Cedarhurst ‘madness’ draws 10,000 to Central Avenue

More than 80 Cedarhurst merchants participated in the Business Improvement District’s Black Friday and Midnight Madness weekend sale event, with the largest shopper attendance coming out on Saturday night after Shabbos. 

Cedarhurst BID Executive Director Teri Schure estimated that almost 10,000 shoppers were out on Saturday night alone, starting around 7 pm, with “scores of people still shopping close to midnight.” She gave an example of noticing that at 7:20 p.m. there was a long line of almost 50 people outside of Jildor, waiting for them to open at 8 pm.

At 100% Kids, a women’s and girls’ fashion boutique that sells brands like juicy Couture, Hard Tail and Wildfox, the line at the cash register was at least 10 people deep, wrapping around the racks and seating area in the center of the store, every time one looked. Alexandra Skidell, daughter of store owner Alyssa Rappaport, said the items in back of the store were included in a super sale, marked at 50 percent off discount.

Down the street at Goldmine Jewelers, Howard Chait said that their top-selling item this year was their earrings, with their pendant selection drawing more customer interest up from last year.

Hollyworld custom-made dresses are the big draw this year, according to Infinity owner Holly Green. A Cedarhurst retail staple for 44 years, Green said that her store specializes in the dresses and winter party favors. “Everybody seemed happy, wanting to shop,” she said. “We were busy all week.  I think we did about the same as we did last year. It was a great year for sales for us.”

At Morton’s Army Navy store, Lawrence residents Adam and Joseph Schwartz had fun with their two friends who visited from East Brunswick, Israel Gulko and his brother, Leo, trying on Sesame Street character hats at the front of the store.

According to Schure, the entire weekend event generated significant revenues for the Cedarhurst Village store owners.

“Part of the magic of Midnight Madness was that it was not only a shopping event, but it was also clearly a major social event,” she said. “I met and spoke to people not only from the local community, but shoppers came in droves to Cedarhurst from all over Long Island, Brooklyn, Queens and beyond.” 

Vanessa Parker is a reporter for the Nassau Herald, where a version of this story first appeared.