September 2020 "BUSINESS OF THE MONTH"
THE MED STATION
THE MED STATION
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Story by Gracie Donaldson
Business of the Month: The Med Station
Ernie Feliciano isn’t a North Shore local -- but he might as well be.
While he resides on the South Shore overcoming a half-hour long daily commute, he is known throughout the North Shore community for the exceptional care provided by his healthcare business, The Med Station, located on the border of Glen Cove and Locust Valley.
Feliciano and his wife, Debbie, who practices medicine at The Med Station, took over the Glen Cove establishment back in 2017. But they didn’t start their career at the urgent care center as owners. While South Shore natives, the Felicianos lived in Ohio at the time to finish their medical training, and moved back to Long Island in 2007. They started working at The Med Station under Dr. Russell Samuel, who established the practice in 1990. Once Dr. Samuel was ready to retire, he did not even consider selling the business -- rather, he gave it to the Felicianos.
“Well, there was a ceremonial one dollar,” Feliciano said. “We’ve been running it for three years now.”
The patients at The Med Station regularly hail from Glen Cove and Locust Valley, but also from Glen Head and Sea Cliff, according to Feliciano. Services offered include all primary care and occupational medicine- related services. In addition to providing care to walk-in urgent care and primary care patients, The Med Station holds contracts to perform all employee physical exams with bus companies, school districts, villages and towns and nursing homes.
“At our office, we always have three providers present,” Feliciano explained. “We have one doctor, one physician’s assistant and one nurse practitioner at the same time.” With regard to insurance, “it’s very tricky how [we] do it,” Feliciano said. However, while The Med Station is limited in its ability to bill an insurance company for the entire amount of an urgent care visit, it accepts almost all insurances.
But business as usual at The Med Station became not as usual during the height of the Coronavirus pandemic. “We are doing our best to try and control the spread,” Feliciano said. “All healthcare facilities are more susceptible to contract viruses. Not everyone who visits a grocery store is sick, while 75 percent of people who come in to see us are sick.” Even with The Med Station’s extensive efforts to keep the virus at bay -- which include utilizing patient cars as waiting areas, advocating for telemedicine, using only two of the office’s five exam rooms to encourage social distancing and sanitizing the rooms between appointments -- the pandemic effected the Feliciano family on a personal level when both Feliciano and his wife tested positive for COVID-19.
While Debbie continued to see patients via Telemedicine, Feliciano remained at the office, managing the business and in-person patients. Eventually, both tested positive for antibodies, but not without dueling quarantine periods. In addition, half of the staff at The Med Station came down with the virus due to their collective exposure.
In classic style, The Med Station never closed for a day throughout the height of the pandemic. Its only recent closure came as a result of a power outage due to Tropical Storm Isaias.
Through all of the pandemic-related trials, managing a business, commuting and taking care of a family, Feliciano remains committed to the local community as an active member of North Shore Biz Network, the Gold Coast Business Association, the Glen Cove Chamber of Commerce and the Locust Valley Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he volunteers the first aid tent at Glen Cove Youth Soccer games, and he arrives with his children in tow to help him work the tent -- “so they could learn the altruistic part of medicine.” Perhaps most importantly, Feliciano has served as the coach of his son’s soccer teams for over ten years.
“This community is very tight-knit,” Feliciano said. “Generally, everybody helps each other. I see that on Facebook. I haven’t seen that on the South Shore.” In addition to social media, Feliciano says that he learns of local good deeds from his patients. “They talk about how they help each other,” he said.
The Med Station
480 Forest Avenue
Locust Valley, NY 11560
(516) 759-5406
efeliciano@themedstationpc.com
www.themedstationpc.com
Facebook: facebook.com/themedstationpc
Business of the Month: The Med Station
Ernie Feliciano isn’t a North Shore local -- but he might as well be.
While he resides on the South Shore overcoming a half-hour long daily commute, he is known throughout the North Shore community for the exceptional care provided by his healthcare business, The Med Station, located on the border of Glen Cove and Locust Valley.
Feliciano and his wife, Debbie, who practices medicine at The Med Station, took over the Glen Cove establishment back in 2017. But they didn’t start their career at the urgent care center as owners. While South Shore natives, the Felicianos lived in Ohio at the time to finish their medical training, and moved back to Long Island in 2007. They started working at The Med Station under Dr. Russell Samuel, who established the practice in 1990. Once Dr. Samuel was ready to retire, he did not even consider selling the business -- rather, he gave it to the Felicianos.
