Noisy Neighbors Create Business

By Deirdre Heavey, Fall 2019

While Manhattan College students might make for noisy neighbors, they contribute to the local economy by supporting local Riverdale businesses. Beyond maintaining economic stability in Riverdale, Manhattan College students foster relationships with the employees of their favorite delis and pizzerias.

After three quiet months in Riverdale, Manhattan College students are settled into their dorms and off-campus apartments for the Fall semester. Neighbors might be complaining about the sudden increase in noise, but local business owners are thankful for the rapid increase in

profits. Local restaurant employees, from Goodfella’s Pizzeria and Jaspers Deli, reported that 50-70% of their profits come from Manhattan College students alone.

Several of these delis and pizzerias are family-owned local businesses that have maintained economic stability for decades. According to employees at Jaspers Deli and New Riverdale Gourmet Deli, profits suffer during the summer due to the lack of students on and around campus supporting businesses daily. Without Manhattan College students, they said their businesses would collapse.

There are two blocks surrounding Manhattan College that students frequent for their late-night pizza slice or early-morning bacon, egg and cheese. On Broadway between 242nd Street and Manhattan College Parkway, businesses like Broadway Joe’s, Best Deli and Gourmet Market & Bagel are the go-to spots for underclassmen living on campus.

Luis Porto, the current owner and manager of Broadway Joe’s, has worked at the pizzeria since 1986.

“My father opened Broadway Joe’s in 1969,” Porto said. “We have never had a problem with Manhattan College students.”

In his three decades at Broadway Joe’s, Porto witnessed a change on Broadway between 242nd Street and Manhattan College Parkway..

“It has been quieter here than it used to be,” said Porto. “In the 1980s, it was crazy because there were four bars around here. Now that they’re not here, it’s not as rowdy.”

While Porto has heard the noise level go down, his business has survived because of its proximity to Manhattan College’s campus.

“If Manhattan College wasn’t around, these stores wouldn’t be here,” said Porto. “We live off the college and the high school.”

Like Porto, many employees and owners of local businesses around Manhattan College question how they would remain financially secure without the students. Local entrepreneurs also recognize the economic opportunity of establishing a business around Manhattan College. In August, Manning Assisi, who has worked in the neighborhood since 2000, opened the Broadway MiniMart between 242nd Street and Manhattan College Parkway.

“I know that Manhattan College students are a strong footing for all of the businesses,” said Assisi.

In terms of incentives for opening his store, Assisi said the answer seemed obvious.

“This store was a random luck of the draw,” Assisi said. “I just went with my gut instinct, and I opened the store.”

Since the Fall semester began, Assisi said he has already seen several Manhattan College students entering his store for small candies, energy drinks and healthy snacks. For both an established pizzeria and a new convenient store, Manhattan College students’ regular visits keep the Broadway businesses between 242nd Street and Manhattan College Parkway afloat.

On 238th Street between Waldo Ave. and Greystone Ave., students who live in off-campus apartments frequent businesses such as Goodfellas, Jaspers Deli and New Riverdale Gourmet Deli.

According to Goodfella’s cashier and senior at Manhattan college Billy Simmons, during the semester Manhattan College students create financial security for the businesses on Broadway and on 238th Street. During the summer, he said these same businesses suffer from a lack of student customers.

“Over the summer, the business is very slow when the students aren’t here,” Simmons said. “If it was like that all year round, I don’t know how well we would do. Probably about half of the people coming into the pizzeria are from Manhattan College. I see a lot of the same faces coming in, mainly from Majestic.”

Majestic is an apartment building on the corner of Waldo Ave. and 238th Street. During their junior and senior years, many students from Manhattan College move into Majestic, Overlook Manor or a number of apartments on Greystone Avenue.

Goodfellas is situated across the street from both Majestic and Overlook Manor, making the pizzeria an ideal location for Manhattan College residents to grab a slice between classes.

Jaspers Deli, located just a few steps west on 238th Street, is another Manhattan College staple for midnight sandwiches and early morning smoothies.

According to Washington Owes, a cashier who has worked at Jaspers Deli since it opened in 2006, “70% of our business is from Manhattan College. Manhattan College students are very respectful.”

Owes engages in a friendly relationship with Manhattan College students who frequent the deli. On Saturday nights, Owes and his co-workers can be found cracking jokes with their regular customers.

Located on the corner of 238th Street and Greystone Avenue, New Riverdale Gourmet Deli is another business frequented by students.

As a new employee to New Riverdale, Wadeea Khazendar said he has already established a friendly relationship with the everyday student customers.

“As a matter of fact, I see the same faces every day over and over again,” Khazendar said. “We interact with them, so they become like our friends. They are very respectful people.”

Manhattan College students enter the delis and pizzerias on both Broadway and 238th Street every day. While they enter these stores for convenient food, Manhattan College students keep coming back for the sense of community that these environments create.

Michael Notarbartolo, a junior at Manhattan College, said he is grateful for the service he receives from his favorite deli, Gourmet Market & Bagel.

“I really enjoy going to the deli and feeling like I am a part of the family,” Notarbartolo said. “From knowing my order to asking about school, the treatment I get from the employees is beyond amazing.”

Rachel Runge, also a junior at Manhattan College, said she loves how easy it is to order for favorite sandwich from Jaspers Deli.

“I like that they have all of their sandwich specials, so I can go and get what I like,” Runge said. “I appreciate how friendly they are, and whenever I walk in they know exactly what I want.”

Manhattan College students certainly get noisy from time to time. At the end of the day, however, deli and pizzeria employees said Manhattan College students contribute to their businesses and to a sense of community in Riverdale.