Al’s Shoe Repair Battles a Disposable Culture

Posted on November 3, 2010 by alofters

On the outside, there is nothing to distinguish Al’s Shoe Repair from the Cards Unlimited store next to it, or the Thai Station Restaurant and Elena Bridal Couture directly across Merrick Avenue in Merrick, Long Island, all of which have almost identical off-white store fronts and green store signs.

Inside, Al’s Shoe Repair is small, but quaint, and with shoes and purses packed tightly together, pouring over the edge of shelves, the store stays true to its 1977 roots. But the once-indispensable business of shoe repair faces considerable challenges in today’s disposable culture.

 “Last winter I bought four pairs of shoes,” says Bianca Rodriquez, 20, who lives in the area and rarely takes her shoes for repair. “I probably wore two of them and then gave the other two to my sister. They’re out of style now anyway.”

Rodriquez is only one of the many Americans who turn to buying new shoes rather than shoe repairs. With the demand for shoe repairs decreasing, many stores, like Al’s Shoe Repair, may soon be out of business. 

“It’s a dying trade,” says owner John Morreale, whose family opened Al’s Shoe Repair 33 years ago. It isn’t just a loss of customers that is hurting cobblers like Morreale. He says that the rising cost of supplies, such as rubber, also eats into his earnings. It seems the increasing cost of supplies contributed to the store’s change in prices, which customers say are not the same as they once were in the 1970’s. Today, the cost of a shoe shine starts at $5 and replacing a sole is $30.

 The store makes most of its money on repeat customers, such as businessmen who come in with their work shoes to be cleaned and shined. “They work so fast,” says Christopher Washington, a customer. “I went to a place in Garden City and the guy told me it would take a week to fix my shoes, but Al’s fixed it the same day. As long as he fixes our stuff fast, everybody will keep coming back.”

With the onset of cold weather, Morreale says that business is “picking up a little.” But he is still worried.

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50 Years Strong: Hell’s Kitchen’s Favorite Pizza Joint

Posted on November 3, 2010 by Kacey Herlihy

Vito Accetta, Sacco's owner's son and 14-year employee, chatting with customers.

With only a few feet between the counter and the wall, you may have to squeeze by a small family to get a seat in the back. However, as local residents proclaim, the effort is worth the reward; this pizza is too special to walk and eat for the first time.

Sacco’s Pizza’s claim to neighborhood fame is their signature thin crispy crust and gooey cheese; their family sauce recipe – rich and sweet, fresh and filled with herbs. In 1996, all of this was available for only $1.35 a slice. Today, its $2.50 price tag is average in the working class area.

New Yorkers are serious about their pizza. Each neighborhood boasts it’s own best slice in the city. Residents of Hell’s Kitchen, current and past, young and old, local students and workers, will all attest that Sacco’s serves the best pie in town.

A combination of top-of-the-line ingredients, high quality appliances, and a sauce recipe

Brand new, top-of-the-line ovens.

that has gone unchanged for half of a century has enabled the family owned Sacco’s Pizza to continue to serve a consistently delicious slice since cousins Dominic Accetta and Joe Cerasulo took over the business from their cousins, who moved back to Italy, over twenty years ago. Located on 9th Avenue between 54th and 55th Streets, on an avenue famous for eclectic ethnic eateries, this pizza spot stands out for consistently serving a fabulous pie. Named after the town of Sacco in Italy, where the family and their sauce recipe from, Sacco’s has been a staple in the community since the family originally acquired the restaurant in 1960.

The back of the restaurant; the seating area, consisting of seven tables and sixteen chairs. Dominic Accetta, owner, is hard at work in the back room..

With no typical type of customer, 14-year employee and son of Dominic Accetta, Vito Accetta says “Our customers are diverse; young, old, pretty much everyone. Just look around and you can see that.” The customer base is in fact quite diverse, from school kids to senior citizens, of all races, shapes, and sizes, a good representation of the increase in diversity in the neighborhood.  When Dominic Accetta first started working there, he remembers, “Everyone was poor. Rents were cheap.”  Now most of the original community is deceased or has moved away, and new condos are being built constantly. The area is growing wealthier and more affluent as the years go by, and this is also visible to the workers of Sacco’s through their customers. When Vito Accetta started working with his father and cousins 14 years ago, “the neighborhood was mostly Irish and more family oriented, now it’s mostly yuppies and young kids from Cali,” he says with nostalgia. With such an assorted mix of customers, Vito Accetta believes that the best way to keep everyone happy is to treat each customer with the same respect as the next.

The employees at Sacco’s believe that their key to longevity and success is their wonderful

Load up on condiments and conversation at the counter.

pizza and their family atmosphere. The staff is friendly with all of their patrons, which Dominic Accetta says “makes people feel at home. They come in and we know their order. They feel comfortable and they come back.” With the economy forcing many families out of the neighborhood, a lot of their regulars have moved away. They do come back to visit though, one notable person calls the store and places an order, travels from The Bronx to pick it up, and eats it on his way home, showing the lasting impact Sacco’s makes on it’s customers.

Owned and operated by a handful of men, all relatives of one another – or employees and friends for over fifteen years that feel like relatives – Sacco’s stands out from other pizza joints. Often people are told never to combine business and family, because when the two mix, the outcome can be bad. At Sacco’s, the men work together comfortably, though sometimes it can get tough. “A partnership is worse than marriage.” Dominic Accetta says, with is cousin and partner, his cousin, in mind. “You have to respect your elders,” he continues. “You go to my town, and even people just from the town, even if you don’t know where they come from you call them Uncle out of respect. We’re like that here. We have respect for everyone.” This is how they treat their co-workers and their customers at the pizza place.

Cardboard taped to the side of the oven for safety, after renovation; the same safety method used before the remodel.

Sacco’s customers were comfortably familiar with the restaurant’s 1950’s atmosphere, with linoleum wall paneling, big red-laminated booths, and a window counter for people to order from or stand at and eat. During the last two weeks of July, however, Sacco’s went through some major renovations. The interior of the store was remodeled and redecorated, which Vito Accetta says made him “Uncomfortable at first, like starting a new job,” but now that he is used to it he really likes it, pointing out that they have more storage space and room to work. “People like the renovation, but miss the old look,” he says. Erica Breslow, a 23-year-old local resident, who has lived around the corner from Sacco’s her whole life, has preferred their pizza to other local shops since she was a child. “I came here after school all the time growing up, and it’s always been this good.” After the renovation, there had been some local chatter about the pizza tasting different. “It didn’t taste quite the same for a few weeks after they re-opened,” Breslow recalled. “The crust wasn’t as crunchy, or it was a little burnt.” Vito Accetta explained that it takes time to get used to new ovens, and Breslow confirms this, saying, “They’re back to normal now. Still serving the best slice in New York.”

Sacco’s has been a staple in the Hell’s Kitchen community for fifty years, and the family plans on being there for a while. A new, long-term lease was recently signed, preparing them to reign as the local pizza champion for years to come.

Posted in Community Business Story, Feature Writing Fall 2010, Hell's Kitchen | Tagged | 3 Comments

Manhattan’s Own Wonderland

Posted on November 3, 2010 by laddeo

Wonderland: an imaginary land of marvels, and strange beauty. The grinning Cheshire cat, the crazy Mad Hatter, and the overbearing Queen of Hearts; children and adults all over the world can rarely forget the story of Alice in Wonderland. From the mystical creatures, to imaginative adventures, Alice’s fateful fall down a rabbit hole brought fantasy to life. For business owners Lauren and Haley Fox, providing a taste of Alice’s world in the real world, was a dream come true. Through their passion and love for tea, these two women have brought a magical and whimsical touch to Manhattan.

Appropriately named Alice’s Tea Cup, Lauren and Haley Fox opened their first tea room as a flagship location on the Upper West Side of Manhattan at West 73rd street. Giving it the clever title of Chapter I, it wasn’t long before Chapter II and Chapter III followed, this time located on the Upper East Side on East 64th and East 81st Street. All three locations offer breakfast, brunch and lunch, accommodate parties of different types, and include a gift shop with elegant trinkets to match any fanciful interest. Each chapter of Alice’s Tea Cup also offers a different and unique atmosphere which ties into the Alice in Wonderland theme, giving customers that fantasy experience. “People really like the nice atmosphere and how it’s all whimsical,” said Emily, an employee at the Chapter III location.

In Chapter I, customers can be seated in what is known as the “Raspberry Room,” with bright pink walls and furniture straight out of a Mad Hatter tea party. Fairy wings and wands line the walls of the tea room, available to wear for those who want to channel their inner child. Chapter II boasts a “Looking Glass Room,” with eccentric teal walls and most notably is the stairs, cascading with an array of butterflies and framed pictures of Alice. When it comes to Chapter III, although the smallest location, it seems to be the most Alice in Wonderland themed out of them all. Here individuals can find a large mural that depicts Alice’s first encounter with Wonderland, when she lands in the great hall after falling down the rabbit hole. Further adorned with paintings of various adventures, customers can follow Alice’s journey through Wonderland.

