CORDIALLY YOURS

Speaking of names, wouldn't you assume that Cordially Yours refers to all the nice cordial whiskies that owner John carries in the wine and liquor store? But that's not the case; the actual name refers to the building where the liquor store is housed. The liquor store itself has been around for 60 years and the building a lot longer than that.

"It's one of the oldest buildings in Ridgewood, " John said. "I just decided when I took over the lease to call it by the building's name."

John said that in the past, it wasn't unusual on a Saturday night (the store stayed open late then) to sell 10 cases of wine to people dining out. Things have changed in the past two years as restaurants close and/or people bring their own alcohol from home or don't bring in any at all.

THE CURTAIN EXCHANGE

Curtain Exchange owner Mary Gorman says it's a little bizarre but it happens all the time. People walk into the store and begin to apologize. They thought this was a curtain store, they say, not a drapery store.

"But we are a curtain store, just not a cute little cafe curtain store," Gorman said. However, she sort of knows what they mean when they look intimidated, glance around at the sumptious floor to ceiling fabrics and walk out.

People have been known to bring in their old curtains from home expecting to exchange them. "Well, you are the curtain exchange, aren't you?" they ask, referring to the store's name as Mary gently explains that this is a retail establishment.

RIDGEWOOD BOOTERY

Once a kid sees that Batman raincoat it's all over, said Lisa, the owner of Ridgewood Bootery.

"The moms let them try it on, they stamp their feet, and they won't leave until they go home in one of them," Lisa said. "We 're talking about the six-and-under set."

Of course it doesn't hurt (or help, depending if you're the parent) to have Batman at the front of the store so he's especially eye-catching.