QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 6, 2012 Page 6
C M HOL SEC page 6 Y K
H oliday Shopping & Dining Guide
Myrtle Ave. hopes for big holiday finish by Michael Gannon Editor
People shopping along Myrtle Avenue in Ridgewood this week had shopping bags full of groceries, school and office supplies, and in one case a pair of pajamas for an ill spouse who doesn’t like hospital gowns.
It’s not too late to impress her, guys. Jordan Eddi of AJ’s Jewelry said his sales tend to pick up close to the end of the holidays.
Small stores battle the malls None on Tuesday said they were Christmas shopping, at least not yet. “This is the worst I’ve seen it in years,” said one clothing store manager who declined to be named. Others also said things are slow, but are holding out hope for their smaller downtown stores in the ongoing competition with malls. Jordan Eddi, who has run AJ’s Jewelry since 1988, said his fellow merchants all talk about feeling the pinch. “It’s been tough since 2007,” he said. Thomas Deja, a salesman at Myrtle Sporting Goods, said early holiday business has been uneven. “It comes in dribs and drabs,” he said. “Some years it’s good, some years it’s tough.” The store sells baseball-style hats, jerseys and other pro team merchandise, as well as athletic footware. He said one thing that has not been uneven at all has been sales of apparel for the Brooklyn Nets, the NBA franchise
that relocated to the Barclays Center this season after 35 years in New Jersey. “We were getting calls about Brooklyn Nets stuff before they even had a logo,” he said. They and Eddi hope there will be some uptick at the holidays get closer. “Jewelry used to be an impulse item,” Eddi said. “The business has changed. Now we’re a destination place. People shop around, do their research on the Internet.” One thing that has not changed is the men who come in over the last few days before the holidays to pick up something nice for those special ladies in their lives. “A lot of guys will buy things like earrings,” he said. And while the National Hockey League’s semi-regular player lockout has once again threatened to cancel an entire season, it has not had that much of an impact on Myrtle Sporting Goods. “We don’t usually sell a lot of
Owner Moon Kim and salesman Thomas Deja of Myrtle Sporting Goods sport Brooklyn Nets hats, which have been flying off the shelves with other Nets merchandise in an otherwise uneven holiday shopping season. PHOTOS BY MICHAEL GANNON
hockey merchandise,” Deja said. “But when the Islanders move to the Barclays Center [in 2015], if they change their name to Brooklyn, we’re right on the bor-
der. People who live there have a lot of pride in Brooklyn. If the Islanders change their name to Brooklyn, we’ll sell a lot of their stuff.” i
Skillman Ave. has lots of gift ideas by Josey Bartlett Editor
Holiday Shopping & Dining Guide • 2012
This holiday season instead of going to large corporations consider the smaller spots owned by your neighbors who could use the business. “Business is extra slow right now,” said shop owner Victor Alvarez of Belle D’ Epoque Inc. at 48-06 Skillman Ave. The shop sells everything from vintage posters to lavender lotions, which will be 25 to 50 percent off throughout December.
Sunnyside resident Shirley Bomzer sells personalized drawings with a newborn’s name, weight and birthday at Tiny You children’s boutique and on etsy at shirleycreations.
Joining Alvarez on Skillman Avenue’s shopping corridor in Sunnyside are many bars, restaurants, a children’s boutique, pet shops and vintage stores — many of which make up a group of business owners called the Skillman Project, which has put on several pub crawls and helped out with the holiday lighting of the avenue on Nov. 29. “We’re always helping each other out,” Skillman Pets owner Abdel Rios said. For the food lovers on a holiday list the Aubergine Cafe at 49-22 Skillman Ave. will have a selection of gift baskets — available in a couple weeks, owner Gary O’Neil said. Then down the avenue between 48th and 49th streets sits Stray Vintage with its big bay window filled with one-of-a-kind pieces and a miniature Mary Poppins play set, created by Sunnyside resident and stop-motion animation producer Brian Haimes. For Halloween Haimes set up a creepy lagoon in the display window — adding a little artistic flair to the shop, owner Dan Glasser said. For these upcoming holidays Glasser has filled the quaint store with holiday goodies he collected throughout the year such as vintage glass-and-paper ornaments and lots of Christmas records. The shop is a hot spot for record collectors. Once a year Stray hosts a record fair with a few neighborhood collectors selling and showing off their rare finds.
“There’s something about listening to holiday classics on a scratchy record,” Glasser said. There are also antique jewelry boxes, furniture and artworks by Sunnyside and Woodside artists including newspaperand-paint collages by Amelia Andrezejwska, which are truly awesome. Tiny You Children’s Boutique at 46-21 Skillman Ave. also supports neighborhood artists. Artist Shirley Bomzer creates customized drawings filled with her imaginary cute characters incorporating the name, birth date and birth weight of a new edition to any family. Her drawings can also be found on etsy, the online handmade mecca, by searching shirleycreations. Tiny You also sells handmade headbands, jewelry and aprons. “A local artist made chalkboard placemats so kids can play while they are eating,” owner Jill Callan said. “There are also heart necklaces — puffy for the littler kids.They are really cute. And the handmade aprons come with a little cookie cutter and recipe. Another designer from New Jersey makes more vintage looking ones.” In addition to handmade works Tiny You sells lots of bright red rompers, Santa slippers and cuddly toys — anything to cute-ify a little one for the holiday with prices starting at $5. All these gifts will also be wrapped at the store for free. i
Dan Glasser of Stray Vintage puts on one of the many holiday records he has for sale in his shop. PHOTOS BY JOSEY BARTLETT
Shoppers will find lots of cute baby wares, including these holiday slippers, at Tiny You.