On a sultry August Friday afternoon, the Little Shoppe of Crystals, at 12 Main Street in Sayville, was crowded with shoppers. Baskets and bowls of semiprecious stones, crystalline geodes, slices of agate and chunks of amethyst, rose quartz, labradorite, pyrite, and an array of many other specimens sat on shelves and tables waiting to be handled and purchased by the customers. The place had a positive—one could say even magical—vibe.
People were coming and going through the brand-new purple door into a world of natural beauty—gems of all kinds and sizes drawn from the earth. No plastic, no electronics, just gorgeous crystals and minerals, semiprecious stones of all colors and shapes, some cut and some uncut.
Owners Melissa and Lenny Speicher and their daughter, Victoria, are pleased with the response to their new store. I asked Lenny why he thought the tiny store is so popular.
“We opened on Nov. 21, 2020, at the height of the pandemic,” he said. “I think people were looking for a way to relieve stress and to channel their anxiety. In times of stress, people tend to turn inward and become more spiritual. People come in here to look for stones for a particular reason, such as healing, confidence, a new job, coping with the loss of a loved one, etc. They look for something to believe in. The stones and crystals can be an aid to meditation. They can facilitate or help you attain your goals if you do the work that is necessary to achieve them. They can help you cleanse and recharge. These stones have been around for millions of years. They are proven to have energy within them.”
The store also now carries a selection of jewelry created by local artists, made from wire-wrapped semiprecious stones.
Both Lenny and Melissa have other full-time jobs. Melissa is a phlebotomist at a medical facility. Lenny is in sales. Their lives were extremely busy, even before they opened the shop. So, how did the store come to be?
“I have always been interested in crystals and gems,” said Lenny, “not so much in the metaphysical sense, but for their beauty and aesthetics. My wife always liked to go into rock shops, and she began collecting at an early age. Her father purchased many gems and crystals for her; some she has had for over 30 years.”
Who shops in the store?
“There is no age limit,” said Lenny. “Customers range in age from about 6 to 80. But the shop has really taken hold with the younger community, predominantly the teenage crowd.”
Lenny and Melissa plan to open another store by mid to late August in Staunton, Va., which will be managed by Melissa’s sister and their nephew. An online store will be opened soon. Lenny said the success of the store, as well as other small businesses in the town, has been helped significantly by the chamber of commerce.
Special events run by the chamber are a big help to all small-business owners, such as the winter Miracle on Main Street and the Live on Main outdoor Thursday shopping evenings through Aug. 26.
“They are an amazing resource,” he said of the Greater Sayville Chamber of Commerce. “So are the people of Sayville who come out to support us.”
The Little Shoppe of Crystals is open: Mon. – Thurs. 11-6; Friday 11-8; Sat. 11-6; and Sun 12-4. Find them online at: www.littleshoppeofcrystals.com
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