2 www.qns.com • QUEENS BUSINESS • APRIL 2016 22 The QUeeNS CoUrier • MARCH 24 , 2016 for breaking news visit www.qns.com ▶business EXPERIENCE SERVICE WITH A SMILE AT BOB COCCIA APPLIANCE AND MATTRESS CENTER bY sUZanne MonteverDi [email protected] @QueensCourier For 40 years and counting, Bob Coccia has provided the community with great service and affordable pricing at the Bob Coccia Appliance and Mattress Center in Bayside Hills. Coccia has been active in the appliance business all his life. Originally from Ozone Park, he started out working on appliance repairs and went on to selling appliances with minor imperfections (also known as “scratch-anddent” appliances) sold at a discounted price. Coccia then opened up Bob Coccia’s Appliance Center, which he proudly declared has recently expanded to selling a wide selection of mattresses. The store is a part of the Intercounty Appliance Corporation, a buying cooperative which allows Coccia and his employees to supply customers with the best price possible. “We are a competitor with the larger stores. People say, ‘How could you compete with P.C. Richards?’ all the time, and I tell them, ‘Any day of the week.’ I know what they pay for the product and I know what I pay for the product. Our buying power is just as strong as their buying power.” Coccia also pointed out that the “big box” appliance stores only offer rebate programs sponsored by the manufacturer. Because of Coccia’s affiliation with Intercounty, he is able to offer customers multiple rebate opportunities for major savings. “We get the manufacturer and the group rebates, which gives us a lot more rebates to give to the customer.” Coccia also proudly declared that the business is sponsored by the NYC Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, and that his business offers special programs and deals for uniformed workers. The store’s immense selection of appliances include electric and gas ovens, microwaves, washers and dryers and dishwashers, as well as televisions and sound systems. As the weather warms and spring approaches, Coccia invites the community to take advantage of several “Early Bird Specials” on select air conditioners and barbecues. Despite the daily struggles of running a small business, Coccia knows his goals for the future. “Keep on going. Keep on selling. I ain’t going anywhere, that’s for sure.” Bob Coccia’s Appliance and Mattress Center is located at 215-03 Horace Harding Expwy. and can be reached at 718- 224-4344. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Business in the NEWS Sculpture Space molds its community through ceramics and more bY brianna ellis Sculpture Space NYC owners Magda Dejose and Andrew Kennedy may be crafty with their fingers, but their hands are closely tied to the art community they serve. “We’re a diverse community that’s very open to proposals and ideas. We’re not landlords. We’re not running a business. We have a personal connection to the work and artists and we treat the space the way we would want to be treated. It’s everybody’s space,” says Dejose. Business in the NEWS Dejose was born in Brazil and moved to Japan, where she practiced print making from age 16. She later developed an interest in ceramics, which became a significant part of her life. The artist describes, “For me, ceramics is very close to my core…It shows the history of humankind and brings beauty in my life. It’s important.” Kennedy started as a painter who studied at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York City. Like Dejose, he later obtained ceramics experience and remarks, “It’s like a sensorial. It’s like you’re touching the material. It’s very hands-on.” Dejose and Kennedy met in 2011 while working on a large-scale pieces exhibition. After encountering space restrictions, they brainstormed ideas to construct a sculpture studio. This collaboration led to the establishment of Sculpture Space NYC, which opened in early 2014. The facility, located in Long Island City, is a not-for-profit ceramics/sculpture center and Dorsky art gallery. The studio offers 4,500 square feet workspace, equipment, art classes, free lectures and other opportunities for members to develop and expose their artwork. Weekly classes include alllevel wheel throwing and hand building, while workshops entail glazing, mold making and slip casting. The twoterm membership lasts eight weeks ($350) and one-term for four weeks ($200). Members have access to equipment, shared space and semiprivate space. Members can also partake in the Artist Residency Program, Sculpture Space’s international initiative that aims to unite emerging artists from the United States and abroad. Participants are encouraged to share their creative energy and knowledge through interactions. The studio provides a spacious and sanitary setting for all artists to work comfortably. Kennedy explains that the clay is stored in a separate room, which minimalizes dust particles. Dejose elaborates, “Our space is totally clean in terms of visual noise. We believe that the environment can influence your state of mind.” Whether you’re an experienced artist or a beginner, there’s a place for everyone at Sculpture Space. Sculpture Space NYC 47-21 35th St., Long Island City 718-806-1709 www.sculpturespacenyc.com
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