Providence Entrepreneur Has Built a Business Saving Rhode Island's Sneakers

Providence Entrepreneur Has Built a Business Saving Rhode Island's Sneakers

Jonathan Gil is quickly building a shoe empire in Rhode Island — one with a mission.

Gil, who grew up in Providence, moved his repair shop “The Sneaker Sink” to Weybosset Street downtown earlier this year from Charles Street, and says business is booming. 

What started with buying used shoes online and cleaning up and reselling them has turned into rehabbing customers’ old shoes (and hats) — and a growing Instagram account with over 10,000 followers. 

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

Instead of just throwing away sneakers that can cost hundreds of dollars, people can bring their well-worn shoes to Gil, who, for a fraction of their original price, can work his magic and extend their life, saving both money and the environment.

And for the Providence schools grad who has always been interested in fashion, Gil is just as committed to giving back as he is to his growing "footprint."

“Anything’s possible if you put your mind to it. I experienced it. I didn’t graduate from college,” said Gil, who turned 33 earlier this year. “Anyone can start a business, as long as they’re driven and committed to consistency.”

 

Finding His Way

Gil, who grew up in the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood of Providence, pursued a number of educational and employment avenues before launching his first business. 

“I went to like three different high schools. My main high school was The Met, where I graduated from. It was a really good experience. They taught me a lot, as far as internships,” said Gil.

“I’ve always been into fashion. What I tried to study was interior design but I figured it wasn’t really me. I went to college for a year, but I didn’t like it,” said Gil. “So I started working at Saks Fifth [Avenue]. I loved it, just being around clothing and brands. I wanted to see the different things they came up with because I didn’t go to school for fashion. That was really the only way I could ’see’ it.”

And soon after turning 25, Gil said he had a bit of a “quarter-life crisis.” 

“At around 26, I hit a point where I thought, 'What am I going to do for the rest of my life?' I’m getting older, so then I thought, let me become an electrician, I hear that’s pretty good,” said Gil.

And he worked in the industry for a short while, until an injury had him reevaluate his life choices.

“I cut my hand on Christmas Day in 2020, slicing open a package of bacon with a steak knife,” said Gil. “I was out of work for a few months. I’ve still got the scar.” 

“The first month I was out, I started going on eBay and Mercari and buying used sneakers that were kind of beat, things that people don’t want, that you can buy really cheap,” said Gil. “I could buy a [name brand] shoe for like $30, clean it up, make it look really new, smell good, paint it, then I’d sell it for like $120."

"So I was making a profit and I thought, wait a minute. Maybe I should get into a different business, because it’s crazy how I’m making money off used sneakers that people were just going to throw away," he said. 

And according to Gil, a fight ensued with his mom when he said he was going to switch careers. 

“I told my mom I’m going to quit, I don’t think I want to become an electrician. She flipped out. We got into an argument. I was like mom, I’m going to start a business, and in a year, we’ll see how it goes," said Gil, whose mother came to the United States from Guatemala and had him when she was 17.

“Now, she’s so proud of me,” said Gil. 

 

Pursuing His Passion

“A year after, I had a small office, I’d registered my company, and I started fixing shoes for people,” said Gil. “And I saw just how happy it made people, that I could fix their old sneakers that they were possibly going to throw away.”

For Gil, his new model is “solely” focused on fixing people’s shoes. 

“Now, I don’t buy used sneakers. I just don’t have the time,” said Gil.

According to Gil, if someone comes in with shoes that are beyond fixing, he will let them know. 

“I know people think I’m Harry Potter,” laughed Gil. “I still try to fix them. but I’m at a point where I can’t just ‘try.’ I’m a good guy, if I can’t do it, I’ll tell them it’s not going to work. I can give you your money back or a store credit.”

"Now, I want to give back to the community. When I was younger, I knew how hard it was for a single parent to get new shoes. I want to go to schools, I want to collect sneakers from kids and do it for them," said Gil. "I see how happy it makes them.”

Gil says he is at the point where is poised to expand. 

“At first I thought, why did I move here? But then as I was meeting the right people, and I went…ahhh, that’s why I moved here. It’s like the law of attraction,” said Gil, of his new location downtown, which he is quickly outgrowing. 

As for his message to the community, Gil offered the following. 

“Don’t throw away your used sneakers. There’s always someone that could use them,” said Gil. “We’re going to be doing a donation bin soon where you can drop them off, we’ll clean them, and we’ll donate them.”

And for Gil, his family is paramount. His son will turn three this fall. 

“He knows what I do. He says to me, 'You’re going to Sneaker Sink?'" laughed Gil.

And you can find him at 203 Weybosset, across from PPAC.