“Well, there was a ceremonial one dollar,” Feliciano said. “We’ve been running it for three years now.”
The patients at The Med Station regularly hail from Glen Cove and Locust Valley, but also from Glen Head and Sea Cliff, according to Feliciano. Services offered include all primary care and occupational medicine- related services. In addition to providing care to walk-in urgent care and primary care patients, The Med Station holds contracts to perform all employee physical exams with bus companies, school districts, villages and towns and nursing homes.
“At our office, we always have three providers present,” Feliciano explained. “We have one doctor, one physician’s assistant and one nurse practitioner at the same time.” With regard to insurance, “it’s very tricky how [we] do it,” Feliciano said. However, while The Med Station is limited in its ability to bill an insurance company for the entire amount of an urgent care visit, it accepts almost all insurances.
But business as usual at The Med Station became not as usual during the height of the Coronavirus pandemic. “We are doing our best to try and control the spread,” Feliciano said. “All healthcare facilities are more susceptible to contract viruses. Not everyone who visits a grocery store is sick, while 75 percent of people who come in to see us are sick.” Even with The Med Station’s extensive efforts to keep the virus at bay -- which include utilizing patient cars as waiting areas, advocating for telemedicine, using only two of the office’s five exam rooms to encourage social distancing and sanitizing the rooms between appointments -- the pandemic effected the Feliciano family on a personal level when both Feliciano and his wife tested positive for COVID-19.
While Debbie continued to see patients via Telemedicine, Feliciano remained at the office, managing the business and in-person patients. Eventually, both tested positive for antibodies, but not without dueling quarantine periods. In addition, half of the staff at The Med Station came down with the virus due to their collective exposure.
In classic style, The Med Station never closed for a day throughout the height of the pandemic. Its only recent closure came as a result of a power outage due to Tropical Storm Isaias.
Through all of the pandemic-related trials, managing a business, commuting and taking care of a family, Feliciano remains committed to the local community as an active member of North Shore Biz Network, the Gold Coast Business Association, the Glen Cove Chamber of Commerce and the Locust Valley Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he volunteers the first aid tent at Glen Cove Youth Soccer games, and he arrives with his children in tow to help him work the tent -- “so they could learn the altruistic part of medicine.” Perhaps most importantly, Feliciano has served as the coach of his son’s soccer teams for over ten years.
“This community is very tight-knit,” Feliciano said. “Generally, everybody helps each other. I see that on Facebook. I haven’t seen that on the South Shore.” In addition to social media, Feliciano says that he learns of local good deeds from his patients. “They talk about how they help each other,” he said.
The Med Station
480 Forest Avenue
Locust Valley, NY 11560
(516) 759-5406
efeliciano@themedstationpc.com
www.themedstationpc.com
Facebook: facebook.com/themedstationpc
Summer 2020 "BUSINESS OF THE SUMMER"
AQUABRASIL BOUTIQUE
AQUABRASIL BOUTIQUE
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Story by Gracie Donaldson
Bruna Tembelis always felt an entrepreneurial spirit.
Emigrating to the United States from Brazil 15 years ago, Tembelis moved to Queens and started work in the medical field. Along with her husband, she also worked in real estate while maintaining her job as a medical administrator. On the side, she started making and selling jewelry. But, she knew that she was meant to expand her side hustle into something bigger.
“It’s always been my dream to have my own business,” Tembelis said.
Four years ago, Tembelis and her husband and daughter moved to Glen Cove. “We loved the North Shore,” she said. “It’s always been in our minds. We love being by the water, and the taxes were more affordable.”
In 2020, Tembelis took her dream live in her adopted home. She opened AquaBrasil Boutique, which was originally scheduled to open its doors in April 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, opening was delayed until June, when Long Island entered Phase Two of reopening.
Because Tembelis was still locked into a lease that began its term in April, she pushed herself to make the best of her situation.
“I had to come out of my comfort zone, for sure,” she said. “I was never really into filming Facebook Live videos, but I had to -- so I started filming Facebook Lives and offering free delivery. I would drive to Queens and to Brooklyn!” Tembelis also expanded her social media-based advertising, and while she did not plan to focus on the online shop portion of her website initially, she was forced to. She was able to utilize her experience opening pop-up shops during her days creating jewelry as a side hustle.
