STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — One door closes and another opens. Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together. Things happen for a reason.
The cliches might well be true. But the upshot from the creators of such adages: it’s important to look on the bright side, especially when life seems uncertain or generally perplexing like it has, so far, in this weird and wacky 2020.
As we continue to cover the dismal world of restaurant and small business closures, there have to be rays of light, right? Otherwise we could go mad.
Pro-boxing trainer and analyst Teddy Atlas was a customer of Susan's. She made sure he penned his autograph. (Courtesy of Susan Juan)
So it’s encouraging to hear ice cream scooper Susan Juan reflect on things. The Baskin Robbins storeowner will be closing her store on Oct. 30, a casualty of a changed economy and shifted customer business patterns courtesy of COVID-19. Last week, in between delivering the news to customers, she shared the importance of properly handling ice cream.
“It’s so delicate,” she said. “It has to be at just the right temperature.”
Susan Juan is closing her Baskin Robbins in Castleton Corners at the end of the month. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)
It has to be soft and fresh and the refrigerated display case has to be kept meticulously clean. There’s a whole process of doing that, she said. And it involves juggling freezer space and being fastidious about the cleaning crevices in the machinery.
This kind of talk only comes from someone who loves their job and the people whom she serves.
Former Borough President Jim Molinaro paid Susan a visit at her Victory Boulevard store. (Courtesy of Susan Juan)
Susan also said, “In different stages of life there are different needs. God has a plan for everything. I just represented one small business that closed. There’s are a lot more businesses that we don’t hear about
“Everybody’s sad, emotional,” said Sue.
One loyal customer, Rubin, wrote to the Advance last week to share the sad news about Susan. He noted, “The store opened in 1973. The current owner, Susan, has owned the store since 2012. Another victim of the pandemic and surely not the last.”
He lamented, “Some say that at the end of this economic catastrophe there will be opportunities. I guess that may be true. However that will have occurred at a terrible emotional cost.”
Susan’s made some good friends along the way. She served Kara Duffy Fassrainer’s clan for years. It prompted her to write a note on behalf of her family.
She wrote, “You will be missed terribly. We have loved and appreciated every scoop and always being greeted by your big smile.”
Another fan penned her compliments and sweet sentiment, “You will never know the comfort you provided to my mother and I making the delicious milk shakes...You have a very positive impact on many lives.”
Said Dr. Sylvia Clark, “Here’s the scoop: Sweet Sue, we’ll miss you.”
'Til their paths cross again, yet another wrote, “As my mother always said, ‘This, too, shall pass.’”
Susan Juan, left, and birthday girl Dr. Sylvia Clark in 2019. (Courtesy of Dr. Sylvia Clark)
Maybe we are all a little closer together thanks to the pandemic. It certainly drives home the point that Staten Island is a great big small town, something in which to take comfort. And if we’re not blood-related somehow there’s always six degrees of food service people between us.
See? No rain, no rainbows.
Keep in touch.
Pamela Silvestri is Advance Food Editor. She can be reached at silvestri@siadvance.com.
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