Redford’s Sundance Cinemas to Premiere in Dobbs Ferry, WCA Works to Retain Westchester’s Young Professionals, Chappaqua Entrepreneur Takes a Bite Out of Apple

Revolving Door


People

Ann K. Silver

Ann K. Silver of White Plains, whose listing is featured in this week’s Hot Properties (below), earned the No. 1 sales spot at Rand Commercial Services for 2011. “Silver reached for the gold and got it,” quips Paul Adler, vice president of Rand Commercial. Silver won both the Top Producer and Masters Awards. Silver works in the White Plains office and has experience in all types of commercial property, including office, retail, and industrial. “The majority of commercial brokers are men and we’re living in tough economic times,” she says. “I succeed by giving quality service to everyone. That’s the best way to do business!”

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Adam C. Deutscher, OD, of New Rochelle, who specializes in contact lens fitting, has joined the 11-member team at Eye Designs of Westchester. Eye Designs reports that the number of kids under the age of 18 wearing contact lenses has increased from 15 percent in 2001 to more than 40 percent in 2011.

Adam C. Deutscher

New Businesses, Relocations, and Operations
Hollywood…Sundance…Dobbs Ferry? Robert Redford’s renowned Sundance Cinemas just signed a lease to build and operate an eight-screen cinema at Rivertowns Square, a $150 million, luxury mixed-used development in Dobbs Ferry. It will be the first Sundance Cinema on the East Coast. “Westchester County has a long and rich tradition of supporting the arts, which makes me particularly enthusiastic about our future in this terrific community,” Robert Redford, Sundance Group president, said. Sundance Cinemas Westchester will occupy 32,500 square feet, and will feature reserved stadium seating, food and drink, and an art gallery featuring local artists and concessions. Investment funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management are financing the venture. Lights, camera, Westchester development action!  


One-stop shopping. Check. Why not one-stop doctoring? WestMed Medical Group, which has 200 physicians in 26 specialties at 10 Westchester locations, opened still another full-service office, this one at 171 Huguenot Street in downtown New Rochelle, close to the Trump Tower and the New York Sports Club. The office offers patients the services of approximately 20 primary-care physicians and specialists, plus laboratory services, radiology services, and urgent care.

Kudos

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Peter Romanoff

Thanks to Peter Romanoff of Briarcliff Manor, president of Cross River Network (CRN), billboards now “talk” to Hudson River commuters. Romanoff signed a 10-year agreement with Port Imperial Ferry Corp. (aka NY Waterway), the largest private ferry company in the U.S. CRN is today the exclusive provider of a state-of-the-art digital advertising system at various trans-Hudson terminals. “Digital out-of-home networks are the new frontier for advertisers,” says Romanoff, who,admittedly, is biased. Ray-Ban is one of the first advertisers.


NYC Subway Line of Chappaqua may be a small company but it has big plans. The company recently sold 1,000 laptop cases to Apple and is developing other concepts, including featuring local transit maps on cases in other cities. “Small businesses can sell to big brands, if they are fearless, connected, credible, and have the right strategy,” says president and owner Lynne Lambert. Knowing the right person to speak to in a company, Lambert says, was the key to the deal, which was completed in less than three weeks. Lambert was featured as one of Westchester’s Most Accomplished Women Entrepreneurs in the 2011 Q4 issue of 914INC. A former actress, Lambert had no prior experience before starting the apparel and accessories company.

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Michael Zeldes, senior vice president at Hub International Northeast, serves as president of the Irvington Diversity Foundation (IDF), a nonprofit created in 2011 to raise awareness of harassment and discrimination in local schools and fund programs for teacher training, now mandated by New York State Law. Zeldes is spearheading the nonprofit’s first fundraiser, called Come Together: Irvington Talent Rocks. Among the many volunteers producing a showcase of local dancers, singers, and musicians, including those from the Broadway Training Center of Westchester and Sleepy Hollow Performing Artists, is Westchester resident and professional director David Scott, producer of People’s Court. Zeldes launched IDF to stop the “bureaucratic way bullying was being dealt with” in schools and forged a partnership with Sunnyside Federal Savings and Loan Association, an Irvington bank, to help produce the event on April 21.

 

Biz Buzz

Despite popular wisdom, a recent study by the Business Council of Westchester and Kraft Foods found that most Westchester thirtysomethings do enjoy living in the suburbs, and are not planning to flee for the bright lights of the big city. The study included Westchester residents, employees, and local college upperclassmen—all under age 35. The participants rated White Plains high on nightlife, restaurants, family activities, ease of Manhattan commute, recreation and entertainment, professional networking, and diversity. Other communities that earned high marks from young adults were Katonah and Purchase for the arts, Scarsdale and Rye for schools, Yonkers for the waterfront, and Port Chester for restaurants.


