Residents Celebrate Businesses at Underhill Plaza

Underhill Plaza was created 40 years ago with a goal in mind -- to have a variety of businesses available serving the needs of the Yorktown Heights community. On Sunday, residents were invited to a , which featured rides and discounts from the various store owners as a way to thank the community for their support. 

"It's a great complex," said Joe Visconti, President of the Yorktown Chamber of Commerce. "It's probably the only one in Yorktown, that’s a Co-Op.”

When Underhill Plaza was first created, business owners rented the location of their business from one owner. Then, they were given the opportunity to purchase their own particular unit. In effect, the plaza became a co-op. All 18 business owners are not only proprietors of their own company but of their property, which created a symbiotic relationship with all involved parties. The success of each business is a success for all.

The celebration on Sunday was filled with discounts at businesses such as , a hair salon and barber shop which was established 35 years ago and is one of the oldest businesses on the plaza.

Like many of the stores, Hair Design Center is a family affair. Brothers Gino and Ado Benigni are co-owners and Hair Stylists. Both are experienced barbers from London, who arrived to the United States 35 years ago. Just six months later they established their shop. Gino’s daughter, Stefania Rishel, joined the staff as a hair stylist in 1995.

"Consistency and doing a good job and being attentive," said Gino about what makes their business successful. "We try our best to do that."

Rishel said there is a friendship among the owners. This is the first celebration at the plaza and a way to payback the community and thank them for helping business owners thrive for last 40 years, she said.

The event not only provided discounts and visibility by each store, but organizers also embraced the community by providing a family-friendly environment. Children enjoyed fee hot dogs, popcorn and cotton candy; as well as music and entertainment. and East Coast Pain Management held raffle auctions, while kids felt they were in an amusement park with the assistance of Fun Time Amusement.

The W.S Jeung Tae Kwon Do school, which opened their business in 1998, had student demonstrations of the time honored tradition and profession of the Korean Martial Arts form of Tae Kwon Do. Students showed refined ability to kick, punch and leap all with a great deal of focus, discipline and form.

The school is run by eight-degree Grand Master W.S., Jeung, a student of Yong-In Univ from Korea. His son and one of the instructor, Seung Jeung is a second-degree black belt holder and an accomplished practitioner. He has competed in international competitions such as Hanmadang Tournament - a yearly competition that focuses on breaking and synchronized form.

"To me, honestly, it means to give back to the community," he said of the anniversary celebration. "I really want all of our students to have an opportunity to shine in front of people and have an opportunity to let other people see what we do, why we love this art, this sport so much."

Fran Miller, who came to the event with her granddaughter, said she shops at  and enjoyed the family fun celebration.

Renee Wray who also attended the celebration said she regularly shops at the plaza. Originally from Minnesota, she said she buys flowers at The Country Florist to send to her mother. For Wray, the event was a day to enjoy the afternoon’s activities but also a discovery of stores she has never seen before.

"I never really knew about [The Gourmet Kitchen]," she said. "They said they [have] been here for years. For some reason I never knew this section. We all ate there today."

Her son Jimmy Wray and his friend Joey Freda did rock climbing and watched Tae Kwon Do demonstrations. 

Other Underhill Plaza business owners include Terrence Murphy, town councilman and District 4 county legislator candidate, who owns Yorktown Health and Wellness Center. Murphy was born and raised in Yorktown and has deep roots in the area. The Center was established in 1999.  

The rest of the businesses include  , ; Gourmet Kitchen, ; and J&B Family Jewelers; ; as well as Not Tutu Shabby, which opened eight weeks ago and sells dance attire and gift items. You can buy flowers at , and plan your trip with . Underhill Plaza is also home to , , Plaza Laundromat,  and East Coast Pain Management, PC.

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