THE QUEENS
Photo: Angélica Acevedo/QNS
City recognizes two business for more
than 100 years of service in Queens
BY ANGÉLICA ACEVEDO
aacevedo@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Th e Department of Small Business
Services (SBS) celebrated citywide businesses
with more than 100 years of service
last month, two of which are based
in Queens: Long Island City’s Sussman-
Automatic Corp. and Jamaica’s Bellitte
Bicycles.
“Small businesses are the economic
engine of New York City, and each of
you, in your own way have contributed
to building better neighborhoods,” SBS
Commissioner Gregg Bishop said at the
Feb. 27 event. “It’s our priority to get businesses
the support and resources they
need to thrive and grow so that we can
celebrate their centennial anniversaries
like the businesses we celebrated today.”
Bishop said it’s important to celebrate
these businesses for their work, as many
others don’t make it past fi ve years.
All fi ve Chambers of Commerce and the
Jamaica Center Business Improvement
District nominated two historic businesses
within their boroughs, which amounts
to 10 businesses. Th ey all received Mayoral
certifi cates of recognition, honoring their
legacy and longevity.
But they didn’t just receive recognition
— the SBS will also provide free advertising
on the digital LinkNYC kiosks across
the city as well as a social media campaign
throughout the month of May.
NYC & Company, the city’s offi cial
tourism and marketing agency, is providing
a one-year complimentary membership
to each centennial business.
Although Sussman-Automatic Corp.
and Bellitte Bicycles weren’t able to attend
the event, they told QNS they were glad to
be recognized by the city.
“Th e old saying goes, if you can make
it here, you can make it anywhere,” Regis
Wu, fi nancial controller at Sussman-
Automatic Corp., said. “Sussman-
Automatic ‘made it here’
for over 100 years. Th at
alone has to mean a lot.
And most certainly, the
stuff we sell, we made
it here.”
Sussman-Automatic,
which operates under the
brand “mr.steam”
and is located
on 4320
34th Street,
began manufacturing
steam irons
for the garment
industry
103
years ago.
But as the
g a rme n t
industry in
New York City
began to dwindle,
so did their
business. But in
1960, Sussman-
A u t oma t i c
had what Wu
called a “eureka
moment” and reinvented their business
to become one of the leading manufacturers
of steam generators for steam
rooms.
“Fast forward 60 years, we are still making
it right here in New York City,” Wu
said.
Bellitte Bicycles, located on 169-20
Jamaica Ave., is a 102-year-old Queens
staple and the oldest bike store in the
United States. Th e family business was
created by Sicilian immigrant Salvatore
“Sam” Bellitte and is now run by his
grandson, Sal Bellitte.
Like Sussman-Automatic, Bellitte
Bicycles also weathered tough times.
During WWII, they found it
diffi cult to off er new bikes
due to wartime rationing,
but Sal’s sons made it
possible anyway. Th en,
the 1970’s fi tness craze
and oil crisis brought
the “bicycle golden
age.” In 2020, the
store maintains its
original charm and
exemplary customer
service.
Jennifer Furioli,
executive director
of the Jamaica
Center
Business Improvement District, said
Bellitte Bicycles is “the true defi nition
of a small business and has been a go to
for bicycle enthusiasts throughout NYC’s
great history.”
“Th e charm and customer service that
existed in 1918 when Bellitte’s fi rst opened
still exists today when you visit the shop,”
Furioli said. “We are proud to nominate
Bellitte Bikes for recognition for over 100
years of business in Downtown Jamaica
and the contributions the shop has made to
our community and the City of New York.”
Th e SBS also recognized 122-year-old
Sahadi and 100-year-old Deno’s Wonder
Wheel in Coney Island in Brooklyn;
105-year-old Teitel Brothers and
101-year-old Mario’s Restaurant in the
Bronx; 106-year-old Russ & Daughters
and 111-year-old Eneslow Shoes &
Orthotics in Manhattan; and 142-yearold
Holtermann’s Bakery and 109-yearold
Supreme Chocolatier in Staten Island.
Bishop encourages businesses to reach
out to SBS for assistance, as they strive to
provide free services for the small businesses
in the city, many of whom have
been struggling for some time now.
“Th e mayor announced a couple of new
initiatives that we have been advocating
for,” Bishop said. “We’re looking at ways
to reduce expenses and we’re reducing the
regulatory burden.”
Bishop said Mayor Bill de Blasio’s
administration has reduced fi nes more
than 40 percent, and will reduce it by 50
percent by the end of this term.
For more information about SBS services,
visit nyc.gov/sbs or call 311.
The Department of Small Business Services (SBS) celebrated citywide businesses with more than 100 years of service on Feb. 27.
MARCH 2020
Gregg Bishop
link
/sbs
link
