Beach Walks Inspire Business – It Was Kismet.
In our close-knit town, nothing goes unnoticed. When wooden flower boxes suddenly adorned the building at the corner of 91st street this summer, my curiosity was piqued. I needed to find out more. I entered through the side door and was greeted by the soothing, soft scent of incense. I smiled when I discovered this was a new brick and mortar boutique, housing beautiful, hand-crafted offerings.
The flower box signaled care and commitment, telling signs, to the larger story…
Last year, Rockaway resident Nicole Dubensky opened Kismet. A cozy shop with a selection of curated maker items – jewelry, stones, candles, ceramics, hand-drawn note cards, purses, and other bespoke items. Jewelry is the focal point of the boutique. The line featured is Sweetpeas & Gypsies, handmade by Nicole. The front-facing space is retail. The back half is Nicole’s silversmith studio where she welds silver and gold, some embellished with stones and all creatively made with intention and devotion. The open layout provides a unique peek into the process of jewelry-making, where you can envision the pieces from inception to showroom.
Kismet is women-owned and operated by Rockaway resident Nicole Dubensky. Support her artistry and our other local businesses on Small Business Saturday, Nov.24.
After Nicole Dubensky completed her studies at SUNY Cortland in 2010, she discovered her passion for silversmithing upon relocating to Puerto Rico. It was a time to reflect on her next steps. Those steps lead her to the shoreline, where she’d comb the beaches collecting shells and sea glass. Nicole found inspiration in the nature surrounding her and in the rich culture of artisans she befriended in Puerto Rico. Nicole began exploring the art of jewelry-making, using the shells and stones she collected from her daily beach walks. Before long, she became consumed by the possibilities of creative expression. During her returns to Rockaway, compliments poured in from friends, family, and colleagues who admired the jewelry she made and wore. In response to the growing interest, Nicole’s life path and vision became clear. It was Kismet.
Join Nicole on Small Business Saturday (Nov. 25) for Kismet’s One Year Anniversary Party and an intimate, personal shopping experience. Products not to miss at this sip and shop event: a new selection of 14k gold jewelry, giftables: local artisan-made candles, knits, soaps, and luxury hair and skin care items. Nicole will be happy to answer questions about her craft and Kismet’s new custom order service for special occasions. Trending now is permanent jewelry. Find out more about that offering on Saturday and sign up for workshops at the studio.
Shopping small is vital to Rockaway’s economic growth. Supporting our independent businesses contributes directly to our neighborhood’s prosperity and maintains our unique and diverse artist culture. Please consider this as you make purchases this holiday season.
Kismet is located at, 90-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd. Shop hours: Thursday- Sunday 11am-6pm. Follow Kismet on Instagram to keep up-to-date on new products and workshops – @kismet_rockaway. Visit the website for more information and online shopping: sweetpeasandgypsies.com.
