Greater Babylon coverage is funded in part by The Argyle Theatre, where Broadway comes to Babylon. Click here for tickets to ‘A Bronx Tale,’ performing April 25 to June 16.
Christmas is coming early for South Shore Paddleboards.
After a fast-moving fire destroyed her business — and surrounding businesses — in April, South Shore Paddleboards’ owner Karen Vaccaro Marvin announced she is re-opening next week in her original Babylon location.
The re-launch at 258 East Main Street happens Friday, Nov. 23, at 10 a.m.
“It is like a re-birth of my dream,” Marvin told GreaterBabylon on Thursday.
After the flames engulfed her shop, which she opened five years ago, friends set up an online fundraiser to help her pick up the pieces.
And it helped, both financially and with morale.
“It was the most humbling experience ever,” Marvin said.
While South Shore Paddleboards was being rebuilt, Marvin opened a shack at the Long Island Yacht Club to continue to sell her merchandise.
Throughout it all, she says she helped keep the faith in large part because of the encouragement received from the paddleboard community.
“Paddleboard companies from Russia, Panama to Sweden and Japan were all texting me,” she said. “With the outpouring support around the world, I am still in awe.”
Now, she says, her popular paddleboard shop is back and better than ever.
“I lost everything, but I got everything back and did it better,” she said.
For her grand opening, which will run from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., South Shore Paddleboards will be offering giveaways and sales promotions.
For the holiday season, Marvin says she will be open seven days a week, but hasn’t decided on her new hours of operations just yet.
Top: South Shore Paddleboard owner Karen Vaccaro Marvin by her newly rebuilt shop in Babylon Village. (Credit:Facebook.)
prior coverage
Fundraiser started to rebuild South Shore Paddleboards after Babylon fire
South Shore Paddleboards opens shack at Long Island Yacht Club
