Chappaqua Stores Hold Irene Recovery Event

In the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene, several merchants in downtown Chappaqua held events Friday to bring shoppers to town.

The events were organized by Aurora FT owner Dawn Greenberg. From her fair-trade store, Greenberg noticed that people who have been without power for many days were wandering through town looking for activities and sensed that it would be a good time to plan an event that would be mutually beneficial for residents and businesses.

“It’s important that we all pull together,” Greenberg noted. She called Quincy Eggenton, a well-known local art teacher, to set up a table in front of Marmalade to entertain kids with art projects. 

The spirit of comradery was pervasive among the merchants. Desires by Mikolay provided cappuccino and espresso, as well as canvas shopping bags for shoppers to use in town. Food was donated by Crabtree’s Kittle House, Jardin du Roi and Chappaqua Paint & Hardware.

Cindy Lupica, the owner of Marmalade, emailed her customers to offer internet, fax and phone services to those in need. While she printed out boarding passes, customers purchased items.

“I’ve always found the town to be super concerned about the stores,” Lupica said. 

Local customers came bringing moral and financial support.

“The center of town looks a lot better,” local resident Maria Fisher observed. 

David Winoker said “the bridge is more of a problem [than the effects of Irene] because it’s ongoing,” referencing ongoing construction work on Route 120 near downtown.

The event, which included sales, comes as several businesses are suffering from Irene's effects.

Emmary Day Spa lost its floor to flood damage, which had to be ripped out. At the Cosmetics Boutique, products stored in low cabinets are unsaleable. The wooden floor is uneven due to water damage and the store is running a dehumidifier to mitigate the lasting effects.

Celine Levy at Eye Gallery of Chappaqua spoke of catalogs and paper supply.

“It’s all gone,” she lamented. The damaged compromised use of the ophthalmologist’s on-site facility, and carpeting in the back is being replaced due to flooding. 

Squire’s owner Michael Kushner, one of the hardest hit by flooding, enlisted the help of friends who supplied six sump pumps and the fire department whose equipment pulled the remaining water out in one hour. On Monday, he sold six pairs of rain boots in one hour. Kushner, like many other shop owners, was awaiting an adjustor from his insurance company.

Greenberg of Aurora is determined to help her fellow merchants after the storm and in the future. She is working on establishing a local chamber of commerce.

“We small businesses operate on very thin margins.” Greenberg remarked. “If you have a bad week or two it can really put you in a bad place.”