 |
| Rena Monogenis, co-owner of Stoa Jewelry |
The heart of Forest Hills can be found along Austin Street, which was once dotted with both simple and upscale mom and pop shops, reminiscent of a small town. Today, much has changed with the rise of some large corporations, often occupying a few storefronts, but the business district retains its Tudor village and Colonial charm. Nestled between that charm is a gem, where multi-generational patrons come upon a recessed flagstone entryway, sided by tastefully decorated window displays under a rustic wooden sign which reads, “Stoa Jewelry.”
Enter Stoa at 71-60 Austin Street, and
whether you are a longtime or new patron, you will be greeted with a smile and the
amiable demeanor of business owners Marie Sinanian (founder) and Rena Monogenis.
They have been giving their heart to the community for nearly 45 years, by
offering custom-produced jewelry, as well as art from local artists.
Making our way inside, the rustic charm
continues with wood and glass wall and counter displays of custom-made jewelry,
high ceilings bearing accent lights on artwork, a rugged plaster wall finish,
and wood plank floors. Classical music adds to the gallery ambiance.
Customization is a dominant aspect of Stoa’s
mission. “We design every type of jewelry that can be worn, from looks that are
classic to way out there,” said Monogenis.
Jewelry is hand-crafted in sterling silver or gold, among other
materials. Jewelry was originally produced in the back of the shop, but now the
owners sketch the designs by hand and it is custom-made off premise by local
and international artists. She stated, “If you want cufflinks and you have the
design, we can execute the design, but if you want us to design it, we can from
scratch.”
A notable custom-made design is a sterling
silver barbell pendant, where the weight actually fluctuates. A sculptor from
Germany designed a universe-inspired abstract sphere comprised of sterling
silver rings with a single gold bead. It collapses and expands, and can be worn
as a bracelet. Monogenis added, “If you wanted to create your own family crest,
you would tell us what elements are very important to your family, and then we
would design it using symbols.”
Customers
often refer local artists to Stoa, and the owners fulfill their mission to the
community by selling their work, which ranges from classical to abstract. Currently,
paintings from 3 local artists are being offered. Earnings are shared between
Stoa and the artist.
Sinanian
emigrated from Athens, Greece with her family in 1962, and settled in Forest
Hills. Monogenis originated from Manhattan, and at age 8 in 1950, made a move
to Forest Hills. Both are Forest Hills residents to this day. In 1968, Sinanian
began working for her brother-in-law, who once owned Lorilil Jewelers on
Continental Avenue. After learning the business first-hand, she took the
initiative in 1972 to open her own jewelry shop on Austin Street, known as “A
Bit Outre.” Monogenis, then an employee of Chemical Bank, decided to change her
career path not long after befriending Sinanian. She took some jewelry design
classes at the 92nd street Y. Sharing a mutual vision, their
friendship evolved into a business partnership, and on October 2, 1976, they
welcomed their community to Stoa Jewelry.
It may be hard to grasp that the jewelry
business was neither owner’s childhood dream, but now it is their niche.
Monogenis who first envisioned being a clothing designer at an atelier at age
11, attributes part of their success to a balance between their work styles. “I
work more from the heart, whereas Marie works more from the mind,” she
stated.
Stoa was originally situated somewhat
west on Austin Street, in a portion of what is now Victoria’s Secret. Sinanian
coined the business name due to the large recessed storefront’s configuration,
which resembled a portico or arcade in Greek culture. Monogenis explained, “A
stoa was an ancient structure that was long and narrow, had columns and a roof,
and was the town center where markets and meetings took place and people would
sit and think.”
When asked how she felt being one of the
last Austin Street mom and pop shops, she responded, “I feel truly wonderful,
and I must say that after all these years, we have been blessed with wonderful customers
who have become friends.” She then reminisced about yesteryear’s well-known mom
and pop shops in close proximity. They were Buster Brown Shoes, Homestead Gourmet
Shop, Beau Brummel (clothing), Koch and Nord Delicacies, Horn & Hardart, Towne
Shepherd (an influential hair salon), Thorn & Thistle (florist), Ina’s
(millinery shop), and Madeline Begg, which she described as an exquisite dress
shop owned by her neighbor.
Throughout the years, Stoa’s clientele
included notables such as Geraldine Ferraro, former professional tennis player Renée Richards, Dennis Hevesi, and
judges. Within Stoa’s walls, countless memories are harbored relating to the
relationship between the owners and patrons, on the basis of the character of
the owners and that of which extends into their custom-made jewelry. This
contributes to stories ranging from humorous to heart-warming. For example, a
long-standing American craftswoman from Maine named Peggy Johnson, worked with
Stoa to produce a sterling silver necklace with copper and stone accents, and
dangling kitchen pots and utensils as a focal point. Monogenis explained, “A
man came into our shop and purchased it for his wife. When he returned, he said
the rest of his life won’t be the same, since he will never be able to give his
wife another gift that she would enjoy as much.”
A heart-warming story followed. She
explained, “We designed a necklace for a woman who is the mother of the bride,
and based it on the dress she planned to wear at the wedding. She was thrilled,
and thanked us with a photo of her outfit during the wedding.”
As
for younger generations hoping to launch a jewelry and art business, Monogenis
offered some pointers. “Follow your dream. If it is a true love, that will make
your entire life a lot easier. Especially since we are in poor economic times,
start small.” Referring to her experience, she added, “We could have expanded
way back when, but we felt good with this size, which our customers helped
accomplish. I don’t believe that success is measured strictly by money.”
On a Saturday afternoon, 10 year-old local
patron Ian Fried and his mother engaged in conversation with Monogenis. He was impressed
when he learned about Stoa’s custom-made mission. Some items reminded him about
his recent interest in collecting antiques, but only time will tell if it will unfold
into his niche. “It’s my first time here, and it’s a very artistic store,” he
stated. His mother first shopped at Stoa in 1990, and now the younger
generation is being introduced. Fried said, “I always pictured these pieces as
old-fashioned items from the early to mid-industrial revolution, but now this
has given me a whole new light on antiques and how they are made.”
Monogenis attests, “Customers over the years become
the mamas, the papas, and an acquired family,” and added, “They know if they
need a place to sit, rest, and socialize over coffee, they can come to us.”