Going forward, Tembelis plans for her focus to center on in-person retail, but she will maintain the online shopping portion of her business. “I plan to continue with it,” she said.
Once customers enter AquaBrasil Boutique, whether by way of the storefront or the internet, they will find, in Tembelis’ words, “a little bit of everything.” She carries her own line of semiprecious Brazilian jewelry, women’s clothes, specialty clothes for kids including graphic tees and a swimsuit line that included crochet coverups and biodegradable bikinis. She infuses local artisans with international vendors, touting goods from an artisan from Mexico including straw handbags and clutches, and a local artist who paints tote bags. In addition, she carries local hand-poured vegan candles created by Reiki healers, bangle bracelets for which a portion of sales is donated to the Type 1 Diabetes Association and swimsuits for kids, drawing on inspiration from the needs of her now 15-year-old daughter.
Up next, Tembelis is looking to transition seasonal spring items to summer offerings through a 50-percent off sale rack, is offering 10 percent off a customer’s next purchase with a referral to a friend and has started a “selfie wall” campaign -- customers can take a selfie in the store, post it on social media and then receive 10 percent off their next purchase.
In addition to her membership to North Shore Biz Network, Tembelis is a member of the Gold Coast Business Association, and plans to join the Glen Cove Chamber of Commerce.
“I do love this area,” Tembelis said. “So far, people have been very welcoming and friendly. I’m very grateful. People did a lot of free local deliveries even though they didn’t know me. I’m so excited to serve this community.”
AquaBrasil Boutique
683 Glen Cove Avenue, Glen Head
516-676-1816
aquabrasilny@gmail.com
www.aquabrasilny.com
Facebook: facebook.com/aquabrasilboutique
Instagram: @aquabrasilny
Bruna Tembelis always felt an entrepreneurial spirit.
Emigrating to the United States from Brazil 15 years ago, Tembelis moved to Queens and started work in the medical field. Along with her husband, she also worked in real estate while maintaining her job as a medical administrator. On the side, she started making and selling jewelry. But, she knew that she was meant to expand her side hustle into something bigger.
“It’s always been my dream to have my own business,” Tembelis said.
Four years ago, Tembelis and her husband and daughter moved to Glen Cove. “We loved the North Shore,” she said. “It’s always been in our minds. We love being by the water, and the taxes were more affordable.”
In 2020, Tembelis took her dream live in her adopted home. She opened AquaBrasil Boutique, which was originally scheduled to open its doors in April 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, opening was delayed until June, when Long Island entered Phase Two of reopening.
Because Tembelis was still locked into a lease that began its term in April, she pushed herself to make the best of her situation.
“I had to come out of my comfort zone, for sure,” she said. “I was never really into filming Facebook Live videos, but I had to -- so I started filming Facebook Lives and offering free delivery. I would drive to Queens and to Brooklyn!” Tembelis also expanded her social media-based advertising, and while she did not plan to focus on the online shop portion of her website initially, she was forced to. She was able to utilize her experience opening pop-up shops during her days creating jewelry as a side hustle.
Going forward, Tembelis plans for her focus to center on in-person retail, but she will maintain the online shopping portion of her business. “I plan to continue with it,” she said.
Once customers enter AquaBrasil Boutique, whether by way of the storefront or the internet, they will find, in Tembelis’ words, “a little bit of everything.” She carries her own line of semiprecious Brazilian jewelry, women’s clothes, specialty clothes for kids including graphic tees and a swimsuit line that included crochet coverups and biodegradable bikinis. She infuses local artisans with international vendors, touting goods from an artisan from Mexico including straw handbags and clutches, and a local artist who paints tote bags. In addition, she carries local hand-poured vegan candles created by Reiki healers, bangle bracelets for which a portion of sales is donated to the Type 1 Diabetes Association and swimsuits for kids, drawing on inspiration from the needs of her now 15-year-old daughter.
Up next, Tembelis is looking to transition seasonal spring items to summer offerings through a 50-percent off sale rack, is offering 10 percent off a customer’s next purchase with a referral to a friend and has started a “selfie wall” campaign -- customers can take a selfie in the store, post it on social media and then receive 10 percent off their next purchase.
In addition to her membership to North Shore Biz Network, Tembelis is a member of the Gold Coast Business Association, and plans to join the Glen Cove Chamber of Commerce.
