NEW YORK – Thursday October 30, 2008 was declared `Courts Caribbean Grand Opening Celebration Day in Brooklyn, USA ` by the Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz as the renown Caribbean furniture, electronics and appliance chain, Courts Caribbean, part of the Unicomer Group, officially added the 94th store to its map.
The declaration came as the chain`s first North America store opened it doors in the Caribbean immigrant-populated borough of Brooklyn, New York at 2822 Church Avenue, between Nostrand and Rogers Avenues – for business.
The debut included a two-part VIP launch event on Thursday evening, October 30th, as top city elected and appointed officials, joined the media, suppliers, community leaders, special guests and top Courts managers and regional directors, in celebrating Courts Caribbean Brooklyn.
Representing the Office of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs, Guillermo Linares, welcomed the store stating, “It is so wonderful to see that we have an enterprise that has emerged in the Caribbean, has demonstrated success and has decided to follow the Caribbean family to Brooklyn.`
“Courts Caribbean made a good decision in choosing Brooklyn to do business and an even better decision to choose East Flatbush,” added Yvonne Graham, special assistant to Brooklyn Borough President Markowitz.
Unicomer USA Country Manager, Felix Siman, III, and UNICOMER CEO, Mario Siman, third and fourth from left respectively, cuts the ribbon to officially declare the first North America store open at 2822 Church Avenue in Brooklyn, NY.
(Hayden Roger Celestin Image)
The event began at the New York Marriott Hotel at the Brooklyn Bridge before guests were shuttled to the Brooklyn location for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and official first glimpse.
Among the dignitaries bringing remarks there were New York State Senator Kevin Parker; New York Assemblyman, Nick Perry and New York Councilman, Kendall Stewart.
Senator Parker insisted that given the economic downturn in the U.S. economy, Courts` decision to open in Brooklyn was truly welcomed, “Courts coming here is really a sign of vitality in the community of Brooklyn and the Caribbean,” said Parker, who also presented a proclamation to Unicomer CEO, Mario Siman and Country Manager of Unicomer USA, Felix Siman, III.
Assemblyman Nick Perry – called it “a good day for east Flatbush and the Caribbean Community here in Brooklyn” while Councilman Dr. Kendall Stewart, a native of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, insisted, “This is something we have been looking for, for a long time.”
Unicomer Group CEO, Mario Siman and Felix Siman, III, Unicomer USA Country Manager, both expressed thanks to all gathered for their overwhelming support, including consuls generals of Antigua & Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada and Barbados; several key community leaders, members of the New York Police Department, suppliers and the media.
Courts Caribbean and Unicomer staffers, including top regional directors and managers from Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, then joined in a ribbon-cutting to declare the store officially open. Guests for the evening were thrilled by the Something Positive Dance Group and the Caribbean sounds of CASYM steel orchestra, while they dined on a delicious Caribbean cuisine and toasted with Champagne and Appleton. The events proceedings were emceed by Bobby Vieira from One Caribbean radio. Media coverage for the event was provided by Brooklyn News 12, the New York Daily News and a number of Caribbean media houses. Deacon Roy George helped in the blessing of the store.
The new location will offer Caribbean immigrants in the Diaspora the option to place their orders at the Brooklyn location for back-home delivery. Those orders will be sent to the specific Caribbean countries where Courts operates for delivery to the recipients. Customers will also be able to go in to the store and choose from their cost effective furniture, electronics and appliances for use in the New York area.
The Courts opening comes on the heels of its summer debut at the largest carnival in North America, the West Indian Labor Day event, and at Irie Jamboree, in Queens, NY.
The company was aided in its New York launch by Hard Beat Communications, the minority certified PR and AD agency specializing in the Caribbean Diaspora and Caribbean markets.
