Spring Fling Proves Good for Village Business

The Spring Fling Art and Music Festival and Sidewalk Sale provides a fun weekend for shoppers, but it provides something essential for the merchants--business.

“I definitely make more sales during the festival,” said Barbara Schweitzer, owner of Lavender and Lace Antiques on Deer Park Avenue. “It brings in a crowd, and with a crowd of course you have more sales. Plus, it makes people aware you’re here.”

The antiques store is filled with a variety of interesting items, and Schweitzer was one of the merchants who had her wares set out for the Preview Sale which kicked off the recent three-day event.

The Spring Fling Festival, which combines shopping with live entertainment on the sidewalks of the village, has taken place for the past three years. 

According to Wally Levins, vice president of events for the Babylon Village Chamber of Commerce and owner of Coastal Island Treasures on Deer Park Avenue, “basically, we took a good idea [a sidewalk sale] and expanded upon it.”

The festival sponsors a wide range of musicians, artists and entertainers, including a balloon twister for the kids. The performers are strategically positioned throughout the inverted “T” made by the intersection of Deer Park Avenue with Main Street, which entices visitors to keep strolling from one area to another. And this in turn promotes greater awareness of the many businesses in the village.

This year's event was a first for Janice Discala and Betty Ann Crimi, co-owners of the relatively new Deja Vu on Main who refer to themselves as “treasure hunters.”

“We actually have a wish list inside the store,” said Crimi. “People will tell us they’re searching for something specific, such as a recent customer who needs an artist’s easel. We’re always at estate sales and auctions, so we’re always on the lookout. And sooner or later, we find it. The other day we located a globe for someone within a couple of days of their asking.”

The sidewalk in front of Deja Vu did look like a treasure chest during the event, and it even had a real chest--a Lane trunk in mint condition. Surrounding the trunk were racks of vintage clothing, tables with pocketbooks and jewelry, and frames featuring black-and-white antique portraiture of unknown but intriguing people.

“It’s so interesting to look at these old photos and wonder what kind of lives these people led,” mused Discala.

Also on display (see photo gallery) was a crowd-stopping bright yellow blues guitar. 

“I acquired this in 2001 at the Riverhead Blues Festival,” explained Discala. “It’s never been used and I’m ready to part with it. We’ll see if it sells.”

As of the last day of the event, the guitar had drawn a lot of looks and inquiries, but no buyer.

But Discala and Crimi were upbeat and happy anyway. “We sold lots of other things and had a terrific weekend,” said Crimi.

At Solo Vino, the wine shop on Deer Park Avenue, owner Massimiliano Gargiulo echoed their sentiments.

“It was great fun, great to see people from the neighborhood wine tasting all day long, and I made good sales of the Pino Grigio and Pino Noir.”

Ted Rajczewski, a manager at Lo-Man Outdoor Store, said, “the festival included more things this year, and there was lots more [people] traffic.”

Echoing the other merchants’ positive views, Regina Jacoby, owner of Rubber Sole Running Company on Deer Park Avenue ran with an idea of her own: “They should do this every Saturday all summer long, and call it ‘Summer Sidewalk Saturdays.'”