“I do love this area,” Tembelis said. “So far, people have been very welcoming and friendly. I’m very grateful. People did a lot of free local deliveries even though they didn’t know me. I’m so excited to serve this community.”
AquaBrasil Boutique
683 Glen Cove Avenue, Glen Head
516-676-1816
aquabrasilny@gmail.com
www.aquabrasilny.com
Facebook: facebook.com/aquabrasilboutique
Instagram: @aquabrasilny
JUNE PERSON OF THE MONTH
RONNIE THYBEN
RONNIE THYBEN
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Story by Gracie Donaldson
Ronnie Thyben welcomed retirement nine years ago.
But retirement signaled the start of an entirely new vocational career for Thyben, who has lived in Glen Head for the past 41 years with her husband, Roger. After attending the Gold Coast Business Association’s Fall Festival, where she visited the Glen Garden Club’s Membership Drive, she enthusiastically joined the Garden Club. As a testament to her hard work and dedication to her community, nine years later, Thyben is the president of Glen Garden Club.
“Each Spring and Winter, we plant at Wansor Park (across from Ciro's Pizza), the window boxes at the bank, Glen Head Motors, around the railroad station at, A+ signs, Worth Repeating, the library and Gaynor Park (the soccer field behind the community center),” Thyben explained. “We have a committee of wonderful, dedicated ladies who volunteer each season.”
The Glen Garden Club holds two fundraisers every year, which each expect about 125-150 guests. The proceeds from the events benefit a plethora of organizations, including the North Shore Land Alliance, Old Westbury Gardens and Friends of Cedarmere Garden Restoration.
Thyben’s involvements did not stop with the Garden Club. In 2015, Thyben joined the Gold Coast Business Association, a group she now sits on the board of and recently co-chaired a fundraiser for. She combined her passions for both the Garden Club and the Business Association when she found out that the Wansor Park sprinklers were the financial responsibility of the Business Association. Thanks to Thyben’s efforts and exemplary follow-up with then-New York American Water, she was able to come to an agreement on behalf of the Business Association that would allow the sprinklers to remain running, without the Business Association having to foot the bill.
But her pet project in the association came in 2018 and 2019, once the community discovered that the American flags that traditionally hung on the poles on Glen Head Road did not surface for Memorial Day. With the replacement poles that were erected by PSE&G, there were no brackets installed for the flags.
The Gold Coast Business Association formed a Flag Committee in 2018 for the purposes of installing flags on the new poles, with Thyben at its helm.
“I didn’t want to disappoint the veterans, the Gold Star mothers and the community. Having the flags up for Memorial Day is a happy thing, especially during this time.”
The process of restoring the flags came with a great deal of red tape. “When I started to find out how to put the brackets on the PSE&G posts, I was sent from pillar to post and reached the wrong person every time,” Thyben explained. “Then, finally, I spoke to someone at PSE&G. PSE&G sent an application for permission for the Business Association to put brackets on the poles. “
The process, which took two years in all, went on to involve the Town of Oyster Bay (TOB). Thyben worked in tandem with the TOB Highway Department, which was “very easy to work with,” Thyben said. “When I found the right people, it all fell into place. It was very easy in the last two weeks. They were very cooperative, very kind, very patient with me.”
The actual flags were purchased by the Gold Coast Business Association from Glen Head Hardware, with help from a generous discount. They were placed on the poles by the Highway Department. Thyben, accompanied by her husband, Roger, Christopher and Evelyn Hole and young community members Sofie and Brian Kraupner, took the old flags off the poles.
The flags will remain on the poles until June 14th, for Flag Day, on which the American Legion will hold its annual flag burning ceremony. The mailbox in front of the American Legion, supplied by Bill Manfredonia and which is painted to look like the flag, is used to collect old flags from members of the community. The ceremony is held every year, but this year, will not include invited guests due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Thankfully, the Coronavirus pandemic has not affected the progress of the flag project, as well as other outdoor projects in the community started by the Glen Garden Club.
To make this accomplishment even more sentimental for Thyben, she will also celebrate her 40th wedding anniversary on Flag Day. “I’ve been in Glen Head for 79 years,” she said. “People are so kind. It’s easy to be here.”
Ronnie Thyben welcomed retirement nine years ago.
