The Arcade in Greenport Just Might Have It

June 12th, 2008 category: North Fork Neighborhoods, People and Places

Arcade

Profiled this week is a business in Greenport, New York celebrating it’s 80th year in operation.

The ARCADE is known to locals in the area as the “go-to” for just about anything (and more). According to Bob, who has owned the store for seven years, the philosophy of his buying department is to stock anything that a person might find useful. The result of this effort has provided the Arcade with a reputation for having it all- from candy to cotton sheets to candles- and everything in between.

In addition to school supplies, the Arcade offers yard flags, wind chimes, magnets, glasses, clothing, footwear, decorative arts, toys, kitchen appliances, towels, rugs, curtains, dog toys, beach necessities and anything else that might be more difficult to locate.

According to Bob, the most prominent visitors are the summer crowd- a longtime favorite shopping destination, the Arcade has a loyal following from seasonal visitors that call Greenport home.

I recall a similar “five and dime” when I was small, and it was a store that we relished visiting- for children, it’s a step back in time fondly recalled by parents.

These charming stores are becoming a rarity. “There are only a thousand or so remaining nationally”, states Bob, noting that the current climate of rising costs jeopardize the existence of this kind of unique retail offering.

Let’s hope that the Arcade enjoys another 80 years- and congratulations on such a significant birthday!

If you need it, they likely have it- visit the Arcade when you reach Greenport. The Arcade is located on Main street, with ample parking located behind the store.

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 12th, 2008 at 12:50 pm and is filed under North Fork Neighborhoods, People and Places. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

One Response to “The Arcade in Greenport Just Might Have It”

barry Says:
June 13th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
First time I stepped into The Arcade, it was the morning after the night before (thanks a lot for the Wild Turkey shots, Sean!). Through the haze of hangover, I was an eight-year-old kid again, at the Kresgee’s of my youth, in suburban Michigan. “Drug” stores were a lot classier then — middle classier, that is — and “classy” is an appropriate adjective for the people who run The Arcade.

Thanks for bringing attention to this fantastic destination… more than just a store… the L.L. Bean of the east end! I make sure to drop in at The Arcade whenever I’m in Greenport. What a blessing it would be to own a home nearby, and shop there every week!

Barry Fitzsimmons
Darien, CT

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