Syracuse, New York. Ralph wears gloves to protect his skin from the stain. (Photo/Whitley Carpenter, wcc53060@uga.edu)
Ralph's sister, Josephine Rotella, 60, and his father, Dominic Rotella, 87, sort through donated shoes at the Discount Shoe Repair on Friday, October 12, 2018, in Syracuse, New York. They separate the shoes by type and quality. (Photo/Whitley Carpenter, wcc53060@uga.edu)
Ralph Rotella, 63, evens out the sole of boot at the Discount Shoe Repair on Friday, October 12, 2018, in Syracuse, New York. Both shoes need to be flat and smooth for the new sole to stay in place. (Photo/Whitley Carpenter, wcc53060@uga.edu)
Discount Shoe Repair has a wall of finished shoes, captured on Friday, October 12, 2018, in Syracuse, New York. Ralph donates the shoes that have been left behind and forgotten. (Photo/Whitley Carpenter, wcc53060@uga.edu)
Dominic Rotella, 87, rests at the counter while his son, Ralph Rotella, 63, answers a phone call at Discount Shoe Repair on Friday, October 12, 2018, in Syracuse, New York. Dominic speaks broken English and usually talks to Ralph in his mother tongue. (Photo/Whitley Carpenter, wcc53060@uga.edu)
Mary Croglio, 64, from Fayetteville, New York, drops shoes off at the Discount Shoe Repair on Friday, October 12, 2018, in Syracuse, New York. Mary is a registered coronary nurse but isn't currently working. (Photo/Whitley Carpenter, wcc53060@uga.edu)
Dominic Rotella, 87, stares out the window at Discount Shoe Repair on Friday, October 12, 2018, in Syracuse, New York. Dominic spends the day with his son, Ralph, and cleans the store. (Photo/Whitley Carpenter, wcc53060@uga.edu)
Ralph Rotella, 63, eats lunch in the backroom of the Discount Shoe Repair on Friday, October 12, 2018, in Syracuse, New York. His meal was frequently interrupted from the stream of customers trickling in. (Photo/Whitley Carpenter, wcc53060@uga.edu)
David Potter, 84, from Syracuse, New York, asks Ralph to repair his shoes to help with his blood circulation problems at Discount Shoe Repair on Friday, October 12, 2018, in Syracuse, New York. Ralph knows the many of his customers by their first name and has served a wide range of needs in his community. (Photo/Whitley Carpenter, wcc53060@uga.edu)
Ralph Rotella, 63, strains to cut the sole off of a boot at Discount Shoe Repair on Friday, October 12, 2018, in Syracuse, New York. The material quickly dulls his knife. (Photo/Whitley Carpenter, wcc53060@uga.edu)
Ralph Rotella, 63, sweeps off the sanded shoe dust from his workspace at Discount Shoe Repair on Friday, October 12, 2018, in Syracuse, New York. After nine hours of work, the dust formed a massive pile on the ground. (Photo/Whitley Carpenter, wcc53060@uga.edu)