But retirement signaled the start of an entirely new vocational career for Thyben, who has lived in Glen Head for the past 41 years with her husband, Roger. After attending the Gold Coast Business Association’s Fall Festival, where she visited the Glen Garden Club’s Membership Drive, she enthusiastically joined the Garden Club. As a testament to her hard work and dedication to her community, nine years later, Thyben is the president of Glen Garden Club.
“Each Spring and Winter, we plant at Wansor Park (across from Ciro's Pizza), the window boxes at the bank, Glen Head Motors, around the railroad station at, A+ signs, Worth Repeating, the library and Gaynor Park (the soccer field behind the community center),” Thyben explained. “We have a committee of wonderful, dedicated ladies who volunteer each season.”
The Glen Garden Club holds two fundraisers every year, which each expect about 125-150 guests. The proceeds from the events benefit a plethora of organizations, including the North Shore Land Alliance, Old Westbury Gardens and Friends of Cedarmere Garden Restoration.
Thyben’s involvements did not stop with the Garden Club. In 2015, Thyben joined the Gold Coast Business Association, a group she now sits on the board of and recently co-chaired a fundraiser for. She combined her passions for both the Garden Club and the Business Association when she found out that the Wansor Park sprinklers were the financial responsibility of the Business Association. Thanks to Thyben’s efforts and exemplary follow-up with then-New York American Water, she was able to come to an agreement on behalf of the Business Association that would allow the sprinklers to remain running, without the Business Association having to foot the bill.
But her pet project in the association came in 2018 and 2019, once the community discovered that the American flags that traditionally hung on the poles on Glen Head Road did not surface for Memorial Day. With the replacement poles that were erected by PSE&G, there were no brackets installed for the flags.
The Gold Coast Business Association formed a Flag Committee in 2018 for the purposes of installing flags on the new poles, with Thyben at its helm.
“I didn’t want to disappoint the veterans, the Gold Star mothers and the community. Having the flags up for Memorial Day is a happy thing, especially during this time.”
The process of restoring the flags came with a great deal of red tape. “When I started to find out how to put the brackets on the PSE&G posts, I was sent from pillar to post and reached the wrong person every time,” Thyben explained. “Then, finally, I spoke to someone at PSE&G. PSE&G sent an application for permission for the Business Association to put brackets on the poles. “
The process, which took two years in all, went on to involve the Town of Oyster Bay (TOB). Thyben worked in tandem with the TOB Highway Department, which was “very easy to work with,” Thyben said. “When I found the right people, it all fell into place. It was very easy in the last two weeks. They were very cooperative, very kind, very patient with me.”
The actual flags were purchased by the Gold Coast Business Association from Glen Head Hardware, with help from a generous discount. They were placed on the poles by the Highway Department. Thyben, accompanied by her husband, Roger, Christopher and Evelyn Hole and young community members Sofie and Brian Kraupner, took the old flags off the poles.
The flags will remain on the poles until June 14th, for Flag Day, on which the American Legion will hold its annual flag burning ceremony. The mailbox in front of the American Legion, supplied by Bill Manfredonia and which is painted to look like the flag, is used to collect old flags from members of the community. The ceremony is held every year, but this year, will not include invited guests due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Thankfully, the Coronavirus pandemic has not affected the progress of the flag project, as well as other outdoor projects in the community started by the Glen Garden Club.
To make this accomplishment even more sentimental for Thyben, she will also celebrate her 40th wedding anniversary on Flag Day. “I’ve been in Glen Head for 79 years,” she said. “People are so kind. It’s easy to be here.”
SPRING BUSINESS OF THE MONTH
Anthony Cipriano Property Management
Anthony Cipriano Property Management
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Spring Business of the Month -- Anthony Cipriano Property Management
As a little boy growing up in Glen Cove, Anthony Cipriano followed his father around on landscaping and construction jobs, with his toy lawn mower in tow.
“I learned everything from my dad,” Cipriano said of his father, Tony, a longtime owner of his own construction business, who retired in 2017. “I used to follow him at his rental properties when he would work there.”
In 2005, Cipriano took his acquired skills solo, and started his own landscaping venture, originally called AC Landscaping – now called Anthony Cipriano Property Management. He went into business with a built-in client base: his father’s construction clients who were also in need of a landscaper.
“I do business by referral, either from my dad, or a friend who found clients for me in Roslyn Estates,” Cipriano said. “And I take inquiries on Facebook now!”
