« Back to News List

ACES SHINES Opening Signals the Return of Shoeshine Service at New Haven’s Union Station

September 11th, 2019


ACES SHINES debuts at the New Haven Union Station on September 19th as commuters can once again have their shoes shined while they wait for their train.

After a hiatus of more than five years, commuters will be able to get their shoes shined at New Haven’s busy Union Station soon. ACES SHINES, an entity of Area Cooperation Educational Services’ (ACES) Adult Career and Community Empowerment Support Services (ACCESS) will debut Thursday, September 19th with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting ceremony in the lower level of New Haven’s Union Station. The new, small business opening means commuters will have an opportunity to get their shoes shined while waiting on their trains. The last official shoeshine services was Brito’s Shoe Shine Stand that ceased operations at the station in 2014.

“We are really excited about this new venture in the ACES ACCESS group. ACES SHINES really fills the gap the late Andy Wolf identified earlier this year and area commuters should certainly take advantage of this service,’ said Chidi Onukwugha, ACES ACCESS Director. “Our team has extensive training learning the right way to shine shoes. ACES SHINES adds to our overall mission which is to empower individuals with disabilities to become contributing members of the community.”

Armed with a desire to satisfy busy traveler’s needs and a big smile, individuals in the ACES SHINES program have hours of training in the art of shoe shining and can expertly shine leather shoes, boots, or even leather sneakers for a low price. Initially, ACES SHINES will be open Mondays from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Besides the ACE SHINES shoeshine team, job coaches are always present supervising the work.

Wolf, who passed away in July, was the New Haven government’s cultural director who tapped an endless reservoir of inspiration and enthusiasm to boost New Haven’s cultural and arts scene. He will be honored at ACES 20th Annual Business Advisory Council’s Employer Recognition Dinner on October 16th.

ACES ACCESS is state-funded by Connecticut’s Department of Developmental Services. ACCESS, a 12-month program, is located in the greater New Haven County. As an extension of ACES’ commitment to serving the needs of students with special needs, ACES ACCESS supports the career development and transition for a multi-challenged adult population (age 21 and older). The concept of continuous adult learning and life planning allows for choices from a menu of quality vocational, recreational, and volunteer services. Other entities of ACCESS include ACES United Lawn Care (AULC), which provides lawn care services to customers primarily in New Haven County. This entrepreneurial project began in 2014 to build on the interests and develop the skills of the ACCESS individuals who participated in the “Gardening for Life” grant.

The other service in ACCESS is ACES Designs by ACCESS (DBA). This program creates and produces pieces that enhances events and serves as a reminder for those special moments shared with others such as decorations and table centerpieces. Consumers work side-by-side with staff to make custom pieces for customers and are involved in design meetings with customers. To learn more, go to www.aces.org/access.

About ACES:

Area Cooperative Educational Service’s (ACES) is to transform lives through education, innovation, and leadership. One of six Connecticut regional educational service centers, ACES is the regional educational services center for the twenty-five communities in New Haven and is both a school district and a non-profit services agency. ACES serves 2,300 students from fifty-seven communities throughout Connecticut at its three magnet schools and nine special education schools. ACES service divisions include international educational programs and services, technology, transportation, translation, behavior services and autism programs, extension therapy services (occupational and physical therapy), assistive technology, collaborative programs, professional development, human resources and financial services, and ACCESS, a vocational and life skills program for developmentally and physically challenged adults. ACES also runs the Open Choice program for New Haven County as well as a magnet school parent choice program for its Wintergreen Interdistrict Magnet School and Thomas Edison Middle School. Additionally, ACES runs the Middlesex County Early Head Start Partnership program. For additional information, go to www.aces.org.

« Back to News List