The atmosphere at Alice’s Tea Cup isn’t the only thing that makes it a unique little attraction on the Upper East Side. This business is focused around the demographics of the neighborhoods, in which it offers products and services that pertain to the individuals who live in or visit the area. Owners, Lauren and Haley Fox, performed their own research at the start of the business and found just what they needed to be successful. “Our demographic research revealed just what we thought: young mothers, children, elderly, mid to upper income, heavy foot traffic, many successful restaurants and the support of our neighbors,” said owners Lauren and Haley Fox on the Alice’s Tea Cup website.

A closer look at the demographics reveals that females make up almost 55% of the total population on the Upper East Side, beating out males who make up only around 45% of the population. In addition, with a population of 217,063 people, including both males and females, about 190,000 of them are 18 and older. However, for Lauren and Haley Fox one demographic statistic is the most crucial, which is that most of the population includes individuals that range in age from 25-44 years old. It’s the young mothers, the soon to be mothers and the brides to be. The ingredients are all in place for a recipe of success, and with this in mind Alice’s Tea Cup has tailored its business to make a very fitting finished product.

So, whether you are 8 or 38, single or married, Alice’s Tea Cup has just the party for you. The on-site parties at each location have become the most important part of the business, and represent how the owners have used demographics to their advantage. The three main parties that are offered at Alice’s Tea Cup are bridal/wedding showers, baby showers, and birthday or “un-birthday” parties. “Our main customer base, I would say, is mostly young families, young children and definitely women,” said Emily, an Alice’s Tea Cup employee. All locations offer these parties to be held in certain rooms that can be rented out for $100 per hour. The cost of a birthday party in Wonderland varies depending on age. For children, the Wee Tea service costs $20 per person, while the Mad Hatter tea service for teens and adults costs $30 per person. For the brides and moms to be, expect a bridal/baby shower to cost $30 per guest.

Alice’s Tea Cup has covered all the bases when it comes to its customers, priding itself on being more than just a place to relax and have an invigorating cup of tea. If considering a party here, expect only their best. This is not your ordinary banquet hall. Alice’s Tea Cup goes above and beyond to make each occasion personable and unique to the guest of honor. “It was the atmosphere and the little extras that made it so special,” said Rachel, a frequent customer who also had a shower thrown for her at the Chapter II location. From fairy wings for a child’s birthday, to champagne and flowers placed delicately across the table, every event is made to feel unforgettable.

Alice’s Tea Cup is a dream come true for two very dedicated women. Through their love for tea, Lauren and Haley Fox have brought to life an imaginary world, while still successfully serving ours.

Posted in Community Business Story, Feature Writing Fall 2010, Upper East Side | 1 Comment

Beachy Keen

Posted on November 1, 2010 by Simona Taver

It’s ten o’clock on a chilly October morning, and all is quiet on the streets that border Coney Island’s beach. The shops along Surf Avenue, with their brightly painted signs hawking various treats, are shuttered. Apart from a trickle of pedestrians that wander in and out of the smattering of convenience stores, the area has the appearance of a ghost town.

On Stillwell Avenue, however, crowned by a conspicuously large red and yellow sign, the Coney Island Beach Shop is still open. The family-run store is right next to celebrated hot dog joint Nathan’s Famous, and yet it stands a little apart.

This holds true for the shop’s role in the area as well: though it is part of the beach and entertainment sector in Coney Island, it stays open longer during than many of its counterparts. While most beach or entertainment-oriented businesses in the entertainment sector of Coney Island close their stores in September, the Coney Island Beach Shop stays open until October— and in some cases, even November.

Inside, the store is larger and more spacious than it appears from the outside. Every spare inch of space in the shop is covered with beach items: towels and flip flops, sunglasses and beach toys, t-shirts and souvenirs– even ashtrays and [baby] onesies.

Haim Haddad, a co-owner of the shop, is often found behind the register. According to Haddad, the Coney Island Beach Shop gets its highest volume of customers during the summer season, which runs from May to August. The customers aren’t entirely tourists, however. “It’s mixed– tourists and the [sic] locals.” Haddad, 60, says of the types of people that commonly visit his shop.

The most popular product, according to Haddad, is t-shirts. The Coney Island Beach Shop sells a wide variety of shirts that range from typical Coney Island themes– like the famed grinning “Tillie” face and oceanic or mermaid imagery– to New York or Brooklyn-related shirts, to t-shirts bearing the theme of 70’s cult film The Warriors, which was partially filmed in Coney Island, and in which the area plays a strong role.

When the season ends, however, selling items becomes far more difficult. “You know, September is still okay, October it goes down,” says Haddad. After the shop closes for the winter, Haddad keeps his eye on the latest styles and trends in beach merchandise. “I try to prepare the store for next season by trying to get new items,” Haddad says. As part of the preparation, he attends merchandise shows to pick out new things for when the store will reopen for the summer season.

The Coney Island Beach Shop won’t be the only beach business on the boardwalk this fall. Typically, entertainment or beach businesses in Coney Island open around March or Easter time and close in September. This year, however, Luna Park will remain open on weekends all throughout October, and boardwalk businesses– like boutique Lola Staar and bars Cha Cha’s and Ruby’s Bar & Grill– are following suit.

This decision is possibly a last attempt by boardwalk businesses to make money before their leases expire at the end of the year and their fates– whether they will continue to stay in business or not– are decided by Central Amusement International LLC, the company that operates the newly re-opened Luna Park in Coney Island and that has gained the rights to control the leases for 11 boardwalk businesses in the area.

Businesses in the amusement sector of Coney Island have had more reasons to quake in the last few years. Since real estate developer Thor Equities bought 11 acres of boardwalk land in 2006 and began several attempts to launch a multi-million dollar entertainment complex on the site, businesses in the area have been facing the constant possibility of closure.

Haddad, however, does not feel such an imminent threat. “Nobody know[s] the truth,” he says. “Everything is rumors.” Furthermore, he feels that change, if it were to come, might not be as negative as many are envisioning. If Thor Equities CEO Joe Sitt went through with the plans he announced last April to transform Coney Island into a shopping and gaming center, Haddad thinks it could even boost business for the area, attracting an extra “few hundred, a few thousand” people.

Though he doesn’t think rebuilding the area would necessarily be a bad thing, Haddad feels the old Coney Island is irreplaceable. “They say all famous people, all singers and actors, they used to hang out here.” In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, he says, the area’s larger-than-life personality couldn’t be beat. “Las Vegas had nothing on Coney Island.”

Posted in Community Business Story, Feature Writing Fall 2010, Graves End/Coney Island | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Tutti a Nuccio a Mangiare!

Posted on October 28, 2010 by dko

Past Hot Shot Photo and Video Studio, and just before Pizza Park on Avenue U, is a most enticing aroma. It fills the senses and the mind with thoughts of dough rising to a peak, and the buttery batter of cookies waiting to be baked to perfection.
A red awning stands above the sidewalk, proclaiming the store underneath to be Nuccio’s Bakery. Day and night, heat emanates from within, indicating the tireless work of this Gravesend establishment.
“They’re always on,” Rosa Stemma, the manager says of the ovens that are constantly baking the breads, cakes, rolls, and pastries for which this pasticceria is known. Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, leavened dough is never safe from a heat of over 350 degrees. Continue reading →

Posted in Community Business Story, Feature Writing Fall 2010, Graves End/Coney Island, Uncategorized | Tagged | 1 Comment

A Jewel in Chinatown

Posted on October 27, 2010 by Christine Liu

A faded jade green sign with mustard yellow letters Don Enterprises hangs above a store window in Chinatown, a remnant of a time passed.  Presently,  an emerald green awning hangs gallantly under the Don Enterprises sign, with the name Pearl of the Orient.  The store window of Pearl of the Orient is decorated with a collage of embroidered silk jackets for dogs, champagne holders, Buddha figurines, fishermen sculptures, ornaments, and lamps with a body of a vase.  Inside shelves are stacked high with lamps made of vases, trinkets, table decorations, and the walls are adorned with paintings, and wall tapestries.  Showcases display an explosion of intricately painted vases, nose inhalers, hand carved jewelry, charms, and key chains.

Pearl of the Orient’s roots in Chinatown go back a little over a decade, thirteen years to be exact.The store started with a dash of creativity, and a pinch of adventure.  It’s also one of the few remaining family owned businesses in Chinatown.  As Carol Tsao, the current owner of Pearl of the Orient explained, “My uncle was a business man from Hong Kong, and the mastermind behind converting vases into lamps.” Small business owners will attest that they’d love their business to thrive for generations, and Pearl of the Orient proves to be a successful story of a striving small business, “My uncle planned on retiring, and so I took over the store, in order to keep the business within the family, and to pass it from one generation to the next,” said Carol Tsao.

