The Biz Brothers

As soon as Dan and Shaun Dougherty sit down, they start reminiscing. The brothers come from a large family — they are two of nine — so there were few times when they were growing up that everyone gathered at one table. It’s still a rarity to see the two together even though they are business partners. Their farm-to-table New American Cuisine restaurant, Crescent Grill, has been open for a year and a half, and it keeps them too busy to socialize. Crescent Grill opened in the summer…

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The Team Player

The first thing you see when you enter Pete Silletti‘s office is the company logo. If you don’t recognize the “you’re in good hands” corporate art, it is spelled out in huge, shiny silver letters: Allstate. Pete owns the Allstate office on 23rd Avenue. Pete’s profession is about helping people in need. He sells auto, home, life and business insurance. What he likes to think of as peace of mind. Clients only contact him when disaster strikes — the car crashes,…

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The Re-Rooted Florists

There’s not enough room in Teddy’s Florist for the plants and the people, so George Stelios starts moving the flowers to the street. George has always been in the flower business. He apologizes for the inconvenience. For three decades, he had worked in a much larger and more prominent space. Teddy’s Florist, which sold its first bouquet in 1922, was a 31st Street landmark even when he and his sister, Clare Petropoulos, bought it in 1984. Before buying Teddy’s, Clare worked…

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The Tree Santa

Up against the snow-white fence, there’s a pile of Christmas trees, trussed up like Thanksgiving turkeys. Harry started NYCtrees.com last season. In the opposite corner of the mini-backyard, there’s a box full of table-top trees, their tender emerald needles reaching toward the holiday sky. They are hemmed in by stacks and stacks of evergreens everywhere, everywhere, everywhere. NYCtrees.com is based on 21st Street. Standing in the center of this forest of Fraser firs is Harry DeLucia,…

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The Man in Transition

There’s nothing ordinary about Clay Nelms‘ story. So don’t let the stereotypical musical-style synopsis fool you: Small-town boy with big-city dreams comes to New York because he’s gotta sing and dance. Clay Nelms was Broadway bound. Spoiler: Clay didn’t make it big — or small — on Broadway. Don’t let that get you down; he doesn’t. What he ended up doing is far more interesting and surprising, even to himself. Clay, a towering tenor who talks…

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