Stanley & Sons is based out of a basement workshop in Springs, East Hampton.
Chris Grodzki used to commute from Brooklyn to Manhattan every day on his bike. He worked in a dark office all day and appreciated any time he could get outdoors. With all of those miles under his belt each week, he would relax in his free time and work on his bike or sew small pouches and tote bags for friends.
After getting his clothes covered in bike grease one too many times, Chris decided to make an apron. As he worked on it, he thought it was “a pretty funny coincidence” that he was doing what his grandfather used to. Stanley Grodzki owned and operated the Apron and Bag Company, a manufacturer of factory aprons and bags in Manhattan for many years. Inspired, Chris showed the apron to his friend Luke, owner of Luddite Antiques in Brooklyn. Luke thought the products were great and agreed to carry them in his store.
Stanley & Sons Apron and Bag Company was born.
Stanley & Sons sources many of their raw materials like their copper rivets from the United States.
Originally located in Brooklyn, Stanley & Sons makes high-quality, handcrafted aprons, bags and other fine goods. Chris, along with his wife and business partner, Lindsay, moved the company to Springs, New York, a few years ago.
The hardworking couple are committed to keeping the company’s environmental impact as low as possible. That’s why they source so many of their raw materials like their copper rivets from the United States. “We live in America and like to support American businesses. It’s part of our philosophy. Support your community. Support your state. Support your country,” Chris says. “We also understand the labor laws and working conditions in the U.S. and that’s very important to us.”
The company also sources their heavy duty, durable denim and canvas from American-made mills like Cone Denim. Clients like Good Water Farms and Wölffer Estate Vineyard have come to depend upon their aprons because they withstand lots of heavy use and washing. “We believe that if you want to spend the money on one of our aprons, we want to give you a product where the fabric is a really good quality and will last you a very long time,” says Lindsay. “We try to make products that you don’t throw away in a year or two—they look better with use and time.”
S&S Corner Shop is open now in Springs.
Now, the husband-and-wife duo have expanded their business by opening a new home goods market, S&S Corner Shop, located at 11 Fort Pond Road in Springs. This “simple place” features a curated collection of their favorite things. Visitors are able to purchase aprons, bags and ceramics, as well as locally sourced food items like Carissa’s breads and pastries. Farm fresh eggs, coffee, tea and bottled drinks are also available. They envision the store as “a nice place to pop into in the morning to grab a hot cup of coffee and some fresh bread, or some potato chips and soda on your way down to the beach.”
Stanley & Sons products can also be purchased online at their website (apronandbag.com), as well as at Turpan in East Hampton and Pilgrim Surf + Supply in Amagansett.