The rusted green sign with the name Don Enterprises still hangs above the store window of Pearl of the Orient, for a reason, “Originally, my uncle named the store Don Enterprises; after I took over the business I decided it was time to give the store a new name, sort of like marking the start of a new dynasty.  However, I chose to leave the old store sign up because it’s been up for over a decade, and people from around the neighborhood still remember Don Enterprises,” said Carol Tsao.

Pearl of the Orient is located in prime Chinatown realty; right in the heart of Mott Street. “The location of my store is excellent I get a lot of foot traffic from customers coming in to browse.  I’m very lucky because this building belongs to my sister in-law, and since we’re relatives the rent is fair.  If I were to rent anywhere else in Chinatown I would be out of business already,” exclaimed Carol.

The distinctiveness of Pearl of the Orient extends to the goods, and services offered to customers who happen to be local residents, Carol explained, “The most popular things I sell are the vases that have been converted into lamps.  Depending on the style, and quality of the lamps their prices range from $55.00 – $850.00….Since the lamps can be pretty costly, I’d never force a customer into buying a lamp. Rather I’d try to make sure that they really love the lamp before making the purchase.” Carol said, “I can only repair electric components of the lamps, and not the porcelain itself because once porcelain is ruined I can’t restore it to its immaculate beauty.”

Small businesses have been greatly affected by the current economic downturn, and Pearl of the Orient is no exception.  Carol Tsao said, “The current economic conditions have affected my business immensely, because my sales mainly come from the lamps.  Since people aren’t buying houses, there is no need for them to buy lamps to decorate their homes.”

Carol points out that there is added competition in Chinatown with the increase in novelty stores, “At first I only sold table lamps, but as more souvenir shops opened up around Chinatown, I expanded my inventory to jewelry, and other knick-knacks. I’d say 90% of my inventory comes from the International Trade shows, and I have friends in China who help me look for things to sell in my store.  I also have two girls who help make jewelry and key chains for sale,” said Carol.

With sadness in her voice, Carol predicts that Pearl of the Orient may cease to exist in the following years, “Right now, being in business is very difficult, because I’m not making any profits.  My children all have careers of their own; they’re not interested in running a business.  Within the next few years I may shut down this business. It’s sad but there isn’t anything I can do.”

Posted in Chinatown, Community Business Story, Feature Writing Fall 2010 | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Local Food Chain Takes Root in Queens

Posted on October 26, 2010 by Aaron Monteabaro

Rows of plants grow in the confines of the rooftop

In neat rows of soil that dance around immovable objects, a ventilation duct here, a water tower there, Brooklyn Grange Farm, located on the roof of the building at 37-18 Northern Boulevard, gives birth to hearty greens and juicy tomatoes, among other vegetables, thanks to the owner and farmer Ben Flanner and a host of volunteers.

Flanner’s farm is a venture of love set out to prove that urban agriculture can be self-supporting. “It can be sustainable if we can generate enough revenue to pay for farmers and the cost of the business,” he said. “It is important to prove this could work.” Making his farm economically viable has a two-fold purpose: it keeps his business alive but it also proves to other potential farmers that urban agriculture is possible without losing money.

Flanner said his farm would need to sell everything they can grow during the season, which is no small feat, to cover costs for the entire year. With a small stockpile of savings, he said they would be able to cover the overhead costs during the winter months when the farm is not operational. “It’s sort of like stockpiling your vacation days,” he said. To meet this goal, they sell both to consumers and local businesses.

“Restaurants are strictly crucial to our survival,” Flanner said, sitting next to some spinach plants popping out of the moist dirt, carefully picking and eating one here, one there. Even though he said he would like to create his own market large enough to sell everything they grow, at this moment the sales from “one restaurant might be one-third of or equal to a whole day at the farmer’s market.”

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Posted in Astoria, Community Business Story, Feature Writing Fall 2010, Long Island City, Queens | Tagged | 2 Comments

Putting the Needle on the Record at Academy

Posted on October 26, 2010 by ddabrowska

Nigerian disco, garage, and reggae line the grungy walls of Academy Records Annex. From the boxes slowly imploding on the floor, to the racks suffocated with records above, and even the posters on the walls this is surely a music mecca.

Tigger, the shop’s watch cat, saunters over by your ankles as you browse the $1 bin and it smells like rock n’ roll in here. This record shop has been a destination for music lovers since 2003and it does not disappoint in variety. On a lazy Sunday, you can browse for music from your great-grandparents’ age to today’s music. At first glance, the shop seems like any other music shop. You flip through tabs labeled Pop, Rock, Hip Hop, and then you find yourself skimming some Surf Rock or Soul. The collection is as unique as the shop itself. Located on North 6 Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the shop looks discreet next to its glossy-gaudy American Apparel neighbor. The brick wall above the concert poster clad storefront acts as the awning with Academy Records simply painted in white and blue. Purchased on a founder’s hunch that this neighborhood would blossom, the store came with a great price, location, and a record store must: a huge basement.

 This is the second outpost for Academy Records, with the first store on 12 Street in Manhattan. The original Academy Records is known among record lovers for their great Jazz collection. The new store in Williamsburg is the punchy younger sibling known for its huge Soul and Rock collections, according to Mike C., the store’s knowledgeable manager.

 A strong believer in the notion of an “honest business”, Mike C began working at Academy from the beginning. “They were emptying out very large storage rooms when the store opened to fill it. I started out as a clerk and was promoted to manager”, he says. An ardent music lover, Mike has always known how empowering and unlimited music is. His first vinyl album was Weird Al Yankovic’s “Dare to Be Stupid”, and he stresses it was his; a love for punk rock soon followed.

 Academy seems like Mike’s second home. So why the hype over records? Mike tells me that records are selling better than CDs. In the late 80’s record labels became aware of compact disks and realized it would be cheaper. They banded together and decided CDs were in, and records were out sending Mom and Pop record shops into a nosedive. With the lies record labels produced, such as CD’s could not be scratched, and Clinton’s Telecommunications Act, music became a “boring” place to be. When the public was fed up with this, they discovered the world of Limewire and torrents, and created the monster that is illegal music downloading. Right, now Mike believes that iTunes is the real culprit for record shops, but he does not worry.

He believes in the “honest business.” Mike knows that making wise, balanced choices for your business is what helps you float on at the end of the day. He refuses to point the finger at music downloading because “the stores that are working hard are still here.”

 The downfall of CDs came when record labels began to charge up to $20.00 for a CD since no one was interested in them. Luckily, the CDs failure led to the vinyl records resurgence. Academy’s records mostly come from customers and hefty collections that are called in to be brought over from storage facilities. Skimming the racks, you can notice the price differences. Mike assures me this varies because of availability, rarity, interest, trends, and numerous other factors. Also, he says that the economy has an effect on records prices since people simply do not want to pay hundreds of dollars. Music aficionados know the benefits records possess, such as 50% of what is on records did not even make it onto CDs, they cost $3.00 or $5.00 which is what CDs still do not cost, and the art work on records is something to be admired.

On a folding chair next to the jazz bins, an elderly patron inspects the grooves on his jazz records while a student with headphones suffocating his ears skims for Marvin Gaye’s “I Want You.” The shop has seen more “people from previous walks of life” recently.

Academy also has a great bond with the Williamsburg music scene. They believe in bands being dedicated and “honest”, without the bells and whistles of business and promotion. “You always have freedom if you just realize you don’t have to be a part of what other people are doing”, is something Mike believes in for Williamsburg musicians. The shop also has many in-house record labels which peacefully coexist. The employees and friends of the store support local musicians by putting out 7 inch records and selling them. In the future, Mike sees Academy being a staple for music in Williamsburg. Stabilizing laws for music downloading is another hope he has.

Posted in Community Business Story, Feature Writing Fall 2010 | 1 Comment

When Hardware Becomes Housewares

Posted on October 26, 2010 by jcunneen

Outside New York City, the small town hardware store contains racks of sharpened saws, columns of hefty hammers and shelves of potent power tools to satisfy every homeowner’s need. Entire walls are dedicated to a multitude of nuts, nails, bolts, screws, washers and other knickknacks and a selection of hosing, lighting and lumber.

Lumber cannot be found in the typical city hardware store, where apartment dwellers dominate the landscape. Often smaller and more compact than their suburban cousins, the urban hardware store has to mesh with the city’s needs.

Town & Village Hardware has been serving the neighborhood of Stuyvesant Town/Peter Cooper Village for the better part of the last two decades. Sitting beneath its maroon colored awning, Town & Village looks like the bulging suitcase one would have returning from a lengthy vacation,  with poorly folded clothes and an abundance of souvenirs threatening to break the bag’s seal. Its display window is filled with carts, brooms, bags, curtains and numerous other housewares that are sold within. Opening the door and crossing the threshold will trigger that familiar beep to alert employees of a potential customer. The front register is framed by a random assortment of super glue, magnets and key rings. The aisles are narrow and the shelves tall, arch-like in feel.

