Richard York closing after 97 years

UPDATE: Siegel confirmed Friday, Sept. 6, that the building is under contract to be sold. He expects the sale to close in late October or early November. He declined to name the buyer.

For almost a century, Richard York of Patchogue has been the place Patchoguers went to buy shores.

Whether it was footwear for back-to-school, a wedding, or a prom, Patchoguers knew they could find what they were looking for – and that they’d find a Siegel behind the counter at Richard York.

The family-owned business is one of the oldest in Patchogue. It opened on North Ocean Avenue in 1927 and moved to its current location on South Ocean Avenue in the 1930s.

It survived the Depression, World War II, online shopping, and the COVID-19 pandemic. But it couldn’t outlast the inevitability of time.

Third-generation owner Richard Siegel is retiring and closing the store, which began an everything-must-go liquidation sale on Aug. 29.

Everything’s for sale, including the fixtures, furniture, and even the building itself.

“My family’s been wanting me to retire for a few years but I said no,” Siegel, 70, said. “Now, I’ve gotten older and the time seems right,’

Siegel has worked in the family business for nearly a half-century. He’s logged a lot of weekends at the store which, for years, was open seven days a week. In recent years, that was scaled back to six days a week.

Siegel said retirement will enable him to spend more time with his family, including his four grandchildren, and focus on his hobbies, which include photography, music, gardening, and walking the family dog, Stanley, a mini Goldendoodle, who is featured on the store’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

Siegel’s grandparents, David and Carrie Siegel, opened Richard York in 1927. David liked the name, which reminded him of the names of the grand retail emporiums of New York City of the 1920s.

Richard’s father Robert joined the family business in the 1940s after serving in World War II. Richard joined in 1975.

Lori Belmonte, who with her aunt Lari Fiala owns The Colony Shop, another longtime business in Patchogue, said they often refer customers looking for children’s shoes to Richard York. The footwear store is known for its personal service, Belmonte said.

“When a small retail business closes, it really hits home to me,” Belmonte said. “It’s just a shame.’

Siegel said he expects to “shed a few tears,” when he shuts out the lights for the last time, which he figures will be by late October.

“There are a lot of things I’m going to miss about the business,” Siegel said. “Getting up, going to work, seeing the customers, many of whom have become friends over the years.”