Babylon Businesses Hope for Gay Marriage Windfall

The scene has played out for years at Alex Rachmansky's on Deer Park Avenue in Babylon Village.

"A girl would walk in to buy a ring, and I'd ask them who it was for," Rachmansky said. "They'd tell me it was for a friend, and that was all. It would make it very hard for me to help them find exactly what they were looking for."

But with last week's passage of the Marriage Equality Act, Rachmansky expects gays to be far more open about their needs.

"They can be more forward now, and they'll be more willing," he said. "They will be part of the ritual of getting married, and that will help my business and help me give them what they really want."

At on Main Street, owner Bill Hudson was also optimistic that gay marriage would help his industry, though he added that catering halls, not wine stores, will earn the biggest benefits.

"Any celebration at a house will help," Hudson said. "I'd be happy if I got one or two between now and August or September. Once October comes, people don't do outdoor parties.

"Also, I'll do engagement parties, but the truth is throwing a party is very difficult. The catering halls do a lot of this, and then I'm not involved."

Across the street from Ferraro's, at the the Town of Babylon's Old Town Hall Historical Site where he was giving a tour, Supervisor said businessowners should champion the new law.

"I'm for it, and I think our governor framed it perfectly when he said that this is not only an equality issue, it's an economic development issue," said Bellone, the Democratic candidate for county executive. "It's a win-win."

Marissa Wetterer, a gardener at on the outskirts of Argyle Park, said the new law comes at a great time.

"We haven't been a big wedding flower shop, but we have been getting more in to it recently," Wetterer said. "Sure this will help. Everyone wants beautiful flowers on their wedding day."

And pictures too, said Jennifer Mercurio, the owner and photographer at on Deer Park Avenue.

"They do what traditional couples do, from Christening children to raising families," she said. "We've done a few same-sex marriages, parties and weddings. So I can't see why we wouldn't prosper."

She added that a cottage industry of same-sex marriage magazines will bloom.

"I know this because I'm already being asked to advertise," Mercurio said. "I'm very hopeful this will be good for the economy."