With a love for the outdoors and spring/summer weather, Cipriano loves to beautify yards, to make lawns greener during the spring and summer months, to seed the lawns every three-to-four months and to make sure that the lawns stay watered.
“Everyone should have a beautiful yard,” Cipriano said. “My favorite part of the job comes after the grass is cut, and you can see the work that is put into it.”
In addition, Cipriano offers spring and fall cleanings, including leaf removal through the end of the fall season. “I also do planting, hedge trimming, sod laying and gutter cleaning,” Cipriano said.
Outside of landscaping and yard maintenance services, Cipriano also offers industrial-strength power washing to clients, on a one-time, by-appointment basis. He hopes to earn more clients who require power washing.
“Start booking now for power washing!” Cipriano said. “Decks, patios and walkways get dirty over time. They also need to stay clean after people walk on them. Sap on trees falls down. Mildew picks up and green moss gathers.”
In looking to the future, Cipriano hopes to expand his territories in both landscaping and power washing to include more clients in Glen Head, Sea Cliff, Locust Valley and Bayville, while still continuing his work in Glen Cove and Roslyn Estates. Spring cleaning appointments have already begun!
Anthony Cipriano Property Management
(516) 807-3774
acpminc1974@gmail.com
facebook.com/acpminc
As a little boy growing up in Glen Cove, Anthony Cipriano followed his father around on landscaping and construction jobs, with his toy lawn mower in tow.
“I learned everything from my dad,” Cipriano said of his father, Tony, a longtime owner of his own construction business, who retired in 2017. “I used to follow him at his rental properties when he would work there.”
In 2005, Cipriano took his acquired skills solo, and started his own landscaping venture, originally called AC Landscaping – now called Anthony Cipriano Property Management. He went into business with a built-in client base: his father’s construction clients who were also in need of a landscaper.
“I do business by referral, either from my dad, or a friend who found clients for me in Roslyn Estates,” Cipriano said. “And I take inquiries on Facebook now!”
With a love for the outdoors and spring/summer weather, Cipriano loves to beautify yards, to make lawns greener during the spring and summer months, to seed the lawns every three-to-four months and to make sure that the lawns stay watered.
“Everyone should have a beautiful yard,” Cipriano said. “My favorite part of the job comes after the grass is cut, and you can see the work that is put into it.”
In addition, Cipriano offers spring and fall cleanings, including leaf removal through the end of the fall season. “I also do planting, hedge trimming, sod laying and gutter cleaning,” Cipriano said.
Outside of landscaping and yard maintenance services, Cipriano also offers industrial-strength power washing to clients, on a one-time, by-appointment basis. He hopes to earn more clients who require power washing.
“Start booking now for power washing!” Cipriano said. “Decks, patios and walkways get dirty over time. They also need to stay clean after people walk on them. Sap on trees falls down. Mildew picks up and green moss gathers.”
In looking to the future, Cipriano hopes to expand his territories in both landscaping and power washing to include more clients in Glen Head, Sea Cliff, Locust Valley and Bayville, while still continuing his work in Glen Cove and Roslyn Estates. Spring cleaning appointments have already begun!
Anthony Cipriano Property Management
(516) 807-3774
acpminc1974@gmail.com
facebook.com/acpminc
BUSINESS OF THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY!
GEMELLI GOURMET NORTH MARKET
GEMELLI GOURMET NORTH MARKET
February Business of the Month: Gemelli Gourmet Market North
Adriana Schutz never expected she’d enter the family business.
Before she and her twin sister, Alessia, were born in 1992, her parents, uncles and grandmother ran their family restaurant as well as their family gourmet market -- both located in Babylon Village. Both the restaurant and the market bore the name “Gemelli,” which means “twins” in Italian. The name was chosen in honor of her older first cousins, who are twins -- the fact that Adriana and Alessia are twins is a pure coincidence.
“My grandmother came from a long line of restaurateurs,” Adriana said. “When she came over here, she brought my mom and my two uncles. She would try to find work wherever she could. One day, someone helped my uncle, and she wanted to give that person spaghetti pie in return.” Due to the success of the pie, friends and neighbors asked to pay for it.
Spaghetti pie was just the beginning, as Adriana’s grandmother continued to sell her food. Her mother, Patricia, worked in a supermarket owned by Bob Schutz -- who went from boss to husband. The family made the profitable decision to join all of its forces and open the first Gemelli gourmet market in Babylon Village in 1988. The restaurant soon followed in 1996.
