Summer 2024: Vintage and classic cars take over Valley Stream’s downtown Rockaway Avenue

Car enthusiasts lined Rockaway Avenue on June 21, mini American flags in hand, to celebrate community, our nation’s veterans and classic cars. Members of the community weaved between clusters of people to admire Tom Smith’s red ‘69 Cougar and then made their way down the row to Tom Lee’s baby blue 1954 totally stoked Cadillac before hitting the remainder of the approximately 70 cars parked on the street. A D.J. booth spun old tunes and local business owners welcomed in the crowd.

Every Friday night between May 31 and August 30, the village hosts its Classic Car Show wherein a portion of Rockaway Avenue is closed off for a display of dazzling cars, old and new. It’s an engaging way for the community to stay connected, according to Lee, who has brought his Cadillac to the show for years.

“It’s great when people come around and they’re interested in the cars,” Lee said. “You talk with them and everybody knows somebody who had something like this. It’s fun.”

Jimmy Fitanzo, the Valley Stream recreation director, helped establish the car show in 2018 at the train station. After a few years, he decided to move it to Rockaway as more people wanted to display their cars and an opportunity arose to encourage more patrons to come support the community.

“People come out to see the classic cars,” said Fitanzo. “And at the same time while they’re walking, they’re patronizing the different restaurants… so it brings in some much-needed revenue to Rockaway Avenue.”

The car show on June 21 was themed ‘Salute to the Veterans’ and the Chamber of Commerce, which hosts a 50/50 raffle each week, donated their half of the raffle to Nassau County Firefighters Operation Wounded Warrior.

“We have the car show every Friday,” said Mayor Fare. “What’s special about this is that they do the 50/50 raffle and we donate it to the veterans and that’s a big deal.”

Mayor Ed Fare also presented NCFF OWW with a citation honoring the twentieth anniversary of the organization, which independently fundraises to support wounded members of the military.

“It’s really an honor to be recognized by the community,” said Terance Powdery, Chairman of the organization. “When we go down and give parties for the troops and their families, we always endeavor to tell them that this isn’t coming from firefighters. It’s coming from the community around Nassau County. And this is a perfect example.”