Emma Kahle

Originally written for my Intro to Journalism course in November 2022

Although businesses in Rye might struggle at first to be successful, the experience of owning a store in the cozy New York suburb is rewarding. What might have been empty storefronts a few years ago are now mostly filled. Rye’s vibrant atmosphere is most successful when businesses build a loyal client base and have long-term business plans.

Commercial real-estate agent Gena DiDonato has found success and pride in her business endeavors in Rye. “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 the store radiate 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.

The products at Great Stuff are definitely expensive, but Rye resident Liz Kahle is still 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 that poor planning is 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 booksellers into the retail landscape 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 benefit of having a well-established client base in finding success as a business 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 situated outside 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.”