George Fabian, center, is greeted by visitors, including Dan Speerschneider, right, with Ellen Sandow, at left, and Frank Alfano outside Fabian’s former shoe repair shop, which continued to be a gathering spot since the business closed in 2018, as the building closes its doors for good, on Park Street in Madison.
AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNALPeople are also reading…
- Gateway shows graduate the way to reaching career and life goals
- Lake Geneva Oktoberfest to feature new events and activities
- Antique and classic boat show to be held at Abbey Resort
- Lake Geneva approves five-year strategic action plan
- Pair of young Brewers stars 'just scratching the surface'
- Williams Bay Middle School student wins regatta title
- Chapel on the Hill Community Church to conduct rummage sale
- Wisconsin Veterans Home residents get tour of Geneva Lake
- Homegrown setter finds ways to help Wisconsin volleyball despite limited role
- Road work begins on Cook Street in downtown Lake Geneva
- Lake Geneva author takes young readers on a trip to Yerkes Observatory
- Several summertime projects completed at Lake Geneva schools
- Week 5 high school football scores
- Badger varsity girls volleyball falls to Elkhorn in five sets
- Walworth County warns residents of wire-transfer scam
John Caliva, left, locks the door of the former shoe repair shop on Park Street for the last time, with shop owner, George Fabian, center, as a crowd gathers outside the building that is closing its doors for good on Park Street.
AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
People meet outside of George Fabian’s former shoe repair shop on Park Street as the building, which continued to be a gathering spot since the business closed in 2018, closes its doors for good.
AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
George Fabian receives a hug from a visitor as a crowd gathers outside his former shoe repair shop on Park Street one last time.
AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
Members of the Madison Fire Department pay a visit to George Fabian’s former shoe repair shop on Park Street as a crowd gathers the day the building closes for good.
AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNALTop stories for Aug. 28, 2026, in the Wisconsin State Journal
(From left) George Fabian shares a laugh with high school friend, Lowell Bakken, and David Rizzo as the friends tell stories through the years of Fabian's shoe repair shop on Park Street in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. The shop has closed after nearly 52 years. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
- AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
George Fabian, with the help of his friends, filled up and donated two large trash bags with repaired shoes that were not picked up by customers, some that had even been there for years, at his shoe repair shop on Park Street in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
- AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
Photos: 'Mayor of Park Street' closes his shoe repair shop
George Fabian has closed his shoe repair shop on Park Street after nearly 52 years in that location in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018.
(From left) George Fabian shares a laugh with high school friend, Lowell Bakken, and David Rizzo as the friends tell stories through the years of Fabian's shoe repair shop on Park Street in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. The shop has closed after nearly 52 years. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
- AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
George Fabian, with the help of his friends, filled up and donated two large trash bags with repaired shoes that were not picked up by customers, some that had even been there for years, at his shoe repair shop on Park Street in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
- AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL

