Ah! I have the distinct impression that the boyfriend took his boots to get fixed at some place on 6th between Central and Copper...sort of along that little stretch of shops where Downtown Books USED to be and where the new Sushi Hana place is...sorry I don't have any better details for you!
There's a great guy in a little shop on the west end of downtown, on North East 6th street, right across 6th from the Launchpad's front parking lot. Not sure what his weekend hours are, but he's the real deal, very nice and reasonable prices. It's a hole-in-the-wall shop _full_ of shoes.