Cedarhurst shopping spree raffle winner gets the call

After the Cedarhurst Business Improvement District picked Rita Levenson’s name for the $1,000 Shopping Spree raffle from the 23rd annual Sidewalk Sale at their July 25 meeting, Executive Director Teri Schure called Levenson the following day and became worried when she did not call back right away to claim her prize.

“I didn’t want to give up right away so I decided to give her until the 27th to call back,” Shure said.

Fortunately, Levenson returned the call but could not grasp that she won. “I didn’t believe it,” she said. “I said, ‘you’ve got to be kidding.’”

Shure and Owners Orna and Eitan Shoshan of Orly on Central Avenue, where the winning ticket was picked, gathered together on Aug. 10 to present Levenson, who was joined by her granddaughters Rivka and Rachel of Manhattan, with the vouchers to begin her shopping spree.

Levenson, a Far Rockaway resident, has been shopping in Cedarhurst for the past 40 years. On the day of the Sidewalk Sale, she decided to go into Orly to buy something for her granddaughter, who lives in Florida, and while in the store she submitted her fourth and final raffle ticket.

“My granddaughter said ‘grandma you already turned in three tickets,’” Levenson said. “But I said, ‘so let’s make it four,’ so she filled out the ticket for me.”

In honor of her granddaughter filling out the winning ticket, Levenson purchased some clothing for her and upon receiving the Shopping Spree vouchers, she handed some to Rivka and Rachel.

“We’re here to make sure she treats herself to something,” Rachel said.

Orna and Eitan of Orly, a women’s clothing and accessories store, said they are very happy to have the winner of the raffle picked from their store and that they enjoy participating in the Sidewalk Sale. “We had a nice turnout this year and many customers were introduced to the store,” Orna said. “I love seeing the smiles on people’s faces when they get a great deal.”

According to Shure, 33 merchants including Dimples, Cover Girl Clothing and Bolton’s participated in the shopping spree raffle. She also said this was the first time the BID decided to hold a raffle on the day of the Sidewalk Sale and they plan to have two raffles for Black Friday and another one for next year’s Sidewalk Sale.

“We had a huge turnout for the Sidewalk Sale and estimate that there were about 17,000 people in Cedarhurst during the three days,” Schure said. “We decided to do the raffle to incorporate it into our advertising, get more people involved and to bring more foot traffic to the village.”

As for Levenson, she has a lot of shopping to do. “I love going to the Sidewalk Sale with my friends and granddaughters,” she said. “It’s a very relaxing day and we buy what we want and need. It’s our time together.”