In Hastings, a Bootery Closes; a Beauty Shop Opens its Doors

A Hastings mainstay for decades, will shut its doors for good on July 1.

Owner Joseph Kwong has owned the small shoe shop for 16 years; his son owned the toy shot next door.

"For a few years business was good," Kwong said. "But then it slowed down, so we put the stores together."

Kwong's son went to work as a mechanic upstate.

Having immigrated from Hong Kong in 1974, Kwong—who lives in Queens— said he's grateful to the Hastings community—for his friends here and his faithful customers.

"I enjoy working in Hastings," he said. "If I didn't I would have closed the doors a long, long time ago. The income is not worth it, but the people are always friendly."

Until July, all shoes and toys will be 50 to 70 percent off. 

According to Kwong, his landlord—who also owns the space next door—is selling the building.

"I will miss the people in Hastings," Kwong said.

On Spring street, it is another story.

Giordano Beauty—a small, independent beauty shop—opened last weekend.

Susan Giordano, a makeup artist whose work has appeared in virtually every popular magazine here and abroad, made her first storefront for her beauty line at 3 Spring Street.

The shop offers: makeup, skin care products, soaps, home fragrances, and facial and body scrubs. Giordano also offers makeup lessons and will do makeup for events such as weddings.

Read more on Giordano and her shop tomorrow on Patch (yes, this mini-story is just a teaser.)

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