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Posted in Community Business Story, Feature Writing Fall 2010, Stuyvesant Town | Tagged | 2 Comments

Old Cuts in a Changing Neighborhood

Posted on October 25, 2010 by joseph.jackson

At the corner of East Tremont, a small shop has catered to many textures of hair—straight, curly, dread locks, braids, and waves. From a distance, on the East Tremont strip of small delis, markets, discount stores and salons, the M&M Pelham Manor Barber shop cannot be missed. With its offbeat pinstripe design of red, blue and white assortment, this tiny old shop is by far the most colorful.
Inside the slightly soiled windows, the re-done red and dull yellow pattern tiles lay on the floors and the checkered pattern black and white wall paper cling to walls not occupied by large rectangular mirrors. Some old and new large cushioned, black and brown chairs are lined up like soldiers, each chair being stationed near small divided brown tables with white rectangular drawers housing their razors, machine clippers, face clothes, oils and sprays.
The M&M Pelham Manor Barber shop, located on 235 East Tremont has been a well known, popular business for 25 years. “Every man that knows about East Tremont, whether they live here or shop, knows about Pelham Manor shop,” says Levi Welch, current Manager and employee of the barber shop for 17 years. Serving the community with a wide range of haircuts such as light and dark Caesars, fades, trims, buzz cuts or just shape-ups, this tiny shop has mastered the ways of cutting hair.
The old barber shop, before it was well known, was a small closed off space that was once occupied by another business that has been forgotten. The late owner, Dr. Bernard Ductan took note of the desolate space, and decided to invest in it to earn additional income. “Dr. Ductan was a money maker, always trying to make a little more,” says Gine Harper, former manager of the Pelham Manor barber shop when it first opened.
Dr. Ductan, a physician in one of the small medical clinics that also serves the community, decided to open a business that he wouldn’t have to look after so much due to his own workload. That’s when his friend Mr. Harper suggests a barber shop. “I told Bernard that I could run the shop. I would hire and manage the barbers, make all the orders, set the policies, and give him rent on the shop monthly from the money the barbers would pay me to cut hair in the shop,” says Harper. “After careful thought Bernard said let’s do it,” Harper continued.
The two friends ran the business together for some time until Dr. Ductan passed away from a heart attack, he was 58 years old. After Dr. Ductan’s passing, his son Miguel Ductan, 39 years old took over as owner. “Things did change a bit when Miguel came into the picture, he comes as frequently as he can, even though his schedule restricts him from coming more than a few times a month,” said Harper.
With other businesses riddling the streets of the East Tremont area, there seems to be a comfortable yet competitiveness in the air. “Since Pelham Manor has been opened, things have been pretty easy going, no problems that we couldn’t handle,” said Welch. The other barber shops in the area, also serving clients of both Hispanic and Black descent find comfort in the various shops. In Pelham Manor, while serving Hispanics as well as Blacks, primarily serve the latter.
“It’s not that we’re racist or anything,” says Shalay Thomas, a very well known barber in the area, “It’s just people go where they feel more comfortable, depending on what we talk about, whether we speak Spanish or English, the type of music we play and how some of us cut hair,” Thomas continued.   Welch said, “Our doors are always open to anyone who walks in, but some people enjoy the company of people like them, like Hispanics, and since a majority of our barbers are Black, we don’t really see as many Hispanics as the barber shops whose barbers are mostly of that descent.”
Levi Welch, one of the remaining barbers out of three since the shop’s beginning, became manager of the M&M Pelham Manor barber shop due to Gine Harper’s sight degeneration. In Welch’s hands, a variety of changes came into effect such as the re-modeling of the floors and the walls as well as a few new chairs and repairs to the old ones. “I wanted to make the shop stand out a bit more so I spoke with Miguel about some of the designs and he said do what we think will make money,” said Welch, “So I decided to throw in a few colors and patterns, then we re-painted the outside, the goal was to kind of make the shop stand out compared to the rest.”
Many businesses in the area are owned by people who also own other businesses, and those that actually work in the store or manage the businesses work for the owners. “The rent is not too bad, on average. I’d say many business managers here pay anywhere from $2,000 for small establishments like delis and up to $20,000 for bigger properties such as Laundry Mats and Supermarkets,” said Denise Rivera, a manager of Cynthia’s Hair Salon, up the block from the Pelham Manor shop.
Businesses affected by the economic status have taken various steps to continue to see profit, some have increased their prices, while others have let employees go, but few businesses actually closed. “It’s not too surprising to see how many of the neighboring businesses are still able to function, believe it or not, rent is actually not that bad,” says Welch.

Posted in Community Business Story, Feature Writing Fall 2010, The Bronx | Tagged | 5 Comments

Sunday Love

Posted on October 21, 2010 by alexandra.torres

Anyone raised in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, knows that vintage thrift stores – which cater to the mix-matched, tight ripped jeans, converse, plaid-shirt wearing “hippie hipsters” that reside there – are superabundant. However, amidst the bounty is an innovative store, which not only sells vintage items, but artistically assembles and recreates things that would have otherwise ended up in land fills.

Sunday Love, a 1,000 square foot business on 624 Grand St., lures customers in with Beatles tunes resonating in the air. Through their windows, passers by can peak into the wonderland of items from yesteryear as well the creations of 20 to 30 artists represented there. It’s rustic wooden floors and unfinished brick walls provide an ambiance consistent with the style of their merchandise.

There is an odd assortment of articles, of varying prices, which include a 1951 edition of monopoly complete with the pieces, vintage bottles of half-used colognes and perfumes, a 1960 model electric Lady Schick shaver, a leather embossed decanter, and an orange and green couch that would perfectly fit on the set of “That 70s Show”, but recently has been sold.

Sunday Love started as the life-long dream of Greer Keeble and a business proposition made by her boyfriend Scott Shatzer to his father Ned Martin Shatzer, over a cup of coffee in July 2009. “Within ten days, we were in here and signing a lease,” said Ned Shatzer.

There are a considerable number of thrift stores within the 11211 radius: including Sweet Virginia, Brooklyn Vintage, Dolly G’s, Buffalo Exchange, MiniMini Market, Beacon’s Closet, Drawing Down the Moon, Dreanne Didomenico Vintage, Vintage Thrift Shop and Screaming Mimi’s.

Despite this, Ned does not consider them to be his competitors. Comparable businesses provide either vintage furniture, vintage clothing or “custom funky cool things” but he believes their combination of products stand out from the rest. “We have not found anyone that does [exactly] this anywhere.”

The store’s character reveals itself through its medley of vinyls, LIFE magazines from the 1960s, dolls that have been converted into clocks by virtue of inserting clock hands into them, two feather quills and glass ink jars minus the ink, a gypsy necklace that converts into a broach and an “assortment of pics from back in the day” for one dollar a piece.

There are paintings by Sean Higgins and Nicholas Rezabek, of The Bubble Process company, whose clients include the likes of the Dave Matthew’s Band as well as other magazine publications.

Coasters, napkins and towels bear hand-printed illustrations and diagrams drawn by former architect Sara Selepouchin, owner of the company Girls Can Tell.

Merit badges, created by Lee Meszaros, humorously reward knacks that include “having meat on your bones”, “for cutting it close”, “doing it like rabbits”, “pushing the envelope”, “surviving first love”, “being quiet as a church mouse” and “being a straight shooter.”

These works of art, created by artists Shatzer does not know personally, co-exist with others that have been recycled, “upcycled’ and subjected to the creative flair of Keeble, Shatzer Sr. and Shatzer Jr. “Most of these pieces we have had some input on.” He added, “It’s not classic refinishing but we put our creative spin on things.”

“We find things that are destined to fill land fills and we put them together,” said Ned Shatzer. A variety of 40-dollar clocks, decorative frames and light switch plates with designs that vary from birds, to human hearts, rib-cages and skulls, are some of the exclusive designs of the co-owners.

Not only do they provide mingle-mangle but vintage shoes and clothing items; 15 to 20 funky items on hangers that rest on long wooden branches hanging from the ceiling and attached by either chains or blue string. “We noticed over the last year that the clothing does really well,” said Ned Shatzer..  An expansion of their vintage attire selection is underway since he believes their accessories, gloves, shoes and hats sell like hot cakes.

Since they obtain their odds and ends from salvage yards, auctions, flea markets and on the streets in the neighborhood and “neighboring states”, they boast being “green oriented.” “We even got these horse shoes from an Amish family in Pennsylvania.” In fact, Keeble recently made a trip to Ohio, her home state, and returned with more clothing.

