Although Rye businesses might struggle at first to be successful, the experience of
owning a store in the cozy New York suburb is rewarding and prosperous. What might have been
empty storefronts a few years ago are now mostly filled. Store owners are drawn to Rye’s vibrant
atmosphere, but they often lack a proper business plan. This leads to frequent failures.
Being a commercial Real-Estate Agent in Rye, Gena DiDonato has found success and
pride in her business endeavors in the town. “I think Rye is a unique community, it’s been a
pleasure working there,” she says. “And I’d say more than half the stores I’ve put in Rye are still
in business.”
DiDonato also experiences business culture through her daughter, who owns a hair salon
in the heart of Rye. “My experience, not just from leasing and doing it for 20 years, I know first
hand from my daughter how well some businesses in Rye do compared to other communities,”
she states. Having a real-estate and personal lens allows DiDonato to see the potential for success
of Rye stores twofold.
Lori Friedman is the heart and soul of Great Stuff, a women’s clothing store that has
thrived in Rye for 42 years. “There’s so many elements that go into it, you want to make it a nice,
pleasant environment for people to come into,” she believes. “But you don’t want to be so fancy
that it’s unapproachable, you want to make it real.”
Friedman and her employees help radiate the store with a kind, positive energy that
welcomes customers with open arms. “You have to be nice to people, that’s what it’s all about in
this world,” she adds. Friedman stresses the importance of genuine, honest customer-service in
her store, a trait that likely connects to its loyal client base and success.
Although expensive, Rye resident Liz Kahle is a big fan of Friedman’s store. “If you can
find people who do have money to spend to really love you, and feel loyal, then I think a store
can survive in Rye,” she believes. “And I think Great Stuff is that type of store.”
Another Rye business owner, Patrick Corcoran, opened Arcade Booksellers over 40 years
ago. Corcoran suspects poor planning at the root of newer businesses struggling to stay open in
Rye. “I don’t know what people think about when they start a business, I was young and naive
when I did this,” he admits. “But I didn’t give up, I kept going.”
Corcoran’s work ethic has created a loyal client base, yet the addition of online retail has
undoubtedly taken customers off his doorstep. “I work very hard, and because I’ve been doing
this for so long a lot of people just think of me when they want a book,” he says. “And it’s so
difficult in today’s world with all the competition from online, I mean Amazon is crushing every
retailer and business.”
Kahle thinks highly of Corcoran, and never regrets going to Arcade to purchase a book
from him. “I like Patrick, I often don’t go and buy books there because I don’t have the time to
go find a parking spot and go in, but when I do I’m always happy that I have because he knows a
lot,” she says. “He’s very knowledgeable and good at suggesting books, so you get something
more than getting a book on Amazon, rather you get someone who really knows good books.”
An employee at Salte, a newer store, Mary Amy sees the advantage of having a
longstanding business in being successful in Rye. “You build on it, because people know you and
they also want to keep you around, the mom and pop,” she says. “So I’d say that the Rye
population is interested in spending their money in one of these stores here because it is their
town and because we want to have our stores filled.”
Debra Love is the owner of Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming, a pet store in Rye. Love
emphasizes customer service and helpfulness to customers as vital to building a customer base.
“That helps bringing them back and making them feel like their dogs are important,” she notes.
“We give them treats while they’re here, so it’s kind of that stuff, going the extra mile does help
people be loyal.”
Despite her plentiful positive experience in Rye, DiDonato acknowledges the difficulty
for newer businesses to get their footing, especially when they are situated outside of the main
Rye square. “Location is key but Rye is only like three square blocks, so it does matter if you are
a new business to be on purchase street rather than the side streets,” she says.
When Corcoran was forced to switch storefronts due to an unrenewed lease, he relocated
to a building further from the main town stretch. Luckily he already has a loyal clientele, but sees
how location can affect the success of new stores. “If I was a newer business here, it might be
more difficult because I’m more off the beaten track,” he speculates.
Living in Rye for 26 years, Kahle has noticed a significant decline in how useful and
practical stores are in Rye town. “I have noticed that the types of stores that come in are just
stores that aren’t going to survive,” she admits. “I can tell before they even get in, so it’s been
very frustrating to watch.”