The East Village Community Coalition recently honored
The Source Unltd Copy Shop with its annual Outstanding Pigeon award for their continued service and commitment to the neighborhood.
Since 1982, the shop at 331 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue has been a go-to spot for copies, office supplies, cards and postcards created by local artists... and some good old-fashioned community spirit.
EVG correspondent Stacie Joy stopped by the cozy storefront to photograph proprietors Santo and Margaret Mollica.
"The East Village is still one of the few places where you can just be, and come across all kinds of people from all over the world," Santo said.
How do they feel about being honored for their 30-plus years in the neighborhood?
"When I was a kid, my old man sat me down and he said, 'Son (cause he used to forget my name sometimes), there are three things that can help you have a good life: One is to have faith in yourself as well as The Lord; two is to hope for the best but be prepared for the worst; and three is to be charitable toward others and they, in turn, would be charitable toward you," Santo said.
"And me and Marg have always tried to live and work by that code," he said. "So it's nice to have it recognized as working."
[
Santo and Margaret with Curtis, who is named for Curtis Mayfield]