Supply purchases, like paint needed whenever refinishing furniture, are minimal. “We find paint in the streets […] and buy mistake paint stores like Home Depot.” Minimal costs are ideal, in fact, he would be surprised if they spent 500 dollars in one month.

Materials are not the only things Sunday Love is saving on. Shatzer deems their rent, which was not disclosed, as “a good going rate for a corner spot with good natural foot traffic in Williamsburg.” Foot traffic is conducive to attracting customers. In fact, this is evident by the many people that spontaneously pop in, including one women that was looking to purchase a last-minute birthday gift for her mother-in-law in the price range of 60 dollars and ended up buying several things.

The customers are usually that of Sunday Love’s their target market. “We are myopic in our target market: 25 to 35 years of age, post grads, who are in their first job and/or first apartment that they really care about.”

“Our business model is […] kind of a parallel to the IKEA model […]We target people that do not have a lot of money […] however we are offering a different product line.” IKEA’s customers are of the same age group as his except Ned, Scott and Greer are offering a different product line that caters to the artsy and hipster type. With a chuckle Ned said, “We like to call it anti-IKEA”.

Since they appeal to the less well-off, he believes the recession has stimulated business for people wanting to save money or who take a liking to vintage items.

The co-owners consider their customers’ financials when determining prices; the main deciding factor being perceived value. “If we had a Herman Miller chair in here, it would not matter if it was an authentic or a rip off. To us it does not matter because our clientele can not afford a Herman Miler chair anyway,” Shatzer said. In that sense, they simply charge within the price range their patrons could afford. Also, when deciding on the prices for recreated items, they rarely take labor into account.

Brenna Board, a Williamsburg resident and a frequent customer, considers Sunday Love’s prices to be in the medium range. ”Sometimes I think it could be a little cheaper,”she said. Board explained that she understands that they have to make rent. Nonetheless, she loves shopping there. In fact, every time she strolls by, she gives into the enticing feeling of going in and adding to her collection of old things.

Board prefer the quality of these items. “Things aren’t made as well as they used to be,” she said. Nadia Kazmi, a first time perspective customer, echoed this thought: “It has a history and is better made.” Kazmi’s  friend Mary Bishop said, “I don’t like new stuff; never have.”

Customers also consider the items to be more interesting than that of regular merchandise. Kennedy Campbell, who strolled around the store for a while, said, “I think a lot of vintage items have a lot more character as opposed to a lot of newer clothing and items.”

As common vintage shoppers, it is a matter of preference for them. Board also shops at the vintage clothing store Dolly G’s and Kazmi shops at the store Junk on on North 8 and Driggs Avenue. Campbell and his friends just “like vintage stuff.”

Not only does Sunday Love, which calls themselves “your neighborhood vintage store,” render what is aesthetically pleasing to their clientele but they yearn to promote a “happy and healthy” neighborhood which Ned considers achievable by having successful businesses. They often refer their customers to other stores. “We are very friendly to our so-called competitors.”

However, by taking in items that are intended trash, they are also promoting a happy and healthy environment, on a local scale, one refinished piece of furniture, vintage item and artistic creation at a time.
___________________________________________________________
Sunday Love:
http://www.sundaylove.biz/

Some artists represented at Sunday Love:

1. The Bubble Process:
http://thebubbleprocess.com/about.shtml

2. Girls Can Tell:
http://www.girlscantell.com/about/

3. Be Proud Badges by Lee Meszaros:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/leemeszaros

4. Hand of Fatima:
http://www.handoffatima.com/

5. Another Jamie Davis:
http://www.anotherjamiedavis.com/

6. Gary Wade: Fine art and decorative objects:
http://www.artwade.net/Purchase.html

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Burger, or Beer Garden?

Posted on October 19, 2010 by Kellin Lyons Bliss

On the weekends, this bar is packed wall to wall with a diverse collection of Crown Heights residents. It is more than just a bar however—it is Franklin Park, the official beer garden of Crown Heights.

Differing from most bars and even most beer gardens, Franklin Park offers more than just beer.  Dutch Boy Burgers–homage to the old Dutch Boy Paint store that used to occupy to the space–is the street front portion of Franklin Park. The burger joint is part of Franklin Park since its opening in early 2010.

Franklin Park has several ways to attract customers. One way is to walk around the back of the building where you will hear lots of laughter and conversations taking place in the beer garden–it’s hard to walk away from.

Another is to inevitably succumb to the powerful aroma of burgers and fries wafting down Franklin Avenue from Dutch Boy Burgers. There are three bars in Franklin Park, counting the one in Dutch Boy Burgers. All three of them are connected through a series of hallways and rooms. The establishment even boasts a mini-arcade game room with Skee-ball and Air-hockey.

Dutch Boy Burgers is a new establishment for Matt Roff;  it used to be an abandoned shell of an old Dutch Boy Paints shop until Roff decided to turn it into a delicious burger joint. It opened in the beginning of 2010 and has not disappointed. It stays open to all hours of the night serving the customers of Franklin Park and anybody else who appreciates a good burger. The customers can eat their food in the restaurant itself, but many of them take their orders to the seating in the garden or to the large tables inside the bars.

Perhaps an inspiration for Roff to open a restaurant which would cater to his existing clientele, was the fact that many of the Franklin Park goers would come late at night and order from nearby restaurants that deliver–namely Chavella’s Mexican restaurant. Seeing his customers enjoying food from local restaurants must have triggered a business idea for Roff.

Decal on the outside of Franklin Park

Since its opening in April of 2008, Franklin Park has held onto a main core of employees who make a night out at Franklin Park much more enjoyable. Sean Toussaint has worked at Franklin Park since the day it opened and he has strong feelings as to what separates Franklin Park from other bars. “My favorite part of working at Franklin Park is the friendly neighborhood feel the bar has.”

A main goal of many bars in New York City is to create this type of atmosphere that Franklin Park has succeeded in doing, but it doesn’t always seem to work out. “Many bars open and never are able to make the place feel welcoming and comfortable. Franklin Park does a good job at both,” says Toussaint.

Having worked both pre-Dutch Boy Burgers and presently, Mr. Toussaint believes that Dutch Boy Burger has done nothing but help the business at Franklin Park. “Dutch Boy could not possibly hurt business. I don’t see the books, but I do see people eating all night in the bar, so I can only assume it has helped.”

Franklin Park has modestly attracted a younger crowd of people while still catering to the natives. Mr. Toussaint has noticed this as well. “I also love the diversity. I feel like it is a true representation of what Crown Heights is now.” Roff has done an excellent job at integrating an old Crown Heights appeal into a new, hip spot for the young crowd of Crown Heights.

Posted in Bernstein Spring 2009, Community Business Story, Feature Writing Fall 2010 | 1 Comment

Neighborhood faces profile: Juan Ortiz (FINAL)

Posted on October 5, 2010 by alexandra.torres
Around 3:30 p.m., a man walks into the Williamsburg Community Center accompanied by many happy-spirited children, who he had just picked up from school. On the surface, he seems like the typical citizen of the community, whose desk is strewn with toys and other tokens of appreciation.

There is, however, another side to this man, Juan Ortiz, that most would not suspect unless they glanced upon his wooden shelves which hold the remnants of his past as a community activist and organizer in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

In one frame is a certificate acknowledging his completion of The Dynamics Of Community Activism, which he received in 1978 from Columbia University. In another is a certificate he received in 1981 from the New York Law School for criminal procedure law. His wife Franchesca was a law student at the time and insisted that he learned criminal law, something he himself grew more interested in. “Law can be manipulated but not justice,” he explained.

He spoke about the crack epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s and even referred to the neighborhood as having once been a “warehouse of crack.” “I have seen this neighborhood kill people and also give birth to people,” Ortiz said.

Around that time, Dominicans and Puerto Ricans were struggling to stay in the area, although they were being pushed out. He sympathized with this community, as a Dominican and Puerto Rican himself, born in the town of Isabella, Puerto Rico.

Ortiz not only shared their nationality, but also understood their needs and addressed them as the treasurer of the South Side United Housing Fund Development; a position he held for 10 years.The corporation would purchase buildings – from the city for just a few dollars in what was deemed “symbolic purchases” – and fix them up, so people could move into them. The tenants of each building collectively owned it and were part of an organization that met monthly.

Upon one of his shelves was a trophy he received in 1990, from the Somos Uno Conference, which he received for his “selfless commitment to the labor movement.” With a smile on his face, and an occasional laugh, Ortiz reminisced on how it happened.

“Some people use the word everybody, but they do not include everyone often times.” He continued with an analogy: “When they sit at the table to cut the pie, we do not get a crumb.”

By “we”, he meant the Puerto Ricans and Dominicans in the area, and on a larger scale, the Latino Community. Before taking an initiative, Ortiz went about figuring out the needs of the community: jobs, health, food, shelter; pretty universal needs he acknowledged.

