As you all probably know I live in a small town on Long Island. The population of this town, Malverne is about 8,934. According to the 2000 census there are 92 percent White people living in Malverne, so as you can tell I’m part of a small minority. Even though the neighborhood is not so diverse it is a very friendly place to live. It was a bit of a culture shock to me when I moved there two years ago from the South Bronx. People in this town make eye contact and say “hi” to each other unlike my previous neighborhood. Everyday I find myself adjusting to it a little bit more and even though I love the hustle and bustle of this city I am starting to enjoy the intimacy of a small neighborhood. Due to the small population there is not many shops to purchase goods. Malverne isn’t allowed to have any franchise owned companies within it so there are only small businesses. The town has about five or six small blocks filled with places to eat, get your dry cleaning, go to the pharmacy, check out if your dog is healthy, get your hair done, get your toes done, send your mail, and get your groceries.
I took a picture of this block because it is the closest block to me and I usually find myself too lethargic to walk up another block. This block has a “Cork and Board” on the far left end. Almost every Saturday Night you can hear the town’s people having a good time drinking and laughing. In this photograph you can’t see it very well due to the street sign blocking it. To the right of that is a pharmacy entitled “Norman Drugs”, it is the only pharmacy in the town. Even though Malverne does not allow franchise companies the neighboring town, Lynbrook, does. Just incase a Malverne resident wants their prescription drugs from CVS they can just drive a few blocks down and get the service they desire. Next to the pharmacy is a Chinese take out place named “Hunan Garden”. After you pass “Hunan Garden” you can smell the delicious baked goods in “Malverne Pastry Shop”. There are two females who work there and they make the most appetizing cakes even though they are usually closed on the most random days the neighborhood still appreciates them. To the right of the “Malverne Pastry Shop” there is the “Malverne Delicatessen”. It has a bright red sign hanging off the building. The delicatessen makes sandwiches and have pre-made meals among other provisions. These tasty subs have Malverne residents coming back frequently. The window on the shop is painted with various appealing foods. The last shop on this block to the right is “Wine & Spirits”. I don’t know much about this store since sadly I’m not of legal drinking age yet.
Above the strip of “Hunan Garden” through “Wine & Spirits” there are Windows. I am not sure what their purpose is but seeing that there are no apartment buildings in Malverne I believe that they are simply the upstairs to these shops. Although Malverne does not have commercial shops their small business are still productive and affluent.
http://www.malvernenyus.com/all-community/blogs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malverne