To ensure that young people don’t flee, the Westchester County Association (WCA) recently formed a partnership with Project for Public Spaces (PPS), a national nonprofit, to explore improving the county’s downtowns, civic areas, corporate campuses, and transportation hubs.


Three entrepreneurial 29-year- olds—Matt Fitzpatrick, Sarah Rijos, and Alessandro Albero—recently launched a website and Twitter feed called 914Live, targeted specifically at the 21-40 demographic and featuring fun things to do for the under-40 set. The eye-popping graphics are hardly the usual suburban fare…we’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto!


Hot Properties – 914INC.’s commercial real estate showcase

Property: Corner retail space for sale
67-79 S 3rd Ave
Mount Vernon
Brokered by:
Rand Commercial Services
Ann K. Silver
ann.silver@randcommercial.com

Availability: Retail space in a busy commercial area. The primary tenant (a church) has a three-year lease. Owner would vacate 800 square feet of the 4,500 square feet. There’s metered street parking. Financials are available upon request. Asking price is $647,000, with the possibility of owner financing.
Selling Points: This property is located in downtown Mount Vernon, and is perfect for a user or investor. Great corner location that could be developed.

Downside: Some may not like the urban and eclectic neighborhood.


914 Datebook

TUESDAY, 4/3/2012

Business Networking and Sex, 8:30 – 10 am, Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Tarrytown, 455 S Broadway, Tarrytown – Can you get promoted, close the deal, and get that raise because of your sexual prowess? According to the authors of the new book Business Networking and Sex: Not What You Think, the answer is: yes. However, the explanation, like the book, is not what you think. To register, go to http://events.westchesterny.org/sbaweb/events/events.asp?&id=1&wpid=-101&details=true&cale_id=525&newsession=FALSE&sid=572383086

WEDNESDAY, 4/11/2012
Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation 50th Anniversary Gala, 5:30 – 8:30 pm, Glen Island Harbour Club, New Rochelle – Friends of Westchester County Parks will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation with its 2012 Best Friends Awards reception.  Register at http://www.friendsofwestchesterparks.com/gala.html.

 

The Women’s Enterprise Development Center is hosting a workshop for small business owners on how to brand your business as a green business and adopt green business practices. Called “Green Values: Leveraging Your Business as a Social Change Agent,” the workshop will be held from 6 pm to 8 pm in the Lobby Board Room at 1133 Westchester Avenue in White Plains. The workshop is free but pre-registration is required. To pre-register, go to http://www.wedcbiz.org/events


THURSDAY, 4/12/12
The Westchester Library System (WLS) will hold its 21st Annual Book and Author Luncheon from 11 am to 2:30 pm at Abigail Kirsch at Tappan Hill Mansion in Tarrytown. Tickets are available at http://westchesterlibraries.givezooks.com/events/21st-annual-book-and-author-luncheon

FRIDAY, 4/13/12
The Westchester County Association will host its Political Friday with the bipartisan freshman class of the County Board of Legislators from 8:00 to 9:30 am at Berkeley College at 99 Church Street in White Plains. For more information about this session and upcoming events, go to http://www.westchester.org/article.php?a=108.

THURSDAY, 4/19/12
Business Council of Westchester Hall of Fame Ceremony, 6:30 pm, Glen Island Harbour Club, New Rochelle – The Business Council of Westchester will induct the Class of 2012 to its prestigious Hall of Fame. Tickets may be purchased at http://events.westchesterny.org/sbaweb/events/events.asp?&id=1&wpid=-101&details=true&cale_id=526&newsession=FALSE&sid=572383100.

MONDAY, 6/11/12
Guiding Eyes for the Blind’s 35th Annual Golf Classic, Mount Kisco Country Club, 10 Taylor Rd, Mount Kisco, 8:30 am – 8 pm –  Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning will host this event, featuring some of the best blind golfers in the U.S. Details are at http://www.guidingeyes.org.

Do you have tips, scoop, or gossip concerning business in Westchester? If so, our new INComing blogger, Nancy Shenker, is all ears—please email her at 914incoming@gmail.com

Our Westchester Home Builders Awards take place on April 4!

Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Forum is March 14!

Unveiled: A Boutique Bridal Brunch is February 25!

Our Best of Westchester Elimination Ballot is open through March 6!

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