He was one of many who wanted to mobilize and travel to Albany, to present their needs to the Assembly. But in politics, you need numbers, Ortiz explained.

They had Machito, a Cuban band leader, perform that day, confident it would attract many attendees and in fact it did. Blacks, Whites, and Latinos were in attendance and they spontaneously began chanting: Somos Uno, Somos Uno! (We are one!) If there was a recording of that day, it would not do any justice to what had transpired, Ortiz explained. From that point on, the annual conference was called the Somos Unos Conference.

Ortiz moved on to the next “chapter” of his life speaking about his involvement in two campaigns. The first was David Dinkins’ campaign. “I wanted to be part of that!” He wanted to contribute to making history by helping get the first African American elected as mayor of New York City. Dinkin was elected and served from 1990 -1993.

Ortiz was also part of the campaign that helped Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez (who presides over Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and Bushwick) get elected.

Ortiz moved on to his current work; his role at the Williamsburg Community Center located on 95 Graham Avenue. By choice, he does not go by a title there. “I do whatever needs to be done,” he said. Some of his roles are the fitness instructor, counselor, cook, gardener, cleaner, and so on.

The center offers children help with their homework, the opportunity to learn chess and boxing, among many activities that Ortiz and others teach them. Teenagers and young adults go there three hours a day for counseling, fitness, or sports, and other things. “You can come here and be safe,” Ortiz said.

Upon learning of his accomplishments, many people wonder why Ortiz has made the center his second home, he explained, as if to imply they deem it beneath him. Unlike the rest of his successes, he explained, “You can not document the things I do here.”

“People get caught up in titles […] wanting to sell themselves.” He explained that despite titles, we are all humans. He added, “You are not a tabloid in life!”

Ortiz is fulfilled by his role in the free community center, where the children cultivate crops – like tomatoes, cucumbers, jalapenos, cilantro, and grapes – in the garden with him and learned how to cook over the summer with Rachel Ray.

You should not measure one’s success by what they have, he explained. Out of all the memorabilia documenting his successes, he handed over a certificate whose value is priceless. With a smile on his face he said,”This one means the most to me […] This is my daughter’s perfect attendance award!”

As a father of four and grandfather of two, it is things like that which give Ortiz pride and he treats all the children at the center as if they are his own. “This is the most rewarding job in the world. You are building the future.”

Posted in Feature Writing Fall 2010, Neighborhood Faces Story | Comments Off on Neighborhood faces profile: Juan Ortiz (FINAL)

The Fifteen Year Old Calendar

Posted on October 5, 2010 by ddabrowska

Since 1995, Francisco Pablo Garcias has been living his dream. He wakes up in his two bedroom apartment shared with three other men, bikes six blocks, and begins his seven hour shift. He is a restaurant dishwasher in Williamsburg, and he loves every part of it. “I run up and down the stairs, every fifteen minutes. I throw away steaks, bones, potatoes, and clean. It is so simple!” he says asking me to correct his English for the rest of the interview. Garcias genuinely loves his job and speaks enthusiastically about it: “my friends in the kitchen are Spanish so we can all talk and we go out after work.” He says the boys enjoy soccer games in the large McCarren Park soccer field, bowling, and drinking some beers with friends.

I met Garcias when we worked together at a hookah bar that had closed down a few years ago. He is now employed at a neighboring restaurant and this is where we met to chat. Garcias says this job is what he relies on to live in Williamsburg, and to also supply his family back in Mexico. For the last fifteen years he has been sending money to his wife and daughters promising that they will join him soon. Missing his family for fifteen years has been something he has learned to live with. His strong trust in American-Mexican relations is what he thinks will rejoin him and his girls. He sees his girls coming off a plane at JFK, hugging him, and coming to live in Williamsburg. He says, “I will have to move out of my apartment, but the guys understand. My family comes first.” His roommates have become Garcias’ family for the last fifteen years and they relied on him staying and helping pay the rent. Garcias honestly confides in me that he was hoping to win the lottery for water view apartments. Mayor Michael Bloomberg introduced Williamsburg to low and moderate-income housing on the waterfront. Since the rich were still able to buy up a lot of the apartments, he created a lottery system that chose people at random to “win” an apartment.

Although Garcias is disappointed he did not win, he still wants to stay in Williamsburg. He calls the neighborhood his “second hometown” and “the place where I grew up.” At age 39, he saw the neighborhood as it morphed from a poverty-ridden neighborhood, to one of artistic liveliness. Living amongst about thirty different nationalities in his area, he has learned to deal with them all. His least favorite is the Hassidic Jews because “they always stick to business strictly and are tough negotiators” but he loves the Polish neighbors saying “they always invite me for vodka and are nice tippers.”

First seeing the neighborhood at age 24, Garcias hated it. He wanted to go back to Mexico and escape the filth he saw every night in Brooklyn. He told me stories of seeing teenage girls smoking marijuana on the way home from school as if they were walking home with their Dunkin Donuts coffee and gossiping about their crushes. He remembers warm nights sitting on his fire escape with some friends and suddenly hearing a gunshot. Although drugs are still a problem in Williamsburg and the surrounding neighborhoods, they are much less public now than in 1995.These stories spook Garcias and he looks visibly transported back to a happy place when he looks around his restaurant.

The restaurant acts as a sanctuary for Garcias and keeps him busy every day. He rarely takes days off, but when he does, he does so to “connect” with himself.  This means that he tries to take time to find himself like he was when he left his family. He says he wants his girls to remember him as he was the day he left. Another thing Garcias tells me is he wishes to connect to the Williamsburg of years ago. The neighborhood was generally Hispanic, and had a lively Spanish culture. He remembers his friends living in homes where stainless steel apartments now stand begging to be rented. Garcias’ job is something he worries about. Since numerous local restaurants have closed because of sanitation violations, he worries his job may be next. Finding another job may be difficult for him and he says this restaurant is his “lucky” third job. He has dreams of one day having an office job. He tells me that he imagines his children running into his arms as he drops his briefcase and knowing that they have arrived.

Posted in Neighborhood Faces Story | Comments Off on The Fifteen Year Old Calendar

Small Business Proposal : Chelsea

Posted on October 5, 2010 by kirandeep.wadhwa

“Eat Desserts First,” is the motto for the very quaint, home-style bakery in the historical Chelsea Market. Eleni’s is not your usual bakery; it is a thriving business, still maintaining its genuine customer satisfaction. Baked Goods made to the customer’s preference from creating your own cookies, to cupcakes, to wedding cakes and baked goods for businesses.

Besides for selling every day goods, Eleni’s gives back the community, including non-profit organizations TEAK, Operation Smile, Central Park Conservancy, Madison Square Park, Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Danielle Maria Arturi Foundation. Eleni’s is also partnered with Saks Fifth Avenue, Dean & Deluca, Neiman Marcus, and Barneys New York.

This high-class bakery in the middle of Chelsea Market caters to everyone in the community, including tourists stopping by to try their famous cookies made for every occasion.  There are many bakeries in the area, and 2 of them located in Chelsea Market so how does Eleni’s thrive? Their special qualities are their custom baked goods, online sales, their partnerships, philanthropy as well as their unique cookies catered to every different occasion, from Halloween to president’s day. What really set Eleni’s apart from the others however, is their history and the way they work. They want you to feel like a little kid licking the cupcake mixture off the wooden spoon when your mom isn’t looking, they want you to feel the sensation and the smell of the cake your grandmother used to make. It is about family, and bringing a piece of home with you and that it what makes Eleni’s unique over other bakeries in Chelsea. This business is certainly a part of Chelsea’s history as well and will be for a long time to come.

http://elenis.com/

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Made in Chinatown

Posted on October 3, 2010 by Christine Liu

Imagine this.  A family of three sits around their dinner table talking about their days. The father complains of back pains from doing heavy lifting.  The mother moans about having to wake up at 4 a.m. every morning to go to work pulling twelve hour shifts.  The son sits silently eating his dinner, while his parent’s vehemently tell him that he needs to work hard in school so that can get a job in the medicine, law, or business when he grows up.  They’ve already planned out their son’s life as a lawyer, doctor, or an investment banker with an office with panoramic views of the city, nice suits, and most importantly his six figure pay check.  Never once did the idea of their son being an artist cross their minds.

Say hello to Andrew Cheng, 22, a self proclaimed student of the arts, and a long time resident of Chinatown.  Growing up, Andrew has been blessed with the talent of art. He’s currently finishing up his degree in studio art/wood furniture design at City College of New York.  In his spare time he likes to build furniture, and create abstract art pieces with recyclables.

