These are several photographs taken by Chris Mellides during his coverage of the March of the Dead in East Setauket. The march and corresponding vigil were held in remembrance of those soldiers and civilians who lost their lives in the Iraq War and marked the eight years that passed since the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003. The event took place on March 19, 2011 and was reported on for the Three Village Patch.
Coin Galleries of Oyster Bay recently opened its doors to residents at its newest location in East Setauket’s Three Village Shopping Center, prompting varied reactions from those unfamiliar with the business.
Since the launch of its first storefront in the village of Oyster Bay in 1999, Coin Galleries has offered customers item appraisals and gives them a chance to purchase, among other things, authentic music and sports memorabilia.
“We appraise a variety of items that people may have in their houses and are not quite sure what they’re worth,” said Lloyd Levine, manager of Coin Galleries. “Whether it’s sports memorabilia, historical documents, coins, stamps or paper money, we offer an appraisal service, and if they’re interested, we can buy these items from them.”
The East Setauket shop will be the fifth Coin Galleries location on Long Island and the second in Suffolk County, next to the Huntington Station outlet. Coin Galleries broke ground in East Setauket because it was both an affluent area and a perfect fit for the company, according to Levine.
Even with a clear company message, a marketing campaign featuring television and print advertisements and a solid endorsement by former New York Met Keith Hernandez, some town residents like Melissa Bishop, 50, still expressed a hint of concern.
“If it’s a legitimate business, I don’t have a problem with it,” Bishop said. “But if it’s a pawn shop that will bring unsavory characters to the area, I’m not for it.”
Levine said he knew the owners of Coin Galleries of Oyster Bay for several years before becoming manager of their East Setauket store roughly two months ago. He firmly believes in the fairness and integrity of the company.
“We’re an honest business and we wouldn’t be around for 11 years if we were anything other than that,” said Levine.
Kamil Galka, a 22-year-old manager at the Verizon Wireless store adjacent to Coin Galleries, expressed little concern about working side-by-side with the appraisal company.
“I wouldn’t consider it [Coin Galleries] to be a pawn shop. People around here have a lot of stuff they’re willing to sell,” said Galka. “I think that they’ll do well here.”
Coin Galleries had a soft opening on Sept. 20 with plans for an official grand opening in the coming weeks. However, the shop is currently stocked with changing inventory and open to customers looking for appraisals or gifts for family and friends.