10/14/2026
It’s difficult to see another small, independent appliance store close its doors.
This particular store may not be in our backyard, but its story feels very close to home. Every time we see another family-owned or independent business disappear, it is a reminder of just how much our communities have changed.
For generations, small businesses have been part of the fabric of our neighborhoods. They are the places where someone knows your name, remembers what you purchased, answers the phone when something goes wrong, and actually cares whether you are happy after the sale.
Independent appliance dealers aren't asking for anyone's business simply because we're small. We earn it.
We compete on price. We know our products. We help customers make the right decision for their homes and their budgets. We solve problems that don't always fit neatly into an online form or a corporate customer-service script. And when something goes wrong, we don't want to pass you from department to department—we want to make it right.
But that doesn't mean we're perfect every time.
Running a small business requires an incredible amount of work, and sometimes we simply don't live up to what we know we're capable of. A difficult installation may take longer to schedule than it should. A phone call might not get returned as quickly as we would like. Paperwork may get delayed, or something that should have been handled today gets pushed to tomorrow.
It's not because we don't care. In fact, most of the time it's exactly the opposite. We care deeply about getting it right. There are simply days when there aren't enough hours to do everything as quickly or as perfectly as we would like.
The difference is that when we fall short, there are real people behind the business who care about fixing it. Our name is on the door. Our reputation is personal. We have to look our customers in the eye, and we know that the way we handle a problem is every bit as important as the original sale.
Because to a small business, you aren't an order number.
You're our customer. You're our neighbor. You're the person we may see at the supermarket, at a local restaurant, at school events, or walking down the street. Our reputation isn't built in a corporate boardroom hundreds of miles away. It's built right here in the community, one customer at a time.
We understand why people shop online and at big-box stores. Convenience matters. Price matters. We know we have to compete for every sale, and we do.
But sometimes it's worth remembering what happens when the small businesses disappear.
One closing doesn't seem like it changes a community. Then another closes. And another. Eventually, the stores that sponsored the Little League teams, donated to local organizations, employed local families, supported other neighborhood businesses, and knew their customers personally are simply gone.
And once they're gone, they're very difficult to bring back.
So before clicking "Buy Now," give a local independent business an opportunity. Ask us for a price. Ask us what we can do. You may be surprised at how competitive we are—and you'll know there is a real person standing behind your purchase.
Small businesses don't survive because people feel sorry for them. We survive because our communities give us the opportunity to earn their business.
To everyone who continues to shop locally, who gives a small business an opportunity to compete, and who sometimes gives us a little patience when we aren't perfect: thank you. It means more than you probably realize.
Malkin Appliances
1999 Grand Ave
Baldwin, NY 11510
516-223-6300
