Give Back to David: A Community Hero's Journey

**ANYONE IN THE WEST VILLAGE WHO MIGHT HAVE A SPOT FOR DAVID, PLEASE CONTACT ME:) *

For 42 years, David’s Shoe & Watch Repair was a fixture in the west village — a quiet, dependable corner of Hudson Street where people brought their worn soles, busted zippers, and broken watches. David was more than a repairman — he was part of the fabric of the community. Always kind, always hardworking, and always ready to help anyone who walked in the door.

Things started to unravel during COVID. Like so many small businesses, David’s shop shut down in March 2020. He stayed closed for six months and struggled to rebuild. “I didn’t have enough business for almost a year,” he told one reporter. “So the bills piled up to $65,000.” He applied for for a BVP loan. "I got only $1,500 which is nothing, but I gave [it] to them,” said David.

After a year of struggling, David’s business went back to normal. However, the management attempted to evict David at the beginning of 2024. They wanted the $65,000 David owed and they took him to court. The court decided that David was to pay a 10% increase in rent until his lease ended.

“My rent used to be $4,200. The judge said to pay $5,000 until my lease ended on June 30. They [the management] don’t want [to renew the lease]. They don’t want to even talk to me,” said David.

David had hoped to pass the shop on to his son, but instead he’s now packing up decades of memories and trying to figure out what comes next.

This GoFundMe is for whatever that next chapter becomes. We want to make sure he and his wife have the support they need — because for 42 years, David showed up for New York. He loves working & being part of the community. David Solovyov is able to continue his service to the community by receiving or delivering customers’ items from his car. He parks his wagon opposite his former storefront on 508 Hudson Street, on Sundays 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. You can also reach him at [phone redacted].

If you’ve ever crossed paths with David — or just believe in good people getting the support they deserve — please consider donating. Every bit helps. Let’s give back to someone who gave so much.