Vincent Abbatecola definitely has a warm streak for a man who deals with blocks of ice. But when it comes to talking about himself, it”™s a challenge to coax him out.
Abbatecola”™s grandfather started the company in Queens during the 1920s, when the chilly blocks were a “must have” commodity for ice boxes. He slowly expanded the business into Long Island and New Jersey. Under Vincent”™s father, the company moved to Montvale, N.J., in the 1950s, relocating once more to Rockland County in 1976.
Abbey Ice has been at the same location on Hoffman Street since it arrived in Spring Valley, growing to a total of 10,000 square feet of warehouse with an additional 4,000-square-foot showroom and offices. Abbatecola did not disclose the company”™s annual earnings.
Partnering with Leisure Time Spring Water in 1984, Abbey Ice sells Leisure Time Water to commercial customers and offers an array of ice machines for delis, beer and soda distributors and supermarkets. Blocks of ice are available for carvers, and the one Abbey Ice calls on when it needs a sculpture is Valley Cottage”™s Rob Patalano, who founded the annual Ice Festival at Rockland Lake State Park.
“Rob does amazing work,” said Abbatecola, “and he”™s the only person I ever call on when one of my customers needs a sculpture. We do have ice available for other sculptors, but he”™s the one I use exclusively.” While there may not be much profit in the block of ice itself, the finished sculpture can be profitable for both the artist and Abbatecola.
Abbey also sells water softeners and is expanding into coffee, tea and other water-friendly products. To keep their commercial customers stocked and prepared for winter, Abbey also sells firewood, woodstove pellets and a variety of ice melting preparations.
Abbatecola”™s staff grows from 14 full-and part-time staffers to 26 in the summer months and dealing with state and federal mandates isn”™t making life easier for the small-business owner.
“The MTA tax, coupled with other fees imposed on us, was certainly unfair. Carl Wortendyke, Rockland”™s representative on the MTA board, has been instrumental in restoring proposed service cuts to Rockland. He definitely deserves our thanks for that,” Abbatecola said.
Like most business owners affected by the 33-cent mobility tax paid on every $100 of payroll, he”™d like to see it repealed ”“ or, at bare minimum, reduced for those who receive the least benefit of the MTA”™s service.
The new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has many, including Abbatecola, wondering what the 2,000 pages of legislation will really cost business and how small business will meet the challenges, coupled with the mandates handed down in Albany.
“I”™d like to see the federal government remove the antitrust exemption and open the insurance companies”™ ability to compete across state lines. I”™d like to see a limit to damages and reform to the tort system,” he said.
Abbatecola, whose business relies more on the weather than Wall Street, has been enjoying the record-breaking heat the Northeast has experienced, with July going on record as the hottest since record-keeping was initiated back in the 1800s.
How has he managed to keep afloat in a sea of economic uncertainty?
“Stay focused,” he said, “and stay involved with your community.” Best practice? “Learn from others. Observe their successes and mistakes; and last but not least, surround yourself with people smarter than you are. You can never be in business too long or be too old to learn something new.”
Rockland Business Association President Al Samuels has nothing but praise for the business and its owner. “Vince Abbatecola is one of the most giving people you will ever want to meet. His family”™s generosity is a cornerstone of our community, as is his company.”
“He is one of the few people I truly cannot find anything to complain about!”
