A fair-sized crop of new businesses will be opening in the next couple weeks as aspiring restaurateurs, landscapers and retailers open their doors for the seasonal trade. There are new offerings in the professional service area as well, while some long-established Island businesses have moved locations. “Free WiFi” seems to be a popular benefit this season, so pack up your laptop and check out what summer 2008 has in store.
Food, glorious food
Kim Sherman's name and face are familiar to many islanders from her career as a visiting nurse. Her new venture, Greeny's, a healthy foods market, is an outgrowth of her interest in health and wellness. “I was concerned about my children's nutrition,” she said, “particularly with all the hormones in their milk and the meat we eat.” The research and efforts she made in sourcing, buying and preparing healthier foods for her family were the basis for her new venture.
Greeny's, located next to Roy Reeves Insurance at 55A North Ferry Road (phone 998-3744), will be a one-stop source for a full range of healthy foods and natural products, from produce and breads, to nutritionals, personal care items, cleaning items and frozen foods. Ms. Sherman will carry herbal supplements and vitamins, “eco-safe” cleaning and recycled paper products from companies such as Seventh Generation, juices, organic produce and breads. There will even be a gluten-free section and a limited line of all-natural pet foods.
In addition to the grocery items, Greeny's will offer fresh smoothies, Free Trade coffee from Green Mountain Roasters, a juice bar and an ever-changing variety of healthy sandwiches every day. “There will always be a vegetarian choice,” Ms. Sherman said, and “wherever possible, we're using low-fat ingredients and organic or whole grain rolls and breads.” A frozen food case will contain such treats as pot stickers and spring rolls, which may tempt even the most confirmed “junk food” eaters. There will be three stools inside the shop and an outdoor garden seating area. Free WiFi will be available, as well. The market will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday-Wednesday, closing on Thursdays.
Last year, the space formerly occupied by the Old Salty Dog remained vacant. This season, construction is happening at a breakneck pace as three partners, Veronica Camacho, John Camacho and Jason Penney prepare to open Luna, a casual, family-oriented restaurant offering Spanish-Mediterranean cuisine, complete with a tapas, or “small plates” menu, free WiFi and entertainment for children in the upstairs loft area.
According to Ms. Camacho, Luna will feature “a relaxed environment and a healthy menu” with a Spanish flair. “We wanted to avoid heavy, batter-fried foods and offer our customers fresh foods, using organic and locally-sourced products whenever possible.” Luna will serve lunch and dinner until 3 a.m., although Ms. Camacho hastens to add that the partners are not planning to offer live music. The patio will be reserved for the weekly Sunday brunch. The maximum entrée price will be around $35 with the Tapas menu in the $11 range.
Her brother John has been in the restaurant and hospitality industry for over 20 years, most recently as manager of the VIP Suites at Madison Square Garden. Ms. Camacho is a former fashion stylist and interior designer, while Jason Penney, who owns a home on Shelter Island, is a photographer. “I love to cook and entertain,” Ms. Camacho said, “And with Luna, we are trying to recreate the way John and I were raised … We want everyone who comes here to feel at home.”
Furnishings
While the Camacho siblings will be busy creating wonderful food to put on a table, another sister-brother team has set up shop to make tables.
Elizabeth and Douglas Turnbull have started Island Table Company to produce hand-crafted cherry coffee tables that are centered by a silver inlay of Shelter Island. Ms. Turnbull, who studied and taught at Colby College's “world class furniture program,” moved to the Island in October to start this venture. While she has built numerous pieces for personal and family use, she said that Island Table is her ‘”first foray into commercial furniture making.” In addition to this venture, Ms. Turnbull works as a sustainability coordinator for a design firm in Boston.
The tables, according to Ms. Turnbull, take their inspiration from two sources. “Looking at Shelter Island on the map is simply intoxicating, the form is so unique. I love walking it and sketching it. “The other factor,” she continued, “is my work in the sustainable design world. There is a shocking amount of unsustainably-sourced materials and toxins that we are at home with. We are filling our houses with all these things that make us sick. I wanted to take my passion for and love of the Shelter Island form and make something beautiful and useful from it.”
The furniture is made from sustainably harvested cherry with an inlay of .925 sterling silver. The finished tables are rubbed with linseed oil, beeswax and natural resin for durable, nontoxic protection. A sample of Elizabeth and Douglas's table can be seen at Coastal Cottage in the Heights or by appointment (978-758-1051). Custom commissions are encouraged and prices are available upon request.
New services
If you're planning a party this summer, Robert Strauss, the owner of Shelter Island Party Rental, just made your life easier. Islanders can now view and rent all manner of party equipment, from tents and tables to chairs, linens, lighting, dance floors, coolers and grills, without having to leave the Rock. “We really felt there was a void in the market,” Mr. Strauss explained, “there is no place to rent all these things without going off Island. We are carrying everything you need for a party.”
Customers may call Mr. Strauss at (516) 659-7509 to make arrangements to view his offerings or they may check out the company's website at www.shelterislandpartyrental.com (or www.shelterislandtent.com.) Delivery is available. Mr. Strauss, who by day is a chemistry teacher in East Hampton, has also started a pool service company called Two Teachers Pool Service, with partner Robert Schack. Contact the two teachers at the above number and get your pool into sparkling shape for the summer.
Two new landscape design firms have staked their shingles into Shelter Island's sandy soil this year. Victoria Weslek, who is chairing the committee to oversee the design of the Bridge Street Park, has opened Terra Mater Natural Designs (749-5002) specializing in residential landscaping. Ms. Weslek, who grew up on the Island, has a certificate in landscape design from the New York Botanical Garden and 10 years experience working for English Landscape Designs in East Hampton. Her firm will create small or large landscapes or gardens, outdoor master plans as well as provide consultation for the new homeowner that includes plant identification and gardening tips. “So often we see people buying a home and ‘inheriting' the gardens that go along with it and they may not know what they've got.” For an hourly fee, she will identify the existing plantings and make suggestions, based on a site analysis, of how to revamp or rehab the site. Larger projects such as landscape master plans and garden design are priced on a flat fee basis.
