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On the road to success

Two East Rockaway natives are owners of new cab company

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Mike Nevirs and Greg Gaft are two young entrepreneurs who already know that value of good service. They saw a need in their community, and they filled it.

“The opportunity came up, and we took it,” said Nevirs.

The two, both East Rockaway High School alumni and Lynbrook residents (they both live near the border of Lynbrook and East Rockaway) are now co-owners and operators of the East Rockaway Cab Company, located just feet away from the East Rockaway LIRR train station.

Nevirs is experienced in hotel and restaurant management, and Gaft drove cabs in Brooklyn — so each brings his own expertise to the company.

“It’s a completely new and independent company,” said Nevirs, referring to the now-defunct East Rockaway Taxi that was in the same location for the last few years. That company was eventually bought out by All-Island Taxi and relocated to Hewlett.

“We get a good mix of calls, some local, some going to the clubs in Rockville Centre and Long Beach. We get senior citizens who go shopping and to their doctors, and we get a lot call for rides to the airport.”

Regular customers, Nevirs said, have an account set up with their cab company, and don’t have to worry about taking cash out every time the travel.

There are currently three cars in the fleet, one of which is a town car and “set up like a living room,” said Gaft, who does a lot of the driving.

“People call here, telling me how nice their driver was, not knowing that he co-owns the company,” said Nevirs of Gaft, who he calls “the humble one.”

“I like driving,” said Gaft. “If people want to talk, I talk; if not, we just drive. There are a lot of familiar faces.”

Nevirs and Gaft require that all of their drivers have clean licenses. They all possess “hack” licenses issued by the Town of Hempstead, and have taken safe driving courses.

“Hospitality should be and is included in our service,” said Nevirs. “Our cars are always clean, and we hand pick our drivers who are not only good drivers but they’re personable, and they understand how to connect with the customer.”

Nevirs keeps track and communicates with his drivers through state-of-the-art computerized GPS system from the office. “The customer never hears any of that squawking,” he said. “We send them a note as to where their next ride is … we can track their location on the screen, and tell how fast they’re going. It’s very unique.”

East Rockaway Cab Co. offers a $4 fare to travel within the East Rockaway borders, and offer discounts to seniors and coupons to the general public. They are located at 6 Davison Plaza and can be reached at (516) 887-7080, or online at EastRockawayCabCo.com, or Facebook.com/EastRockawayCabCo.