A COMMUNITY SPACE In addition to offering many fun products, Jitterbug provides a place to play games and hear music. Americus Mott photos
Jitterbug: fun plus community service
By Americus Mott | Manor Ink
FOR ALL AGES Shop owners Brad Mann and Miriam Rayevsky stock products for every interest. Americus Mott photo
Livingston Manor, NY – You probably didn’t know that Jitterbug, the hamlet’s unique local shop, distributes toys for free to any family that needs a little help come the holidays.
“We have a handful of donors who we work with to collect for the holidays, including with the Calliope-on-Main Foundation. We want local families to know about this and, if anyone needs a little help, to come see us. No questions asked,” explained Miriam Rayevsky. She and her husband Brad Mann co-own Jitterbug Sights & Sounds at 75 Main Street.
“Some people walk in here and think, ‘Oh, it’s a toy store’,” said Mann. But actually, if you walk around, this shop is not just about toys. There are art supplies, music records, games of every kind and level of difficulty, a little art gallery, a sound booth and a place to sit and read. There are also tables and chairs for people to play games. Local students can play for free.
“Fun is what we usually go for,” said Rayevsky. She and Mann came up with the name for the shop by taking turns shouting out possible names. Mann shouted “Jitterbug!” and the name stuck because it sounded like a lot of fun.
Products in the shop appeal to all ages, from rattles to the most difficult puzzles and games, music and art supplies. You may find something new every time you stop in.
Rayevsky and Mann love to strike up conversations with people in the shop, making everyone feel welcome. “We very genuinely want people to feel that this is a community space,” they explained. “This is our community, and we want people to have things to enjoy in it. We can’t solve all the problems, but this is one thing we can do,” Rayevsky said.
Music is an important part of the shop, and Mann especially loves to offer new music. He provides detailed descriptions for customers to review and keeps a mix of oldies in various formats along with new releases. He will also special order recordings for customers.
No purchase is necessary to hang out in the shop. Jitterbug is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit Jitterbug online at instagram.com/jitterbugcatskills.