The Green Frame (749-0260) is offering landscape design, construction and management and is a partnership between Colin Hoogerwerf and Franz Fenkl of Shelter Island Design & Build. Mr. Hoogerwerf, a Dutchman who was raised in Germany and studied in Uganda, has a degree in landscape architecture and worked in Southampton before coming to Shelter Island to partner with Mr. Fenkl this year. According to Mr. Hoogerwerf, the company's name refers to the both the green “frame” that the landscape provides around a home and the fact that the firm's designs strive to be environmentally responsible and sustainable. They emphasize the use of low maintenance plantings with an emphasis on re-vegetation, bird protection and attraction and hummingbird and butterfly gardens.
Some of the more unique services the Green Frame provides include bamboo and common reed control, and short- and long-term beautification to increase a home's “curb appeal.” They also provide site analysis, individual site design, landscape master plans, hardscape plans as well as planting and irrigation suggestions. Although based on the East End, Mr. Hoogerwerf said he will travel virtually anywhere to help a client, citing a job the firm is currently working on in Orange County. “Short of going to Russia,” he said laughing, “if someone needs our work, we'll be there.”
New quarters, new owner
Several existing businesses have recently moved or expanded their operations in time for the summer season.
Veronica Kaasik of MVM Island Realty (749-0577), an independent real estate broker, has moved from North Ferry Road to the office space in Oh's Gas Station. Flynn's Flying Fingers (749-5175), a full-service secretarial service, has also relocated to MVM's office. Sally Flynn, a writer and proofreader for Dan's Papers, writes and types letters, invoices and mailings, scans documents for printing and sends faxes. So while you're waiting for your copies you can not only browse the latest homes for sale but step next door to Oh's for a cup of coffee and some fresh baked goods.
Formerly known as Tyssie's, Oh's is now owned by James Olinkiewicz. In addition to the usual mini-mart items, there are homemade items such as banana nut and chocolate chip tea breads, Danish, bagels and all kinds of other goodies to accompany the fresh coffee.
Dworkin & Daughter Antiques has been a summer fixture on Shelter Island for as long as anyone can remember. Over the years, the shop, which is stocked with an ever-changing collection of exquisite antique and vintage jewelry and bibelots, as well as items of local memorabilia, has appeared in various locations. This season it has moved from its Heights home of several years to the shopping center on Route 114 next to Griffing & Collins Real Estate and Geo-Jo Video. Expect the same beautiful merchandise and personal service in more spacious quarters.
Suzette Smith has been teaching Pilates on Shelter Island for four years, both in a small home studio and in mat classes at Legion Hall. She has now opened a bright and airy space, the Pilates Studio, in the Heights (Chase Avenue) where she will be offering private and duet classes on the full range of Pilates apparatus. Sessions, by appointment only, can be arranged by calling 749-5042.
“Pilates is a method of exercise designed to stretch, strengthen and balance the body,” Ms. Smith said. “Practiced faithfully, it yields numerous benefits, strong abdominal and back muscles, improved posture, healthy joints and an overall sense of well-being.” A former professional dancer, Ms. Smith has also resumed her summer schedule of mat classes at Legion Hall (Saturdays, 9 a.m.) and as of May 31, will be adding classes in Nia, a form of movement meditation on Saturdays at 10 a.m.
After you've stretched and toned your body, you can stop next door at the greatly enlarged quarters of Marie Eiffel to clothe it appropriately. Ms. Eiffel, who had moved from her self-described “walk-in closet” of a store on Route 114 to the Heights last summer, has taken the space vacated by Dworkin & Daughter and has further expanded her offerings of chic and unusual women's and men's wear. She will also continue her complimentary personal styling service.
Previously reported
Also new for summer '08 and covered previously in the Reporter will be Redding's Gourmet Market, moving into the space formerly occupied by the Island Food Centre on Bridge Street. Husband-wife owners Matt Danzer and Ann Redding plan to offer daily specials and specialty grocery items as well as full-service catering.
Sunflower Marketplace, Rich and Rachel Fraser, proprietors, opened this spring in the Heights offering fresh produce, soups, salads, breads and coffee as well as a catering service.
My Assistant, a full-service bookkeeping firm, is reaching out to other small business owners. “We work with everyone from sole proprietors to larger companies, retail operations to contractors,” said Donna Molin, who runs the company with her husband Mark. The Molins assist clients with payroll and sales taxes, maintaining their books and preparing tax information for accountants (but they do not do taxes) and “looking for ways to make them (our clients) more profitable.”
Daniel Gale Sotheby's, the North Fork and western Suffolk real estate firm has jumped into the Shelter Island market with a bright yellow and blue building at 40 South Ferry Road, across from Vine Street Café. As already noted in the Reporter, the firm's decision to open an office here was to broaden the depth of international buyers looking to purchase a vacation home on Shelter Island. A grand opening gala is planned for sometime this summer.
Local real estate broker David Huschle joined forces with Georgiana B. Ketcham Real Estate and they will be the only Island real estate firm to have an office on both the north and south sides of the Island.
Changes ahead
Finally, several Island businesses are still for sale, including George's IGA, Two Eds, Pat & Steve's and Oh's. The fate of the drug rehab facility at the Ram's Head Inn remains a mystery. Between that and the “who owns Shelter Island” trademark issue simmering between several Island business owners, it should be an interesting summer on the Rock.