Sal's Shoe Repair Shop

Sign for Sal's Shoe Repair, viewed from Alexander Road, 2022. From Paul Ligeti.

Historical Overview

Standing at the intersection of Berrien Avenue and Alexander Road in the historic West Windsor neighborhood of Berrien City is a 2-story house, clearly built in sections, and a 1-car garage. With an address of 1 Berrien Avenue, this building (at the time of this writing - 2024) both doubles as a residence and a storefront for "Sal's Shoe Repair Shop." This is one of Berrien City's longtime commercial fixtures.[1]

The store was founded by Salvatore Balestrieri in 1977. Born in 1924 to Luigi and Cataldina Balestrieri in Napoli, Italy, he immigrated to the United States in 1954 (his parents eventually followed as well).[1],[2],[3] In 1966, he married Maria DiMeglio (daughter of Crescenzo and Francesca DiMeglio). Maria had also immigrated from Napoli that very year. She had been employed as a professional seamstress in Italy, and in America spent most of her time as a homemaker.[4] Meanwhile, shortly after immigrating, Salvatore was employed as a custodian at Princeton University, retiring in 1987 after 32 years.[5] In 1977, Salvatore opened "Sal's Shoe Repair Shop" in Berrien City.[6],[7] He had purchased the house and quarter-acre property from Walter and Betty Ellsworth that year. The Ellsworths, in turn, had acquired it in 1948 from Levi and Sarah Holmes.[8] Although the business carried his name, it was a family affair, with Maria tending to the shop when Sal was elsewhere for custodial duties.[9] The Balestrieris also repaired other leather items beyond shoes.[10]

Maria passed in 2010[11] and Salvatore followed nine years later.[12] However, at the time of this writing, Sal's Shoe Repair shop remains in operation as one of West Windsor's few remaining "mom and pop" shops and a legacy of historic Berrien City.

Maria and Salvatore Balestrieri.

Left to right in 2023: West Windsor Arts Center, Brother's Pizza, Sal's Shoe Repair.

Bibliography

"Salvatore Balestrieri." The Times (Trenton). July 23, 2019.
"Obituaries - Luigi Balestrieri." Town Topics. September 28, 1977.
"Obituaries - Cataldina Balestrieri." Town Topics. September 25, 1985.
"Maria L. Balestrieri." Town Topics. November 17, 2010.
"Salvatore Balestrieri." The Times (Trenton). July 23, 2019.
Ibid.
"Legal Notices." Trenton Times. January 21, 1977.
Balestrieri, Maria L., Balestrieri, Salvatore, Ellsworth, Betty May, Ellsworth, Walter N. "Indenture." West Windsor, NJ. Located in Mercer Coutny Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 2043 Page 333.
Matarese, Mariann. “Facebook Comment - Mariann Matarese,” March 27, 2024. Comment on a Facebook post made by Paul Ligeti about Sal's Shoe Repair Shop in the "West Windsor& Plainsboro - The Glory Days" private Facebook group. Full quote: "The Balestrieri family are long-time friends of my family. They moved to that house from Village Road when I was a kid. That shop has always been in the garage. It was Sal's "side-hustle;" before he retired, he was employed full-time by Princeton University and his wife, Maria, would tend to the shop while he was at work. The business is now operated by Salvatore's children." Full quote URL: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=7452833128071689&set=gm.6770801796353962&idorvanity=2425866877514164
Hutchinson, Lew. “Facebook Comment - Lew Huthinson,” March 27, 2024. Comment on a Facebook post made by Paul Ligeti about Sal's Shoe Repair Shop in the "West Windsor& Plainsboro - The Glory Days" private Facebook group. Full quote: "They were great. He fixed some of my hockey skates and gloves. Definitely going to heaven, my gear smelled so bad...n." Full quote URL: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=7452833128071689&set=gm.6770801796353962&idorvanity=2425866877514164
"Obituaries - Maria L. Balestrieri." Town Topics. November 17, 2010.
"Salvatore Balestrieri." The Times (Trenton). July 23, 2019.