Business Profile: Kine Buddies, Brewster
DAVID PROPPER PHOTO
When Kine Buddies officially opened this month, the idea of the store was both advantageous, yet still simply explained, by co-owner Eric Peterson.
“The idea of the whole store was to take back Brewster,” Peterson said. “For 20 years we had a situation where nobody in this town of Southeast comes down here and no one feels a sense of community.”
Peterson, a Putnam resident who opened the store with a college friend who lives in Westchester County, said he wants Kine Buddies to become a “destination place” for Main Street in the village.
The store offers vapors, e-cigarettes, water pipes, and other smoking accessories. It also has a focus on artwork, custom jewelry and art showings, as well as various items of clothing.
“Really it’s a social statement that we’re going to make,” Peterson, who is a supporter of medical marijuana, said. “And we hope that the community supports us. We’re a mile from the train station so we definitely want to make a political statement, as well as a social statement.”
Peterson describes himself as a “conservative hippie” who believes in the “cause.” When looking to open the shop, he specifically wanted it on Main Street because of the store’s effort to attract a younger generation to the downtown area.
Peterson makes it a point to state there isn’t enough of a community feel on what can be described as the most pivotal street in the village. The shop is also perfectly located across from an art studio, which Peterson hopes to work with and its young artists moving forward.
“Whether it’s fear, alienation or you know what there’s just nothing to buy,” Peterson said of his diagnosis of Main Street. “There’s no quality, we’re offering quality stuff by artists.”
Peterson knows there are a lot of hardworking business owners on Main Street, but believes there’s a lack uniqueness to the area and lack of stores that young people want to enter.
Outside of the artwork Kine Buddies offers, there is also plenty of avenues to quit smoking with the vapors and e-cigarettes sold. As for the smoking glasswork, that’s for people in the region who use medical marijuana, which is now legal in New York.
This is not the only business Peterson or his business partner own, though Kine Buddies is the only joint venture.
Peterson considers it a hobby, but he knows more than the bottom-line is at stake.
“I always wanted to help the community,” Peterson said. “Everybody talks about wanting to do to something, well I put my money where my mouth is. Let’s see if the community follows and supports me.”
