In a time when big-box stores are everywhere and online shopping is as second nature as breathing, the North Fork is still a destination for mom-and-pop businesses.
We’re very lucky to live, work and play in a region where chains and franchises are sparse, families have owned the same business for generations and staying “local” is still valued. This issue is all about celebrating those family businesses, both big and small, and learning their stories.
One of my favorite places to go for a quick bite for breakfast or lunch is Cutchogue Diner. Open seven days, this small-but-mighty stop on Main Road is a throwback to a simpler time in many ways, from its classic look to its menu, which has largely stayed the same for more than 30 years. I had a lovely time interviewing John Touhey and the folks who keep the Cutchogue Diner humming and found that it’s a family business in more ways than one.
If you’ve driven down Sound Avenue in Riverhead and stopped at a farm stand, chances are you’ve been to Schmitt’s Farm Stand on Sound Avenue. Owned and operated by the Schmitt family for more than 100 years, this friendly farm stand has a variety of produce, baked goods and something very special in oyster-loving culture — horseradish! — on offer. Staffer Nicole Wagner spent time with the Schmitt family and learned all about the generations-old farm, the family’s horseradish traditions and more.
Preston’s Chandlery in Greenport is one of the oldest businesses on the North Fork, and its prominent location on the waterfront makes it a popular shop for marine lovers. Open all year, Preston’s has been owned by the Rowsom family for over five decades, and contributor Charity Robey met with the Rowsom brothers (and their sweet dogs, Calypso and Skippy) for an in-depth chat about the history of the iconic Greenport mainstay.
Have you ever stopped and thought about where some “everyday” necessities come from? I’ll admit that when I pick up bags of ice for parties or events, I rarely look at the label to see where it comes from. It turns out that Long Island Ice & Fuel, a highly successful ice producer and distributor, is a family business run in Riverhead and has a compelling and fascinating history. After you read Robey’s story, you’ll never look at those giant bags of ice the same way!
There are plenty of other mom-and-pop delights to enjoy in this issue, as well. Editor-in-chief, Amy Zavatto — who grew up slicing cold cuts in her dad’s deli/butcher shop on Shelter Island — explored the North Fork’s many delis and learned all about the people who run them. We spoke with Jocelyn Maningo Kaleita, who owns A Book Place Boutique in Riverhead, a burgeoning Riverhead hotspot for book lovers, to get her reading picks for the month. Maningo Kaleita has only owned A Book Place for a few years, but we hope that with the love she’s put into it, the store will be in Riverhead for a long time.
Elsewhere in this month’s edition of Northforker, contributor Victoria Caruso enjoyed authentic Salvadoran cuisine at Lucia in Mattituck. She also explored the Enoteca, a hidden gem of an Italian specialty shop nestled inside Terra Vite Vineyard in Jamesport.
We always encourage our readers to do things locally — shop, eat, drink, explore — and this issue is a celebration of the people that make “local” possible. Whether you’re having a slice of homemade pie at the Cutchogue Diner or grabbing a giant bag of ice to put in your cooler for a house party or fishing trip, I hope you’ll come away from this issue with a new appreciation for the people who make it all happen.
Lee Meyer
Managing Editor
