Window Wonderland in Garden City

By Amy Edel

As we announced in last week's Garden City Life, the Chamber of Commerce has announced the winners of their annual shop window decorating competition. West & Stannish Opticians won the prestigious Toast of the Town award. Nine other shops were awarded for the most holiday spirit, creativity, originality, and visual impact. Representatives from the POAs, members of the Sears visual display staff, a professional artist and a professional photographer all worked together as judges.

Toast of the Town winners from West & Stannish Opticians, Laura Frezza and Helene Venizia Photo by John Ellis Kordes

The other nine winners were Feldis Florist, Fennessy Realty, Garden City Florist, Garden City Properties, Michael's Village Haircutters, John Pastula Real Estate, The Pear Tree, Salon Imperiale, and Things & Stuff. On New Hyde Park Road, Nationwide Insurance was recognized for their Grinch painted mural; Travel Manor was honored for their Mickey Mouse holiday mural; Family Dentistry was recognized for their Garfield mural; Gallery Restaurant was acknowledged for their Peanuts mural; and Applause Dancewear was recognized for their Frosty the Snowman mural.

The competition was initially begun 19-years-ago during the energy crisis to inspire merchants to keep up the holiday spirit for the shoppers and residents. Almost two decades later, the tradition is still maintained and preserves the holiday spirit in the commercial district of the Village. These window displays are accompanied by the red velvet bows throughout the Village, donated this year by Things & Stuff, holiday banners displayed along Franklin Avenue provided by the Village, the Village's lit trees, and the lights on New Hyde Park Road provided by the merchants.

Shoppers, when engaged in conversation with us, all agreed that the decorations made shopping in Garden City feel like a Norman Rockwell holiday scene and were all delighted to see the local merchants contribute to the holiday spirit. One gentleman consumer commented, "When you see the merchants take such pride in their shops and care about the community and their customers like this, you know the area is happier and healthier than some might give it credit for being. Garden City is a landmark community and our avenues were the pride of the Island at one time. With this spirit they will be again." Many shoppers said they felt that this year the holiday shopping must clearly be financially helping everyone in the Village, because as "far as we can see, this has been a bustling shopping season here."