By ARIELLA MONTI
This is not the case in Rockville Centre where family businesses are not only prevalent, but thriving. In honor of Father's Day, the Herald took a look at a few local businesses that were founded by the family patriarch.
Happy Hostess
318A Sunrise Hwy.
766-1046
This raw chicken shop turned catering company was founded in 1945 by Benjamin Post. Once called Rockville Centre Poultry Farms, it quickly became one of the only shops that had a rotisserie on site after Post noticed a demand for cooked chicken. As grocery stores began to carry raw chicken, the shop turned to prepared foods and catering. His son Jay, took over the business when he was 18, but his father stayed involved until his death six years ago. Jay's wife, Roberta, also plays an active role in the operations of the business.
Mormile Florist
443 N. Long Beach Road
766-7000
Baker Basil Kakis made a career change when he bought a flower shop from the Mormile family in 1958. He followed the path of his father, Mathew Talis, who could be found on the corner of 55th Street and 6th Ave. in Manhattan manning his flower cart. Kakis's son, Mathew, said that members of the community still remember the N. Long Beach Road location as a chicken and egg farm. He said most aspects of the flower business haven't changed, but flowers are no longer grown on Long Island and most are imported from other countries. Mathew remains a key element at the shop even though his son Bill now owns the company. Expanding the business, Bill bought and reopened Silver Stems on Sunrise Highway as Flowers Off Park. His children come in often and they are excited to follow in the footsteps of their great-great grandfather.
Leder's Jewelers
17 N. Village Ave.
766-5277
Allen Leder knows how to make a business sparkle. After attending Taus, a watchmaking school in New York City, he opened Leder's Jewelers next to his parent's general store in 1948. He took over the space after his father retired in order to expand his business. He continues to run the high-end jewelry store along with his son, Lloyd and his grandson, Ben.
Ruchman Associates Inc.
21 Morris Ave.
764-8330
Steve Ruchman said it was his destiny to be in insurance. After realizing a life in engineering was not his cup of tea, he switched into the business college at Michigan State University. He took an insurance class as an elective and the rest was history. He started with one client and through hard work, long days, mergers and acquisitions, he was able to achieve his success. He was recently given the Professional Insurance Agent of the Year award from the Professional Insurance Agents of New York. His business partners, Marcy and Meryl, are also his daughters. He is especially proud of his girls who began working for him when insurance was a male-dominated industry.
DeBono's Deli
13 N. Village Ave.
764-4431
Jay DeBono has the food business laced into his DNA. His mother, Marie, and father, Nicholas, both came from food families. Marie's family owned an Italian deli while Nicholas was a mess sergeant in the army and worked for his uncle and mentor, who owned a grocery store. Marie and Nicholas opened their own grocery store after they married in 1953. Their business remained unchanged until the arrival of the supermarket when the store began to focus on prepared food. While his father has passed away, his mother can still be found at the deli six days week, baking muffins, and working the counter. Jay and his wife Anne have no children, but consider the deli's employees their
family.
Panty Diner
525 Merrick Road
766-8848
After carpenter Teddy Pagonis came from Greece in the 1940s, he decided to partner up with a couple of people to open a little dining car on Merrick Road. The diner has expanded twice since opening in 1949. His grandson, Tom Mavroudis, took over the family business from his parents in the 1990s and has been running it since. He said the diner still offers customers a place to relax and eat with friends and family just as it did in the beginning.
Palace of Wong
348 Sunrise Hwy.
764-3240
The authentic Chinese family atmosphere has been the key element in the success Palace of Wong has had since it was opened by John and Barbara Wong in 1967. Son, David, said that some of his loyal customers' parents used to frequent the restaurant as children. Not only is it a great place to eat, but the Wong's have made it a great place to work as well. A number of the wait and kitchen staff have been working for the restaurant an average of 25 years. David now runs the business, but his father still holds onto his role at the family eatery.
Barry Athletic
216 Merrick Road
764-7775
In 1934, Harry Feingold opened the athletic shop on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. The company moved east to Rockville Centre in the 1950s and has been bustling since. The hand-painted sign from the original store still hangs in the window. His daughter Joan, took over the business when her father semi-retired in 1978, but said her father had a hand in the business until his death this April.
