After Tisha B’Av, sale time in Cedarhurst

A good business transaction benefits all parties involved and that was an apparent in Cedarhurst for merchants and shoppers alike during the village’s Business Improvement District’s 25th annual summer sidewalk sale last week.

More than 80 shops and restaurants brought their marked down merchandise to the streets and opened their doors to customers along Central and Cedarhurst avenues, on July 17, 18, 19 and for the first time on Sunday, July 21.

“We need the people and the people need us,” said Jerry Cohen, resident of Woodmere and owner of Trees, one of the stores participating in the sale. “People come from all over for three of the busiest days Cedarhurst sees all year.”

Cohen, along with six other merchants, began a sidewalk sale in Cedarhurst 30 years ago. An idea he borrowed from a small town sale in upstate New York.

Sox World Plus, has taken part in the sale for half of its 40-year existence. Owner Alicea Cascio acquired the business from her parents. “The sale allows people to get good bargains and we are able to sell out about 75 percent of our merchandise,” she said.

Hewlett resident Nikki Obshatcko is a lifelong patron of the sidewalk sale who said she enjoys purchasing fashionable merchandise. “I’ve been coming to the sidewalk sale almost my whole life and it is great finding stylish goods that new stores like Jeweler’s Wife have to offer,” she said.

The sale not only looks to bring back long time shoppers from the area, but attract new ones from other communities.

A version of this report, by Jason Brendler and Dana Pearl, appeared in Nassau Herald.