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by Jennifer Rock and Jason Buono
October 1, 2009

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Jennifer Rock and Jason Buono both grew up and met each other in New Rochelle. Their families and many of their friends also live in New Rochelle. Jennifer returned to her alma mater as a teacher at the New Rochelle Middle School while Jason became one of New Rochelle’s finest, a detective with the New Rochelle Police Department. When Jennifer needed window treatments for her new condo she of course headed to Main Street and the Curtain Shop . Given her and Jason’s New Rochelle roots and work, when they walk along Main Street they always meet people they know.

As lifelong residents we have always known about the Curtain Shop but it was only with my new condo that I was able to really take advantage of their full selection of window treatments and draperies. I had been looking all over for blinds that pulled down from the top, rather than up from the bottom, since I needed privacy but did not want to lose the light. At the Curtain Shop we were impressed with the range of choices and pleased with the prices and quality. For example we discovered that they are a Hunter Douglas Showcase Dealer and have three installers on staff, two of them certified by Hunter Douglas. When we learned that, we knew that we were in competent hands.

It just got better. Louis Vaccaro, one of the owners, walked us through the entire process: assessing our needs, offering solutions, working with my budget and color schemes. Of course they had what I was looking for and in a variety of styles and colors with all the necessary hardware. He even offered to have one of his certified installers come to my home to measure and, when ready, install the window treatment. 

This is the kind of service that reminds me of an easier time when customer service was the focus of all retailers.  In fact, as we wandered around the store, we realized that the Curtain Shop really is, in many ways, an old-fashioned General Store. Besides window treatments and draperies, they have full bed and bath departments, a linen department, pillows, table cloths and almost anything you can think of for the home.  Their offerings are so extensive that they have a web site www.CURTAINSHOP.com for those who need what they offer but are not so fortunate to live in New Rochelle.

And then we discovered the second floor. It is filled with dishes and glassware, pots and pans, small appliances such as toasters and irons and blenders; and that was just the beginning.  There were dish drainers, colanders, clocks, picture frames, hangers, coffee pots, and even a full assortment of yarn. If you need something for your home, I am sure you will find it in this 6,000 square foot store.

On our way out Louis Vaccaro told us about the history of the building . Built in 1897 as “The Arcade Building”, it originally was an entertainment emporium with a billiard hall, gymnasium, shops, bowling alleys and a roof top garden. The Curtain Shop was established in 1976 and in 1997 to celebrate its 20th anniversary as an anchor store on Main Street, working with the BID Facade Program, an unattractive facade was removed revealing two stories of incredible arched windows and detailed terracotta relief work that had been hidden since the 1960’s.
There is so much to discover at and about the Curtain Shop. It’s worth a visit. As I furnish my new condo I will be visiting it...frequently.