Retail Comings and Goings

Another service is no longer available in Hartsdale. Aristocrat Cleaners, who has served the community for 20 years, was pretty much driven out of their location says owner Phil Benincasa. When it was time for renewal of his lease, the landlord demanded that Benicasa do a gut renovation of the site at his own expense – while continuing to pay rent to the landlord during construction. Not able to meet these terms, Benicasa looked for a buyer for the dry cleaning business. The landlord also make it impossible to sell the business by demanding that the new owners gut and renovate the store, provide four months security and the first month's rent as well. But the real kicker was that if Benicasa sold the business, the landlord stipulated that he keep a portion of the proceeds from the sale.

Though Benicasa wanted to stay in town where he knows his customers and even conducted a Saturday morning coffee klatch, he shied away from hiring a lawyer to fight the terms, which he said were totally unreasonable. Benicasa laments the loss of community and notes that Hartsdale used to be home to Big Top, a butcher, a deli and a bookstore – all providing essentials that brought foot traffic to town. Though Benicasa owned the business for 20 years, the original dry cleaners has been in that spot since 1907. The site is a stand alone building that pre-dates the rest of the strip of stores surrounding it.

The good news is that Artistocrat salvaged what they had and is now located at A1 Cleaners on Route 119. They offer free pick-up and delivery. You can reach them at the same phone number, 723-1008.

Pop-Up Shop at the Eye Gallery in Scarsdale:

Barton Perreira, who makes designer eyeglass frames and sunglasses, will open a pop-up shop at the Eye Gallery of Scarsdale for one week from March 31st – April 7th, and 10% of all sales will go to the Pediatric Cancer Foundation. The boutique will feature a first look at the Autumn/Winter Collection. The public is invited to meet CEO Bill Barton at a cocktail reception to kick off the opening on Monday March 31st from 5pm – 7pm at the Eye Gallery at 8 Spencer Place in Scarsdale.

Barton Perreira Pop-Up shop
Cocktail Reception with CEO Bill Barton
Monday, March 31 5pm – 7pm
Eye Gallery of Scarsdale
8 Spencer Place, Scarsdale

Peachwave Opens in Hartsdale:

Peachwave Frozen Yogurt has opened in Hartsdale at 228 East Hartsdale Avenue and offers countless combinations of self-serve yogurt and toppings. Stop by the brightly renovated store and enjoy your FROYO at a table inside. The store is open 12-9pm Monday through Wednesday and 12-10 pm Thursday through Sunday.