Thursday, October 1, 2026
Despite periods of rain, shoppers filled the sidewalks of Cedarhurst last week, hunting for bargains, browsing boutique displays and stopping into local restaurants during the Village of Cedarhurst’s annual Sidewalk Sale.
The four-day event, hosted by the village’s Business Improvement District from July 29 through Aug. 2, once again transformed Cedarhurst Avenue into an outdoor shopping destination. More than 80 stores participated, placing racks of clothing, accessories and discounted merchandise along the sidewalks while welcoming customers from across Long Island and beyond.
Known as the South Shore’s fashion center for more than a century, Cedarhurst attracted visitors from throughout the Five Towns, neighboring communities, New Jersey and Connecticut. While the opening day drew especially large crowds, shoppers continued to visit throughout the weekend despite rainy conditions, supporting both retailers and the village’s many cafes and restaurants.
With more than 280 storefronts throughout the village, Cedarhurst offers a mix of fashion boutiques, jewelry stores, designer eyewear, furniture, fine linens, toys, office supplies and dining options. Its walkable downtown, Long Island Rail Road station and convenient access by car and bus have helped make the annual sidewalk sale one of the community’s signature summer events.
At Baho, the owner’s husband remained busy helping customers and pitching in during the sale.
“My wife’s busy, so I come to help her out,” Mayer said.
Although he leaves the day-to-day operations to his wife, Mayer said he enjoys seeing the community come together each summer.
“It’s a very nice community,” he said. “Everybody, the people, everything is gorgeous. My wife likes it here, and it’s fun.”
For Lieba Rotkin, manager of The Gallery, the sidewalk sale is about much more than discounts.
“We love sidewalk sale,” Rotkin said. “It’s fun. It’s chaotic, but it’s a good chaos.”
The Gallery, which opened its Cedarhurst location about three and a half years ago after first establishing itself in New Jersey, now also has stores in American Dream in New Jersey and Israel. Rotkin said Cedarhurst has become one of the company’s favorite locations because of its loyal customer base.
“We have the best customers here,” she said. “We get people from Cedarhurst, Hewlett, Lawrence, Far Rockaway, Brooklyn and even Monsey. The avenue is gorgeous, it’s quaint, it’s well kept, and the vibe here is amazing.”
Weeks of preparation go into the annual sale, she explained, with staff organizing bargain racks, sidewalk activities for children and special promotions.
“We pull out older inventory, put out $15 racks, and people love finding a bargain,” Rotkin said. “Then after sidewalk sale we transition into more personalized shopping, where our stylists help customers build complete wardrobes.”
Sparkle by Sima owner Sima K., who has operated her Cedarhurst jewelry boutique for 10 years, said the annual event remains one of her favorite weekends of the year.
“I love the traffic. I love the people,” she said. “I love meeting new customers and seeing our repeat customers every year.”
Her store offered doorbuster specials, discounts and promotions on jewelry for children, teens and adults throughout the sale.
“We love the community,” Sima said. “People come by to support us, whether they’re shopping for themselves, their children or their grandchildren. I love making people smile and helping them find something new that makes them feel good.”
She said jewelry offers customers a simple way to refresh their style.
“Fashion changes, clothing doesn’t always fit the same,” she said. “But jewelry is for everyone.”
