The Locust Valley Chamber of Commerce aims to bolster the community by drawing hundreds of shoppers weekly to the neighborhood. Founded over 30 years ago, the organization comprises dozens of small businesses with one common goal: supporting the local economy while maintaining it’s small town aesthetic.
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“Our town is super walkable, so in an afternoon, visitors can pretty much hit most of the shops going from store to store. And many people do just that. It’s great for discovering new items and for spontaneous shopping” said Greg Lanza, the chamber’s vice president.
The chamber, founded in 1993, is supervised by a handful of people who include Lanza and President Anna Villella. According to the website, funding is solely based on donations and membership dues. To keep the membership exclusive, it is limited to businesses with brick and mortar locations within zip code 11560. More than 100 businesses are part of the chamber and range from a chic shopping center, to dentists, auto repair shops and a garden shop, which means that there is a good or service to fit almost anyone’s needs.
Most locations can be found on Birch Hill Road, Forest Avenue and in The Plaza Shoppes.
“We pride ourselves in the efforts that we make in working with the town to beautify it and make it attractive for residents … as well as bringing in visitors” said Lanza. They recently had their center traffic median redone and replanted with new trees and irrigated flower beds thanks to the Town of Oyster Bay.
“We have restaurants serving lunch that are popular and a coffee shop/art gallery”, which he pointed out sells contemporary fine art. “It’s really basically walking the town and just discovering everything Locust Valley has to offer.”
There is much more to do than just getting coffee and lunch, however.
“There are shops for men, women, children, and there’s antique and interior design shops which we are known for. We have a unique kids store that sells great novelties and toys as well as a bookstore that often hosts book signings with notable authors. It’s really your old-fashioned town. It’s the best Long Island shopping east of manhattan and west of the Hamptons. We’ve had many movies and TV series that film here as if it were in the Hamptons, since our proximity to the studios in the city is close. They can film here, commute easily and still get the look of being out east,” he continued.
Some events that happen yearly are the Sale Under the Sun Sidewalk Sale in August, the Holiday Champagne Stroll & Carolers in December and the Annual Car Show in June.
According to Lanza, the Sale Under the Sun, which takes place the first weekend in August is where you’ll find once a year bargains throughout town, while the Champagne Stroll event is for taking in festive windows, meeting merchants, while buying gifts and toasting to the holiday season.
To contact the Locust Valley Chamber of Commerce, call 516 – 637 – 0333. To follow its Instagram, type in @locustvalleyliving and to donate to the beautification fund, visit locustvalleychamberofcommerce.com.