But Adriana’s own career plan changed, when her grandmother (known to the family and to customers as Mamma Gemelli) fell ill and subsequently passed away. She left a job at a Manhattan jewelry wholesaler, where she worked for three years. “I never wanted to get into the family business,” she said. “I worked at the restaurant as a hostess. I worked at the restaurant as a cashier. But it’s just second nature to me.” Together with her parents and older brother, Marc, she helped to launch Gemelli Gourmet Market North.
“We wanted to do something to honor her,” Adriana said. “With my brother and I deciding to get into the business, we decided that the store in Babylon could only create lives for so many families.”
The decision to move north, after the existing businesses have always remained in Babylon closer to the family home, was not intentional; vendors who delivered to the Babylon store gave the family a tip about a property in Glen Head that was newly available for rent. “When we came here to see it, we fell in love with it.”
Mamma Gemelli’s rich history quickly repeated itself for the Schutz family in the Glen Head store. The Babylon Gemelli location did not originally offer catering to its customers, but a desperate customer with company coming over changed that fact. The customer asked for a lasagna on short notice to bring home for his guests, and Mamma Gemelli delivered in grand style -- and the catering branch of the business was born. Years later, not one week after “Gemelli North’s” opening, a desperate customer asked Patricia for a half-tray of lasagna to bring home for Thanksgiving dinner (when the store did not intend to take an onslaught of Thanksgiving orders due to its recent opening).
“It was like a sign from my grandma,” Adriana said. “It was as though she was telling us, ‘This is a good thing that you’ve opened up here.’”
The combined efforts of the Schutz family have led to the growth of a staple business in Glen Head and the surrounding communities. It serves early-morning breakfast hunters, North Shore School District teachers at lunchtime, and busy professionals looking to pick up dinner on their way to their homes after work. The store also offers delivery both through DoorDash and in-house. But Gemelli’s isn’t only about the food -- the store’s “family atmosphere” makes it different than other area gourmet markets.
“My grandmother used to say, it doesn’t cost anything to be kind,” Adriana said. “The customers are constantly seeing me, my sister, my mom, my dad, my brother, every day. When we started to get to know our customers, it made us happy that they came in here and they came for that family atmosphere. We know what’s going on in their lives. We know what they like. If we see items that they like, we know, and we make sure to get it for them.”
After just three years in business, “Gemelli North” was one of the first area businesses to enthusiastically join North Shore Biz Network. Additionally, “Gemelli North” is an active member of the Gold Coast Business Association, where Adriana serves as a board member. The store has also received island-wide recognition, as it was nominated for the honor of Best BBQ Spare Ribs by Bethpage Best of Long Island and is, recently, the winner of the Long Island Herald Family Business Award.
In looking to the future, Adriana, Alessia, Marc, Bob and Patricia hope to add a seafood counter and a smoothie bar for healthier options. They also have a goal of increasing the number of wine dinners.
Visit Gemelli Gourmet Market North every month for NSBN’s Breakfast Club Series, beginning February 11, 2020 at 8am.
Gemelli Gourmet Market North
716 Glen Cove Ave
Glen Head, NY 11545
(516) 200 - 9746
www.gemelligourmetmarketnorth.com
Facebook: facebook.com/gemelligourmetmarketnorth
Instagram: @gemelligourmetnorth
Story written by Gracie Donaldson
Adriana Schutz never expected she’d enter the family business.
Before she and her twin sister, Alessia, were born in 1992, her parents, uncles and grandmother ran their family restaurant as well as their family gourmet market -- both located in Babylon Village. Both the restaurant and the market bore the name “Gemelli,” which means “twins” in Italian. The name was chosen in honor of her older first cousins, who are twins -- the fact that Adriana and Alessia are twins is a pure coincidence.
“My grandmother came from a long line of restaurateurs,” Adriana said. “When she came over here, she brought my mom and my two uncles. She would try to find work wherever she could. One day, someone helped my uncle, and she wanted to give that person spaghetti pie in return.” Due to the success of the pie, friends and neighbors asked to pay for it.
Spaghetti pie was just the beginning, as Adriana’s grandmother continued to sell her food. Her mother, Patricia, worked in a supermarket owned by Bob Schutz -- who went from boss to husband. The family made the profitable decision to join all of its forces and open the first Gemelli gourmet market in Babylon Village in 1988. The restaurant soon followed in 1996.
