After 42 Years in His Shop, Beloved NYC Cobbler Evicted — Now Running His Business From a Car as Donations Pour In

Amongst the million-dollar brownstones and artisanal coffee shops in Manhattan, an elderly gentleman carefully arranges his tools on a makeshift table beside his weathered Honda. Passersby might assume he's having car trouble. They'd be wrong. This is Raphael Davidson's office now—and business, remarkably, is picking up.

What you're witnessing is perhaps the most heartwarming act of defiance in recent New York history. After spending nearly half a century repairing the city's worn soles and broken timepieces, this 79-year-old craftsman refuses to let a landlord's greed write the final chapter of his story.

When Life Hands You Eviction Papers, Set Up Shop Anyway

Raphael 'David' Davidson didn't just lose a business when his landlord forced him out of 460 Hudson Street last June. He lost what most people would consider irreplaceable: four decades of accumulated goodwill, a workspace perfected through years of practice, and the simple dignity of having somewhere to belong.

But here's what makes David different from most of us: He didn't retreat. He didn't accept defeat. Instead, he did something so audaciously hopeful it takes your breath away—he turned his car into a cobbler shop.

The numbers behind his eviction tell a familiar New York story. Six months of pandemic closure. A pathetic $1,500 in government assistance whilst corporate chains received millions. Rent arrears are climbing to $65,000—a landlord who saw an opportunity where others might have shown compassion.

'For six months I was closed, and I applied for a loan, but I couldn't get any loan because I work alone,' David explained, his voice carrying the weight of a man who's learned that fairness isn't guaranteed, even after playing by the rules for 42 years. 'My son and I work together for ourselves.'

The Uzbek Engineer Who Became a Village Treasure

David's journey to Hudson Street began in 1980, when he arrived from Soviet Uzbekistan with engineering training and an immigrant's determination. By 1983, he'd opened his modest repair shop, never imagining it would become a neighbourhood institution.

What made David special wasn't just his skill—though villagers swear he could resurrect any broken heel or dying watch. It was his approach. In an era of planned obsolescence and throwaway culture, David represented something increasingly rare: the belief that things—and by extension, relationships—were worth repairing.

Customers didn't just bring their broken belongings; they got their stories. The watch was inherited from a grandfather. The boots that had walked through decades of New York adventures. David didn't just fix objects; he helped people hold onto memories.

When the final day arrived, dozens of neighbours gathered outside his shop. They weren't just losing their cobbler. They were losing a piece of their community's soul.

Reinventing Everything at 79

Most people of David's age would have taken the eviction as a sign to retire gracefully. Social Security payments, however meagre, would provide basic survival. A comfortable chair. Television. Resignation.

David chose revolution instead.

'I don't want to stop working,' he insisted. 'My Social Security is very little, so it's not enough if I don't work. My wife and I retired, and now all the kids are grown, nobody's home. I don't make much money, but at least I keep this running and keep myself busy. I can pay my home rent.'

Every Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m., David transforms the kerb outside 508 Hudson Street into something magical: proof that ingenuity trumps adversity. His car boot becomes a workshop. The street becomes his showroom. Passersby become customers once again.

When Social Media Discovers Real Humanity

When Kate DePetro shared David's story on TikTok and Instagram, something beautiful happened. In an online world often criticised for superficiality and cruelty, thousands of strangers chose kindness instead.

The response overwhelmed everyone, including David himself. A second GoFundMe campaign exploded beyond expectations. Nearly 2,000 people contributed, pushing donations toward $50,000 and approaching the $60,000 target. This followed an earlier campaign that had already raised $16,000.

Community Rallies, Support Goes Viral

After the story gained significant attention on TikTok and Instagram through posts by Kate DePetro, a second GoFundMe campaign was started to support David and his wife 'for whatever that next chapter becomes.'

As of July 21, 2025, nearly 2,000 donations have raised the total to just under $50,000 (£ 38,903.75), nearing its $60,000 (£ 45,484.50) goal. This follows an earlier campaign that raised around $16,000, according to The Post.

When David learned about the surge in support, his reaction was pure authenticity: 'No way.' Not the polished gratitude of a PR statement, but the genuine disbelief of a man who'd spent his life giving more than he received.

Kate DePetro captured the essence perfectly: 'We want to make sure he and his wife have the support they need—because for 42 years, David showed up for New York.'

Building Dreams from Broken Things

David's mobile operation serves roughly 10 customers each Sunday, with word of mouth steadily expanding his clientele. 'I think we're going to have some new customers,' he predicted with characteristic optimism.

The logistics aren't simple. Most of his professional equipment was lost during the eviction, leaving him with only basic tools and decades of accumulated expertise. Complex repairs require him to transport items to his home workshop, where he completes the work throughout the week before returning the finished pieces the following Sunday.

It's not the ideal setup he spent 42 years perfecting, but it's his setup. And in David's hands, 'making do' becomes its form of artistry.

The GoFundMe donations won't recreate his lost storefront, but they offer something equally valuable: choices. Perhaps a small workshop space. Maybe better equipment. Certainly, the peace of mind that comes from community support during uncertain times.

Sundays on Hudson Street

If you find yourself in the West Village on a Sunday afternoon, look for the elderly gentleman working beside his car at 508 Hudson Street. Watch how carefully he handles each customer's belongings. Notice the concentration on his weathered face as he examines a broken watch mechanism. Listen to the genuine warmth in his voice as he greets regular customers by name.

You're witnessing something increasingly rare in modern New York: authentic craftsmanship, stubborn optimism, and the quiet heroism of simply refusing to give up.

David can still be reached at 347-616-0324 for appointments. His GoFundMe remains active for those who want to support his next chapter.

But perhaps the most meaningful support comes from simply showing up. Bring him your broken things. Sharing a few minutes of conversation. Acknowledging that in a city obsessed with the new and shiny, there's something profoundly valuable about the man who dedicates his life to making old things work again.

David Davidson's story isn't just about a cobbler adapting to circumstances. It's about what happens when determination meets community spirit. It's proof that sometimes the most potent response to life's cruelties is simply this: keep working, keep hoping, keep showing up.

Every Sunday afternoon, rain or shine, David shows us all how it's done.