The second installment (see the first installment here) of our Holiday Gift Guide turns the spotlight on those businesses and their owners who offer personal touches, literally and figuratively. Their passion for creating is evident in the care they take for merchandising what they have created. A few of the small retail businesses we’ve featured have been in existence for a year while others have been part of the fabric of the downtown for 30 years. One proprietor has been a steady presence since 1972. All offer something truly unique.
Peekskill’s small businesses in the spotlight
Julie Overskei proprietor of JO’s Body Shop at 906 South Street.
Customers at JO’s Body Shop browsing some of the jewelry and other special items. You might be surprised to find exactly what you have always been looking for at JO’s Body Shop.
The uniquely healing space is a place to be comfortable, read, and learn about stones and crystals. In addition, there are assorted oil blends to heal physical or emotional needs.
National Association of Letter Carriers, 6 N. Division St. A fixture on North Division Street for decades, the window acts as a mini-museum documenting the history of the postal service and letter carriers. Richard Montesarchio, president of the union, is the ‘curator’ of the window display.
Peekskill Clay Studios at The Hat Factory 1000 N. Division Street. Roger Baumann is a 45 year sculptor and ceramic artist. He teaches a Wheel Basics class for beginners.
Baumann pictured here with students from his class. He encourages a creative environment at the Clay Studio for all skill levels. Standing, left to right are students Alley O’Farrell, Amy Peters, Zulema Dath, MJ Batchelor (Ann Maugeri-not in group photo). This weekend is the Clay Studio’s Winter Market from 11 to 4 on Saturday and Sunday.
Proprietor Sunny Cover (left) with Deputy Mayor Patricia Riley at Peekskill Coffee House 20th anniversary celebration in November.
Fans of the Coffee House can purchase merchandise including new 20th anniversary hoodies in ivory and tan along with mugs, coffee and magnets.
Quirk Shop 23 N. Division St. Proprietor Jeorjia Shea, pictured with daughter Amelia, opened her shop in 2015. She features ‘wearable art to love and live in.’
Jeorjia creates mostly handmade clothing upcycling/repurposing garments and specializing in cashmere clothes made in her shop. She also handles clothing creations and vintage jewelry by other artists.
SCOTT CAMERA 12 S. Division St. Proprietor Howard Copland has been at this location since 1972. He offers expert care and advice in the art of photography from film to digital. His old world style camera shop offers film processing, studio photography and camera repair.
Stark Vintage 925 South St. Proprietor Michael Stark opened his shop in May of 2021.
Stark Vintage offers shared memories and nostalgia from the mid-80s to early 2000s in clothing.
His second and third floor space provides a welcoming and comfortable environment.
The Lounge House 922 Main St. Proprietors Lia Cagliostro and Maggie Winfield opened their boutique two Novembers ago.
In the bright and spacious space shoppers will find curated gifts, clothing and soy candles made in the shop’s studio which also serves as a location for candle making classes.
Third Eye Art Studio & Gallery 201 S. Division St. is owned by Nadine Gordon Taylor. who has been creating art for 24 years in Peekskill including five years at her current location. Entering Nadine’s shop becomes a mystical and magical experience.
She is the creator of the Oracle decks of cards that contain heartfelt and life-changing messages. The card decks contain Nadine’s intuitive drawings and paintings with powerful messages for personal growth. Many of the images on the decks are available for purchase as prints and greeting cards.
Whadafunk 901 South St. Brothers Anthony (left) and John Gutierrez at the Peekskill Arts Alliance pop-up holiday market last weekend.
The limited edition clothing company features streetwear drawn by John Gutierrez who then hand screens each piece. The clothing is available at pop up events and online at whadafunk.net
Yojary Nails 901 Main Street Yojary Rosa celebrated her first anniversary in business this past September. An immigrant from Guatemala,Yojary said the store is her “dream-come-true.”
Her salon offers specials in addition to regular treatments such as nail design in acrylic, polygel for firm long nails, dipping powder for natural nails along with pedicures.
December 7, 2023
About the Contributor
Regina Clarkin, Editor and Publisher
When the Peekskill Herald weekly newspaper ceased publishing in August 2000 it was the first time in the history of the city that there wasn’t a local newspaper. The award-winning weekly was often referred to as the ‘glue’ of the community. Founded on January 9, 1986 by Regina Clarkin, Kathy Daley and Rich Zahradnik with a $7,000 credit card line, the paper filled the void created when the daily Evening Star was sold to Gannett and moved out of town.
Founding publisher Regina Clarkin continued to live in the Peekskill Cortlandt area and turned her attention to other life endeavors. Through the ensuing 19 years, Clarkin was frequently stopped in town and asked when she would start up the Herald again.
In January 2019, Clarkin decided it was less labor intensive to deliver a weekly blog than a print newspaper so she began posting one story a week about life in Peekskill. After a successful crowd funding campaign in 2020, the Herald was incorporated as a non-profit corporation in July of 2021. Peekskill Herald is a digital relative of the former print edition, featuring many of the favorite aspects of the beloved Peekskill Herald such as old pictures, personality profiles and well written stories about newsworthy events.
Regina Clarkin is the editor and publisher of the site.
Photo by Joe Squillante