Like the creation of LSD, of brandy, and of Viagra, all great ideas were results of accidents, and Andrew’s road to the arts was no different. Andrew started out his college career following the socially accepted norms he grew up with.  He attended Baruch College in pursuit of a business degree, and when he realized that business wasn’t right for him, he transferred to City College to get an architecture degree, “In terms of actually choosing art as a major, I guess you can say it was by accident. Having transferred from Baruch College, I was planning to pursue an architecture degree but school policies and rules wouldn’t allow me. I believe this has turned out for the better since I enjoy designing furniture and products rather than buildings and structures. It’s too much responsibility and pressure,” says Andrew.   Ultimately, this ordeal was a blessing in disguise, because after many trial and tribulations it led him to his true calling: the arts.

When asked if Andrew’s parents have ever tried to influence his career choice, he grinned with jovial excitement, and exclaims, “Are you kidding me?!” then more calmly explains,  “If your parents are Asian, you can bet your ass they will try to coerce you to pursue a so called more “prestigious” career choice. It might not be your dream, but it will certainly make your family’s peers jealous that their son or daughter is a successful lawyer or doctor.  The income you get may allow you to live comfortably and leisurely but are you really happy? You’re basically living your parent’s personal dreams instead of fulfilling your own.”

Many parents from around Chinatown would be upset with the news that their child plans on pursuing a career in the arts, and Andrew’s parents were no different. As Andrew says,   “Initially, they were extremely disappointed but later, they figured they couldn’t force me to do anything I didn’t want to especially in terms of my future profession. Therefore I feel as if they are SOMEWHAT over the fact that I will never become what they wanted.”

When asked if Andrew has ever felt pressure from outside forces to pursue a different career path he exclaimed “HELL YES! To this day, my mother STILL has a tiny bit of hope that I will change my mind and go into business or law. Just the other day, she suggested I go into law or corporate business if I can’t get anywhere with this furniture thing. They don’t get it. Some people just do not have it in them for this stuff. Perhaps it’s like fighting two wars, one with the rest of the world, i.e. the competition, finding good schools or good jobs, and the other with people who are supposed stand behind you, to encourage and support what you ultimately want to be. I am not saying that’s how ALL Asian families are but that’s how my Chinese parents operate.”

Not only does Andrew get inspiration for his art from around Chinatown, and all over New York City, but everything that crosses his path can be considered inspiration.  Being the artist that Andrew is, though he is shy to admit it, “I never consider myself an artist. There is still much to learn. I would consider myself a constant pupil in pursuit of never ending ideas which I strive to create visual and physical manifestations of those thoughts. That’s the beauty of art.”

In the coming year, after Andrew completes his undergraduate studies,  he plans on working on his portfolio which is going to be “a collection of eco-friendly, portable, packable furniture where the concept is to have well designed, comfortable yet easily transformable and space saving.  With this portfolio,” he says, ” I will apply to graduate school in Sweden for my MA in Furniture and Spatial Design.”

We are all shaped by our families and the communities that we grew up in.    Andrew’s story is a living testament that pursuing a career in the arts can lead to a happy life, and can result in earning enough income to live on comfortably.

Posted in Chinatown, Feature Writing Fall 2010, Neighborhood Faces Story | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Made in Chinatown

Waiter, Check Please!

Posted on October 1, 2010 by juella.gumbs

Packing up the belongings she has collected over more than two decades is a bittersweet moment for Donna Weekes.

Soundview, thirty-odd acres of Bronx land bordered by the Bronx River Parkway, Westchester Avenue, White Plains Road and Lacombe Avenue is dominated by eight of New York City’s project housing, one of which Donna resides in: Bronxdale Houses. The historically crime-ridden neighborhood holds many memories for her, from watching her only child Shane grow up to welcoming her sister Julie’s two daughters Luana and Sascha and son Elvis to live with her.

Yet, she is more than ready to put the neighborhood in her rearview mirror. “It’s what I’ve been working so hard for all these years,” she says, with a smile.

Up at the crack of dawn most mornings and returning well after the sun sets, only to go straight to bed and repeat the process has become the life of Donna Weekes for the past five years. No stranger to hard work, the middle-aged resident claims her work ethic was learned at an early age being both a West Indian immigrant and single mother. She migrated from the islands of St.Kitts and St.Croix at age 20 with her son and had been working tirelessly ever since. Initially, she worked as a beautician but after years of noticing it wasn’t her calling, she ultimately switched to adult care and turned it into a career. Currently, she works in Mount Vernon as a program coordinator for an adult daycare center for individuals with Alzheimer’s, and has two senior clients she assists in the evenings once her regular job is over.

Though her only child has long moved out of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) apartment Continue reading →

Posted in Feature Writing Fall 2010, Neighborhood Faces Story, The Bronx | Comments Off on Waiter, Check Please!

The Block That is Changing Hell’s Kitchen

Posted on October 1, 2010 by Kacey Herlihy

Many New Yorkers are too hurried to take in their surroundings as they bustle through the familiar yet undistinguishable city streets. On a normal commute to work, one does not normally stop to look at the fascinating architecture of nineteenth century structures nor does one pause for even a moment to take in the scent of freshly baked bread from a local bakery; too often these features go unnoticed by the whirling crowds.

In New York City, there are many different neighborhoods, each with its own unique distinguishing characteristics. When walking from one area to the next the differences between the two are often sudden and sharp. The blocks within a neighborhood, however, often blend together, with little to define one from the next, especially in Manhattan. Hell’s Kitchen is not much different; brownstones line the streets and ethnic restaurants line the avenues of the vicinity also known as Clinton or Midtown West. Though, there is a special block in the neighborhood, one that stands out more than the rest.

That block is 55th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues, and it is more than just a block, it is a community. At a first glance you notice that the block has trees, which, if you’re first glance happens to be in the winter, you will see much more than just trees – you will be entering a winter wonderland of sorts, with little white lights strung from the branches of the majestic foliage which hangs over the street, creating a scene that feels as it was pulled right out of a fairy tale. As you stroll down the block, you may notice flowers in the tree beds in the spring, a block party on the Fourth of July, or a parade of costume-clad puppies in the fall.

That’s not all that is special about this street. The West 55th Street Block Association, or simply “the BA,” a group of devoted neighbors, who soon became friends, has done more for this block and this community than many other block associations have done.

Antonio Carobine and the late Jack E. Murphy, loyal Hell’s Kitchen residents, established the West 55th Street Block Association in 1978. Their mission was simple: through group action, they could promote a better block and a better community. This idea is the driving force of the Block Association today, and has been taken to a whole new level. The members of the BA do all of their work voluntarily, focusing in areas in which they already have the skills and the knowledge.

A main attraction on 55th Street are the lights on the trees that go up each year at the beginning of December and illuminate the street for the winter. These lights are paid for strictly by the donations the BA receives. This tradition has been around for 30 years, and is a distinguishing characteristic of the block.

In October of 2008, notices were posted around the block stating that this year the Block Association could not afford the lights due to a lack of donations. The process had also become defunct after the coordinator passed away. An emergency meeting was held, and a strong, motivated, empowered group stepped forward, volunteering to do whatever they could to continue the tradition.

This was not an easy task, these members soon found out. They lacked a significant amount of money, much more than the $2,500 they could normally generate. After three weeks of determination, the Block Association was able to raise an incredible $7,000 for the lights, something that had never been done before.

This was not the end of the battle for the lights. The task of implementation was too much for the Block Association to do on its own. They could not put up the lights without professional help. Carl Bevelhymer, the current Vice President of the BA, volunteered to contact numerous signage companies, electricians, and tree companies that are usually eager for out of season work. They decided to go with SavATree, an environmentally sensible lawn, tree, and shrub care company.  With their green approach of saving trees instead of destroying them, they were chosen even though the BA could not afford their rate. They decided to use them still, and lit every other tree instead of all of them.  It was not just money that the BA needed, but they researched and contacted the appropriate sources, such as the Parks Department to make sure that the process and the lights were up to code.

After the light scare, the BA was determined to take control of even more issues on the block, and to give something back to the community. Their success with the lights showed them all what they were capable of, and they decided to go on to bigger projects.

Their first goal was to establish themselves as a non-profit organization, a status that is extremely difficult to obtain. Through the hard work of attorneys, writers, and other professionals, all of whom donated their time, the BA was able to achieve a 501(c)(3) tax status, which allows donations to be tax-deductible, as well as gives them the highly sought after status of Non-Profit.

This was great, however there was a stipulation that the IRS declares must be met for organizations to receive this status. As the IRS states, “an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes.” The BA was ready to help, but they lacked the structure needed to obtain their status. With this, members of the BA stepped up and took leadership roles.

