STATEN ISLAND, NY — As the holiday shopping season kicks off, businesses are hoping Staten Islanders remember to shop local.
On Saturday — also known as Small Business Saturday, which is traditionally observed on the Saturday after Thanksgiving — Staten Islanders were encouraged to visit area boutiques, cafes, restaurants and stores.
One of Staten Island’s newest small-business owners, David Rabinowitz, who owns David & Co. Menswear, says that supporting small businesses can make a big impact.
“If someone shops here, any dollar they spend would go towards reinvesting in this business, paying a mortgage, paying a car payment, paying for a kid’s birthday present,” he said. “It’s not going toward executive bonuses or anything like that.”
In the very back of the store, Rabinowitz has a VIP lounge, available for a groom and his groomsmen to enjoy a private fitting, shoot some pool, and watch TV.Irza Waraich
Rabinowitz opened his store, located at 2955 Veterans Rd. West in South Shore Commons in Charleston, on Nov. 11, and offers a private label of Italian suits and tuxedos in material such as super 150s wool, as well as seasonal fabrics, and tuxedo rentals.
In the very back of the store, Rabinowitz has a VIP lounge, available for a groom and his groomsmen to enjoy a private fitting, shoot some pool, and watch TV.
“We want Staten Islanders to have a luxurious shopping experience without having to leave the Island,” said Rabinowitz.
In Westerleigh, Mr. Radi opened Herbal Dispense in August, a tea shop offering over 50 flavors of tea and a halal food menu.Irza Waraich
In Westerleigh, Herbal Dispense offers over 50 flavors of tea and a halal food menu. The store’s owner — known to customers simply as Mr. Radi — opened the expansive tea shop in August.
“I opened this place to share my tea experience with everybody,” he said of his store located at 1759 Victory Blvd. “Tea has helped me in so many ways. I was able to substitute certain things with tea that helped me get peace of mind and helped me balance myself.”
Mr. Radi felt good about himself and other local business owners being able to offer Staten Islanders a place to chat, study and find their own peace of mind.
“We are people that basically provide for the neighborhood. We keep the neighborhood alive, and give the neighborhood more options.”
In Westerleigh, Mr. Radi opened Herbal Dispense in August, a tea shop offering over 50 flavors of tea and a halal food menu.Irza Waraich
A few doors down from Herbal Dispense sits Coffee & Collectibles, an antique store located at 561 Manor Rd. in Castleton Corners, with aisles and floors packed with knick knacks and trinkets. There’s also a bakery that serves the business’ signature apple horse-shoe ring.
The Carrozza family opened this Coffee & Collectibles in May, where Charles Pfieffer medical supplies lived originally. One of the owners, James Carrozza, has been a baker for 50 years and started building his collection of antiques 20 years ago.
Coffee & Collectibles is an antique store where you walk in to rummage through aisles and floors of knick knacks and trinkets, and can’t leave without trying their signature apple horse shoe ring from their bakery.Irza Waraich
Housing over an estimated 20,000 items in his shop, Carrazzo built his collection by exclusively shopping from Staten Island garage sales. Now, Staten Islanders flock to his store to sell Carrozzo items he might be interested in, and to check out what he has to offer.
“I don’t care if somebody calls it a thrift shop, my wife calls it the junk store,” said Carrozza.
Coffee & Collectibles is an antique store where you walk in to rummage through aisles and floors of knick knacks and trinkets, and can’t leave without trying their signature apple horse shoe ring from their bakery.Irza Waraich
Taking inspiration from artists’ ally, Tariq Zaid’s store Richmond Hood Company provides both branded apparel and apparel featuring art made by Staten Island artists.
Interested in street wear and art? Richmond Hood Company has got you covered in branded and local artist made apparel.Irza Waraich
“We serve as a place for the locals, local artists, local creators to provide retail, provide a footprint of Staten Island culture as it pertains to street art, street activities, and street culture,” said Zaid of his store at 827 Castleton Ave in Castleton Corners.
Once a month, Zaid hosts an open mic at his store, where aspiring Staten Island artists are welcome to share poetry and whatever’s on their mind, to their heart’s content. During the most recent open mic night, artist Sean McArthur drew an image describing all the people that took the stage that day.
During the most recent Open Mic night at Richmond Hood Company, artist Sean McArthur drew an image describing all the people that took the stage that day.Irza Waraich
In New Dorp, iwarelove boutique welcomes Staten Islanders with chic clothes.
Sara Abouhegab started her clothing business online during the pandemic, and will celebrate three years of opening her in-person location at 3173 Richmond Rd. in February. She called owning the boutique a childhood dream.
As she overcomes the hurdles of operating a business by herself while receiving guidance from her family, Abouhegab says that shopping small means a lot to her when it comes to paying bills and making a living.
A shop you can’t miss is iwarelove boutique in New Dorp owned by Sara Abouhegab, who fulfilled a childhood dream of owning her very own boutique. Irza Waraich
“When you shop small, it actually makes a really big difference because it’s someone that you know that’s trying to make a living, rather than these big corporations,” she said.