TODAY we are leading a special guided walkthrough of our art installation "Mom-and-Pops of the L.E.S." for Untapped Cities Insiders @untappedcities.

Guests will get an insider’s peek into the installation process, learn about the inspiration behind creating it, and visit some wonderful local mom-and-pop businesses surrounding the Seward Park. The “Mom-and-Pops of the L.E.S.” installation features near life-sized photographs of neighborhood stores, some that no longer exist, and was created to raise awareness of the importance of mom-and-pop shops to the fabric of the community.

One of the places we will be visiting on the walking tour of the neighborhood surrounding Seward Park is REGINA’S, an Italian deli which opened in 2017 that is named for the owner’, Roman Grandinetti’s mother. Roman told us that he wanted everyone to feel like they were in Regina’s kitchen when you enter the store and that you feel like your home. He modeled the interior after the pork shops he went to as a kid growing up in Bensonhurst. The Italian 🇮🇹sandwiches they sell are inspired by family members, including Uncle Jimmy, Grandma Lucy, Big Anthony, and Cousin Vinny. Regina’s incorporated the ghost lettering from the previous tenant changing the “SHIRTS” to “REGINA’S”. We absolutely love this #momandpopsles shop and look forward to visiting it tomorrow with our guests.

Please follow our dedicated art installation page @momandpopsles to learn more about our public art installation and its purpose.