As a 501(c)(3), the Block Association was required to give something back to the community, and the High School for Environmental Studies, or HSES, on 56th Street between 9th and 10th Avenues, was selected for a scholarship program funded by the donations the BA receives. The scholarship is for a travel stipend for students who cannot afford to visit schools that they apply to or get into, and for teachers to go to special conferences or certification programs. Each candidate must write a proposal explaining why they should receive the scholarship and obtain letters of recommendation and support. HSES was chosen for this program because although most of their students do not reside in the neighborhood, they are a part of the community by obtaining their education here and spending time before and after school on these streets, and because there is a tie between the beautification of the street and their environmental aspect. The goal of the scholarship, as well as much of the work done by the BA, is, as Bevelhymer put “The idea is giving back to the community; reinvesting in the community for everyone’s enjoyment.”

On September 13th, 2010, the BA held its first meeting after their break for the summer. Christine Gorman, President of the BA, was able to get a demonstration of the new voting machines, which were going to be used the following day for the Primary Election. Attendees were able to try the new machines, ask questions, and familiarize themselves with the new process.

The West 55th Street Block Association is a powerful force in the neighborhood. They have inspired of blocks to join together to get something done. As Gorman said, “You may not be able to save the world but you can make your part of it a better place, with the people you already have the talents you already have – the resources you already have.”

Many New Yorkers are too hurried to take in their surroundings as they bustle through the familiar yet undistinguishable city streets. On a normal commute to work, one does not normally stop to look at the fascinating architecture of nineteenth century structures nor does one pause for even a moment to take in the scent of freshly baked bread from a local bakery; too often these features go unnoticed by the whirling crowds.

In New York City, there are many different neighborhoods, each with it’s own unique distinguishing characteristics. When walking from one area to the next the differences between the two are often sudden and sharp. The blocks within a neighborhood, however, often blend together, with little to define one from the next, especially in Manhattan. Hell’s Kitchen is not much different; brownstones line the streets and ethnic restaurants line the avenues of the vicinity also known as Clinton or Midtown West. Though, there is a special block in the neighborhood, one that stands out more than the rest.

That block is 55th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues, and it is more than just a block, it is a community. At a first glance you notice that the block has trees, which, if you’re first glance happens to be in the winter, you will see much more than just trees – you will be entering a winter wonderland of sorts, with little white lights strung from the branches of the majestic foliage which hangs over the street, creating a scene that feels as it was pulled right out of a fairy tale. As you stroll down the block, you may notice flowers in the tree beds in the spring, a block party on the Fourth of July, or a parade of costume-clad puppies in the fall.

That’s not all that is special about this street. The West 55th Street Block Association, or simply “the BA,” a group of devoted neighbors, who soon became friends, has done more for this block and this community than many other block associations have done.

Antonio Carobine and the late Jack E. Murphy, loyal Hell’s Kitchen residents, established the West 55th Street Block Association in 1978. Their mission was simple: through group action, they could promote a better block and a better community. This idea is the driving force of the Block Association today, and has been taken to a whole new level. The members of the BA do all of their work voluntarily, focusing in areas in which they already have the skills and the knowledge.

A main attraction on 55th Street are the lights on the trees that go up each year at the beginning of December and illuminate the street for the winter. These lights are paid for strictly by the donations the BA receives. This tradition has been around for 30 years, and is a distinguishing characteristic of the block.

In October of 2008, notices were posted around the block stating that this year the Block Association could not afford the lights due to a lack of donations. The process had also become defunct after the coordinator passed away. An emergency meeting was held, and a strong, motivated, empowered group stepped forward, volunteering to do whatever they could to continue the tradition.

This was not an easy task, these members soon found out. They lacked a significant amount of money, much more than the $2,500 they could normally generate. After three weeks of determination, the Block Association was able to raise an incredible $7,000 for the lights, something that had never been done before.

This was not the end of the battle for the lights. The task of implementation was too much for the Block Association to do on its own. They could not put up the lights with out professional help. Carl Bevelhymer, the current Vice President of the BA, volunteered to contact numerous signage companies, electricians, and tree companies that are usually eager for out of season work. They decided to go with SavATree, an environmentally sensible lawn, tree, and shrub care company.  With their green approach of saving trees instead of destroying them, they were chosen even though the BA could not afford their rate. They decided to use them still, and lit every other tree instead of all of them.  It was not just money that the BA needed, but they researched and contacted the appropriate sources, such as the Parks Department to make sure that the process and the lights were up to code.

After the light scare, the BA was determined to take control of even more issues on the block, and to give something back to the community. Their success with the lights showed them all what they were capable of, and they decided to go on to bigger projects.

Their first goal was to establish themselves as a non-profit organization, a status that is extremely difficult to obtain. Through the hard work of attorneys, writers, and other professionals, all of whom donated their time, the BA was able to achieve a 501(c)(3) tax status, which allows donations to be tax-deductable, as well as gives them the highly sought after status of Non-Profit.

This was great, however there was a stipulation that the IRS declares must be met for organizations to receive this status. As the IRS states, “an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes.” The BA was ready to help, but they lacked the structure needed to obtain their status. With this, members of the BA stepped up and took leadership roles.

As a 501(c)(3), the Block Association was required to give something back to the community, and the High School for Environmental Studies, or HSES, on 56th Street between 9th and 10th Avenues, was selected for a scholarship program funded by the donations the BA receives. The scholarship is for a travel stipend for students who cannot afford to visit schools that they apply to or get into, and for teachers to go to special conferences or certification programs. Each candidate must write a proposal explaining why they should receive the scholarship and obtain letters of recommendation and support. HSES was chosen for this program because although most of their students do not reside in the neighborhood, they are a part of the community by obtaining their education here and spending time before and after school on these streets, and because there is a tie between the beautification of the street and their environmental aspect. The goal of the scholarship, as well as much of the work done by the BA, is, as Bevelhymer put “The idea is giving back to the community; reinvesting in the community for everyone’s enjoyment.”

On September 13th, 2010, the BA held it’s first meeting after their break for the summer. Christine Gorman, President of the BA, was able to get a demonstration of the new voting machines, which were going to be used the following day for the Primary Election. Attendees were able to try the new machines, ask questions, and familiarize themselves with the new process.

The West 55th Street Block Association is a powerful force in the neighborhood. They have inspired other blocks to join together to get something done. As Gorman said, “You may not be able to save the world but you can make your part of it a better place, with the people you already have the talents you already have – the resources you already have.”

Posted in Feature Writing Fall 2010, Hell's Kitchen, Neighborhood Faces Story | Tagged | Comments Off on The Block That is Changing Hell’s Kitchen

An Over the Counter Friendship

Posted on September 29, 2010 by dhe

For the residents of Flushing, traveling on Main Street is often a shoulder-to-shoulder affair. In a throng where each person goes about his or her own business and where the tempo of movement is entirely erratic, it is easy to feel invisible and anonymous. However at one small pharmacy you have both a name and an identity, courtesy of Vivian Cheung.

“I don’t have much distance from my patients. I’m very close to them. When they’re here, I know the whole family,” Vivian, the owner and lead pharmacist of Primacare Pharmacy, proclaims in a chipper voice.

Short and round-faced, with scrubby, close-cropped hair, Vivian is hardly what could be called an imposing figure. However, what she lacks in height and stature, she more than makes up for with her wit and exuberance. With over 13 years of pharmaceutical experience, a position as a licensed notary public, and fluency in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Taishanese, Vivian has made a name for herself.

Primacare Pharmacy was opened on Main Street in 2005, after Vivian departed from Manning Pharmacy in Chinatown to start her own business. Even at Manning, Vivian was already well known for her vibrant personality and friendliness. In fact a few of the customers she had at Manning followed her to Flushing on the strength of their dedication and loyalty to her. Continue reading →

Posted in Feature Writing Fall 2010, Flushing, Neighborhood Faces Story | Tagged | 1 Comment

Joe Gould

Posted on September 29, 2010 by alexandra.torres

Joe Gould was a corky old man, which is evident in his weird yet habitual activities like eating ketchup, carrying a bag or cigarette butts, and naming the pigeons he fed on a regular basis in Madison Square Park. He seems far from the attractive type with his being bald and toothless. He speaks of being tormented by the the three H’s: homelessness, hunger, and hangovers. He was working on a book; a oral history he had been working  on for 26 years.

Gould was funny, with out meaning to be, which was evident in his behavior and mannerisms from pretending to be deaf on the train, to asking people if they ever had a painful operation or disease, to carrying a bag of sour balls, among other eccentric habits.

Gould, with his messy, care-free appearance and the formless way in which he wrote, makes him seem like the absent-minded and free spirited type. But what he lacks in appearance, he seems to make up in brilliance. It’s not because he came from a smart family, which he did, it is because of the way he lives free of conformity.

Despite Gould’s vices, it is clear why Joseph Mitchell admired him and his way of living for himself, rather than for others. “He was Joe Gould the poet, he was Joe Gould the historian, he was Joe Gould the wild Chippewa Indian dancer…he was the banished man.”

The fact that in actually there was no oral history, is Gould’s final corky, weird, and humorous act. It seems just like him to do such a thing.

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