A Family Furniture Store Thrives in Jackson Heights
By Betti Kobak and Lily Podolsky
For more than 50 years, Stanley’s Furniture has outfitted the neighborhood with beds, desks and dressers. But don’t ask for Stanley. He doesn’t exist.
JACKSON HEIGHTS — Vinny Rubino would never have guessed as a child that he would be the owner of his very own furniture store, Stanley’s Furniture, a staple of the Jackson Heights community. In fact, he had other plans for his future. “When I was younger, no, I wanted to be a lawyer or a doctor,” he said. “That’s when you’re a kid. Things change.” Now, Mr. Rubino enjoys owning his own shop alongside his family, located on the corner of 77th and Roosevelt Ave.
Stanley’s was founded by a group of families in 1951 but was soon taken over by the Rubino family in the ’70s. Despite the definitive store name, there is no one named Stanley behind it. “No meaning,” said Mr. Rubino when asked about the name. Today, Mr. Rubino and his uncle are the official owners. Mr. Rubino, 38, used to work for a big American corporation but realized it was not the position for him. He wanted to get involved with the furniture store because he was drawn to owning his own business.
The store has always been located in Jackson Heights, and that is a reason why he enjoys his job so much. “I love it. Its diverse. It’s fun.” When walking in the store, one can immediately see the absence of space, filled by furniture of all kinds. “For sale” signs can be seen from miles away. Mr. Rubino faces a wide variety of customers of all ethnicities in his store.
As an owner of an independent and local shop, Mr. Rubino understands the struggles of competition. “Everything is online nowadays,” he said. However, that does not interfere with his optimism towards Stanley’s. “We try to know what our pricing should be based off of online stuff, so we try to give our best fair pricing.” Though the internet has a strong impact on business, Mr. Rubino added that he still continues to have an average of 20 to 30 customers a day, which includes individuals from all over New York.
The friendly and welcoming presence the furniture store radiates is what attracts so many customers to Stanley’s. “They have that personal touch that is rare to find in big box stores these days,” an online reviewer of the store said.
Mr. Rubino said that owning one singular store contributes to the satisfaction he leaves his customers coming back with. “I want to give it that personal touch too,” he said. “I can be only one place at one time.”
In terms of the future, Mr. Rubino does not plan on changing the dynamic of his store much. He hopes to keep his business successful, while keeping up with progression of the industry.
“I’m happy with where we are currently, we have to change with the times and all that,” he said. Mr. Rubino hopes to continue working with his family, while permanently working in Jackson Heights. “I like working with family, I like the location, it’s a busy area,” he said. “I wouldn’t change much.”