But Adriana’s own career plan changed, when her grandmother (known to the family and to customers as Mamma Gemelli) fell ill and subsequently passed away. She left a job at a Manhattan jewelry wholesaler, where she worked for three years. “I never wanted to get into the family business,” she said. “I worked at the restaurant as a hostess. I worked at the restaurant as a cashier. But it’s just second nature to me.” Together with her parents and older brother, Marc, she helped to launch Gemelli Gourmet Market North.
“We wanted to do something to honor her,” Adriana said. “With my brother and I deciding to get into the business, we decided that the store in Babylon could only create lives for so many families.”
The decision to move north, after the existing businesses have always remained in Babylon closer to the family home, was not intentional; vendors who delivered to the Babylon store gave the family a tip about a property in Glen Head that was newly available for rent. “When we came here to see it, we fell in love with it.”
Mamma Gemelli’s rich history quickly repeated itself for the Schutz family in the Glen Head store. The Babylon Gemelli location did not originally offer catering to its customers, but a desperate customer with company coming over changed that fact. The customer asked for a lasagna on short notice to bring home for his guests, and Mamma Gemelli delivered in grand style -- and the catering branch of the business was born. Years later, not one week after “Gemelli North’s” opening, a desperate customer asked Patricia for a half-tray of lasagna to bring home for Thanksgiving dinner (when the store did not intend to take an onslaught of Thanksgiving orders due to its recent opening).
“It was like a sign from my grandma,” Adriana said. “It was as though she was telling us, ‘This is a good thing that you’ve opened up here.’”
The combined efforts of the Schutz family have led to the growth of a staple business in Glen Head and the surrounding communities. It serves early-morning breakfast hunters, North Shore School District teachers at lunchtime, and busy professionals looking to pick up dinner on their way to their homes after work. The store also offers delivery both through DoorDash and in-house. But Gemelli’s isn’t only about the food -- the store’s “family atmosphere” makes it different than other area gourmet markets.
“My grandmother used to say, it doesn’t cost anything to be kind,” Adriana said. “The customers are constantly seeing me, my sister, my mom, my dad, my brother, every day. When we started to get to know our customers, it made us happy that they came in here and they came for that family atmosphere. We know what’s going on in their lives. We know what they like. If we see items that they like, we know, and we make sure to get it for them.”
After just three years in business, “Gemelli North” was one of the first area businesses to enthusiastically join North Shore Biz Network. Additionally, “Gemelli North” is an active member of the Gold Coast Business Association, where Adriana serves as a board member. The store has also received island-wide recognition, as it was nominated for the honor of Best BBQ Spare Ribs by Bethpage Best of Long Island and is, recently, the winner of the Long Island Herald Family Business Award.
In looking to the future, Adriana, Alessia, Marc, Bob and Patricia hope to add a seafood counter and a smoothie bar for healthier options. They also have a goal of increasing the number of wine dinners.
Visit Gemelli Gourmet Market North every month for NSBN’s Breakfast Club Series, beginning February 11, 2020 at 8am.
Gemelli Gourmet Market North
716 Glen Cove Ave
Glen Head, NY 11545
(516) 200 - 9746
www.gemelligourmetmarketnorth.com
Facebook: facebook.com/gemelligourmetmarketnorth
Instagram: @gemelligourmetnorth
Story written by Gracie Donaldson
January 23, 2020 - Relaunch of Network Power Lunch at
Meritage Wine Bar
Meritage Wine Bar
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December 16th, 2019 - Meritage Wine Bar - Happy Hour Gift Drive
for Mommas House & Guardian Angel Crisis Center
for Mommas House & Guardian Angel Crisis Center
Photo credit Tab Hauser
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November 1, 2017 - Network Power Lunch at Vivo Osteria
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October, 31, 2017 - Happy Hour - Meritage Wine Bar
Thursday, May 4th, 2017 - Still Partners Sea Cliff
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April 22, 2017 - Gold Coast Supper Club at Claudio's Restaurant
March 1st, 2017 - Downtown Cafe - Network Power Lunch
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December 2, 2016 - Happy Hour Toy Drive at Page One in Glen Cove
Photo credit Tab Hauser
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Happy Hour "The View Grill" August 2016
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First Happy Hour "Downtown Cafe" April 1, 2016
Photo by Tab Hauser